Clean Water

Students explore the sources of global freshwater, understand watersheds and trace the water cycle's pathway through these essential systems. In pursuit of clean water, they study water quality parameters and perform tests to evaluate different water sources, highlighting the importance of treating wastewater to preserve this precious resource. Recognizing the global impact of a growing human population, students engage in thought-provoking debates on water distribution, quality, and management, utilizing research skills, critical thinking, and collaboration to explore various perspectives and potential solutions. Armed with knowledge and a sense of responsibility, they embrace their roles as stewards of the environment, vowing to protect and conserve the Earth's most precious resource – clean water.

Module Overview: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11L6U0kPosLJSv-mKSyJmkveedOSxT7EeswzG2ce7GPc/edit?usp=sharing 

For the lessons that include slide decks, please make sure you check the notes at the bottom of individual slides for instructional recommendations and suggestions. 

Water is all around us. During this lesson, students use a model to understand where in the world water is found, how much of that water is freshwater, the roles that watersheds play, and how water is cycled through the planet’s watersheds. To learn about the water cycle, students follow the path of a molecule of water through a natural watershed. This lesson introduces students to these concepts to prepare them to compare natural and human watersheds. 

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

Students explore the importance of water to people, animals, plants, and the environment. Students explore the lifecycle of a keystone species, salmon, as a case study to understand why clean water is important for animals and the environment. Students identify what salmon need to survive in a watershed, and learn about the threats that exist for salmon survival. Students connect salmon to other organisms in a “web of life” and reflect upon how the decline of one species can affect an ecosystem. Students learn about how salmon are being protected in San Mateo County and then design posters to raise awareness about what humans can do to help protect and restore healthy aquatic ecosystems for salmon.

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

Wetlands are important to coastal communities.  During this lesson, students learn about the role wetlands play in flood and coastal erosion protection. Students will demonstrate (using models) how wetlands can slow erosion, as well as how wetlands can absorb water and slowly release it to avoid flooding. This lesson will both introduce students to those concepts and prepare them to compare areas with and without wetlands. 

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

Marshes provide a healthy habitat for many organisms, filtration for water, as well as flood and erosion protection for coastal communities.  During this lesson, students learn about the connections in a marsh. Students will play a game to investigate animals, plants, water and mud in a marsh and how they all interact together. 

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

Did you ever wonder where we get our water from? In the Bay Area, we primarily get our water from a water infrastructure system that includes the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the O’Shaughnessy Dam. During this lesson, students learn about this water infrastructure system, focusing on how water is collected in the reservoir to how it is distributed to our homes. Students can go more in depth by learning about different types of dam structures by building models of them.  

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

We all use water in so many different ways during the day, but do we know how much we use? During this lesson, students will think about the different ways that humans use water, and then calculate their household water use per day using an online calculator. Then, students will learn about the ways that water is used in California, how a changing population and climate change affect our freshwater supply, and the ways that we can conserve water to ensure that future generations can thrive. 

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

During this lesson, students will build an understanding of how sea level rise and drought, caused by climate change, affect human’s access to clean water. They will look at regional sea level rise maps and drought data to understand how climate change is affecting their area. Students will experiment with water density to form an understanding of how coastal communities access water and will come up with ideas for how they can help solve the water / climate crisis at an individual and community level. 

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

In this lesson, students examine the impacts of a growing human population on the global water supply. They learn about the causes and consequences of water pollution, including the biomagnification of toxins like mercury in the food chain. Through whole group discussions, video analysis, and reflection, students gain knowledge about water distribution, population growth, water pollution, and the effects of climate change on the environment. This lesson prompts students to think critically about water conservation and their role in addressing the challenges associated with climate change and water sustainability.

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

During this lesson on water quality and water quality testing, students will explore the importance of water quality and its impact on human health and the environment. They will learn about various water quality parameters, such as free and total chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, nitrate and nitrite, nitrogen, copper, and iron. Equipped with water quality testing kits, students will perform tests on filtered, tap, and lake water samples. Through collaborative group work, they will record observations, interpret test results, and evaluate the quality of different water sources. This differentiated lesson incorporates visual aids, hands-on activities, and class discussions to engage various learning styles. An assessment and rubric are provided to evaluate students' understanding and performance. The lesson aims to foster a deeper understanding of water quality and encourage students to become informed advocates for clean water sources.

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

During the previous lesson, students learned about water pollution, water quality, and water testing. In this lesson, students will learn about how wastewater is treated, both on earth and in space, and then are challenged to design a water filtration using the engineering design process used by scientists and engineers to develop the water recovery system used on the International Space Station. The design challenge in this lesson was adapted from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab’s “Water Filtration Challenge”: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/water-filtration-challenge/.

Lesson Plan

Slide Deck

During this lesson, students will embark on an exploration of water distribution challenges through an engaging debate. They will be presented with three thought-provoking debate questions: "Should water distribution prioritize agricultural needs over urban needs in water-scarce regions?", "Should we focus on nature-based or human-made solutions to improve water quality?", and "Should water management policies prioritize the needs of people or the needs of the environment?" Students will form teams and assume specific roles as Team Leaders, Researchers, and Presenters. They will conduct research using various resources to gather evidence and develop informed arguments. Through collaborative discussions and guidance from the teacher, students will refine their positions and prepare for the upcoming debates, setting the stage for a meaningful exploration of water distribution challenges and potential solutions.

Lesson Plan

During this lesson, students will dive into the research and preparation phase for the upcoming water distribution debate. They will explore one of three thought-provoking debate questions: "Should water distribution prioritize agricultural needs over urban needs in water-scarce regions?", "Should we focus on nature-based or human-made solutions to improve water quality?", and "Should water management policies prioritize the needs of people or the needs of the environment?" Students will conduct research to gather evidence and develop persuasive arguments. They will critically analyze and evaluate information, synthesize their findings, and organize their thoughts in preparation for presenting their arguments in the debate. Through this process, students will deepen their understanding of water distribution issues and build their skills in research, critical thinking, and effective communication.

Lesson Plan

During this lesson, students will focus on honing their debate preparation and presentation skills in preparation for the water distribution debate. They will learn the essential components of persuasive arguments, including the use of evidence, logical reasoning, and effective communication techniques. Students will practice organizing their thoughts, structuring their arguments, and anticipating counterarguments. They will also develop skills in active listening, respectful questioning, and constructive feedback to enhance their ability to engage in meaningful debate. Through collaborative activities and guided practice, students will strengthen their critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork skills in preparation for the culminating debate in Lesson 14.

Lesson Plan

“The Debate” is a culmination of the previous lessons, where students engage in a lively debate on important water-related topics. Students will demonstrate their research, critical thinking, and public speaking skills as they take part in a structured debate. The debate topics will revolve around key water-related issues, such as water distribution, water quality, or water management policies. Students will be assigned roles as debaters, moderators, or audience members, and they will present arguments, counterarguments, and rebuttals based on their assigned positions. The debate will foster critical thinking, communication, and respectful dialogue, encouraging students to develop and articulate their perspectives on these significant water-related issues.

Lesson Plan