Unit Concepts and Generalizations:

• Water is a vital resource for all living things. There is a limited supply of water on Earth, and it is susceptible to pollution and overuse.

• Human activities can negatively impact the environment, whether deliberately or inadvertently. Environmental degradation affects not only natural ecosystems, but the economic and physical health of nearby communities.

• Community-based solutions to environmental issues are often simpler than nation-wide efforts. However, global networking technologies can be useful tools for spreading awareness throughout a community.

• Resolving water pollution is often costly. Politics plays a major role in what does and doesn’t get done within a community. Poorer communities tend to be more negatively affected by environmental traumas than wealthier communities.

• Scientific research conducted in other communities can help us to support our claims, but data from research conducted in other communities is not always applicable to our own community. Scientists must acknowledge these short-comings.

Where did all of this garbage come from?

Essential Questions:

• What happens when communities don’t have access to clean drinking water?

• What are some water quality issues you notice in your community? (brainstorm)

• If we can’t rely on larger government entities to solve local environmental issues, what can we do?

• Why should or shouldn’t community members care about a given issue?

• How feasible is your solution? Will people use/do it?

• How do we get people to care?

• How do we get people to listen to us?

• How does access to funding and publicity affect our ability to make change within our community?

• Who and what parts of the community tend to be most negatively impacted by environmental traumas?

• What will happen to the community if we do nothing?

• How do you know?

How do drainage issues impact water quality?

 Culminating Assignment:

1. Students will design a solution to one water quality issue they’ve identified within their community. Evaluation will be based on student’s appropriate use of scientific methodology to develop a viable solution.
2.  Students will create a Glog/poster that informs their community about the water quality issue they’ve identified, it’s relevance to the community, and their proposed solution. Evaluation will be based on student’s clear incorporation of an accurate scientific explanation of the issue, and understandable “everyday” language written with their audience in mind.
3. The class will vote on 1-3 posters that they believe can have the greatest impact in the community. Those posters will be displayed around school, in community forums, and/or local business (as appropriate depending on subject matter and access).

This glog will be used to introduce students to the outline and expectations for this culminating assignment. For more information about the use of Glogster, please visit my technology post.