ERIC ED371991: Water Matters: Every Day, Everywhere, Every Way. Teacher's Handbook.

29 Pages·1993·1.4 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 371 991
SO 024 011
AUTHOR
Hirschland, Roger B., Ed.
TITLE
Water Matters: Every Day, Everywhere, Every Way.
Teacher's Handbook.
INSTITUTION
National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.
PUB DATE
93
NOTE
31p.; This document was published as part of the
observance of National Geography Awareness Week,
November 14-20, 1993.
PUB TYPE
Classroom Use
Guides
Teaching Guides ,For
Teacher) (052)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Economic Development; Elementary Secondary Education;
*Environmental Education; *Geography Instruction;
*Resource Allocation; Social Studies; *Water
Resources
ABSTRACT
This booklet examines the sdbject of fresh water and
the ways in which it affects every aspect of human life. The document
includes an introduction and seven sections: (1) "Agriculture"; (2)
"Transportation";
(4) "Engineering";
(3) "Culture";
(5) "Health and
Domestic Use";
(6) "Politics and Economics"; and (7) "Industry."
Inside each section is an introduction, "Aquativities" (student
activities relating to fresh water), "H2...Ohsl" (featuring amazing
facts about water), case studies, and "Seeking Clear Solutions"
(which calls upon students to devise answers to problems involving
water). A resource list concludes the document. (SG)
***********************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
***********************************************************************
4111.
NATIONAL
47411
GEOGRAPHY
1111
AWARENESS
New. Wt.
WEEK
+11111
NOVEMBER 14-20, 1993
,r)
. I A
U.II. IWPARTIletNT OF EIXICATiON
Off.c. ol Educehonsi Research and Improvement
RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIS)
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ment do not nauseant,/ represent othciat
OE RI Kelton oe pawcy.
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
M
RIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
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LAA-7o
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
11
6
This booklet, prepared by the National Geographic Society,
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
was made possibla through the generous contributions of Citibank,
WHAT'S IN THIS BOOKLET?
The topic: Fresh waterhow it matters in every aspect of our lives!
Using the booklilt: Use as much or as little of it as you see fit. The
booklet v, 11 help you explore issues about fresh water with your
class durkig Geography Awareness Weekissues that merit close
attention in the days, and decades, to come.
What's inside the sections?
Background: General topic information for teachers (see topics in box, below)
Aguativities: Student activities related to fresh water
H2...Ohs! Amazing facts about water
Case studies: Examples of water usage in North America and other continents
And at the end: A chance for students to contribute clear solutions to water problems
here
What about grade levels? Check the water meter on each Aquativity. There's something
for everyone in K-12. (The meters are approximations. Activities may be adapted.)
INTRODUCTION: WATER IN OUR LIVES
posescomes from
water to live. Many of
swimming pools.
Water Every Day
the world's cities were
rivers, lakes, streams,
Water gushes from
Everywhere we
founded near fresh-
and underground
our taps and shower
look, we see water. It
water rivers and
reserves.
heads. With this abun-
cleans our sidewalks,
lakes. Proximity to
Water Everywhere
dance of clean, fresh
overflows in our foun-
fresh water, however,
Despite broad
water all around us, it
tains, glints in our
doesn't guarantee
regional shortages,
seems reason-
access to a clean sup-
the U. S. has a lot of
able to sup-
AT A GLANCE
ply of it. Many rivers
cheap and clean fresh
pose that water
2-3
and lakes cross state
water. That's not the
is the most
INTRODUCTION
or nationa: bound-
case for.much of the
plentiful and
aries, and rights to
world. In countries
least valuable
I AGRICULTURE
5
these waters are often
where clean, fresh
commodity
in dispute. In many
water is scarce, it is
around.
8
II TRANSPORTATION
parts of the world,
highly valued and
The reality is
including parts of
used sparingly. There
that water is a
III CULTURE
12
North America,
are those who walk
limited and
access to water has
hours every day just
precious
IV ENGINEERING
15
the potential for cre-
to get a few gallons
resource. Yet
V HEALTH AND
ating major strife.
for basic necessities.
we in North
DOMESTIC USE
19
Issues of controlling
With global water
America use
needs growing and
more of it per
VI POLITICS AND
reserves shrinking,
person than
ECONOMICS
22
I-12...Oh!
conservation of fresh
anyone else in
In the United States,
water is one of the
the world.
25
VII INDUSTRY
the average person
most important chal-
The water
uses rbout 100 gal-
lenges we face going
we use for our
SEEKING CLEAR
lons of water a day
many needs
into the next century.
27
SOLUTIONS
domestically.
Everyone every-
and for non-
where must have fresh
essential pur-
28
RESOURCES
SOURCE: U. t GIOLOOtr...N. SURVEY
store water to meet
supply and quality of
TEQUATIVITY
water are significant
our needs. Techno-
logies include dikes,
in shaping local,
Where Zs the World's Water?
levees, dams, sea-
state, national, and
international politics.
walls, reservoirs,
Where is fresh water abundant
canals, and aque-
Water Every Way
and where is it scarce?
ducts. These provide
Through natural
Distribute a copy of the map
processes, water
water for personal
on page 4 to each student. It shows annual
use, irrigation of
sculpts the land, car-
precipitation, minus evaporation, world-
ries soil and nutrients
crops, industry, trans-
wide. Ask students to consult an atlas in
portation, and much
from one place to
conjunction with the map to do the follow-
another, periodically
more.
ing:
Our challenge
floods the landscape,
and replenishes
today is to use water
Identify and label the world's largest
itselfon the surface
wisely. We need to
deserts.
and underground
sustain an adequate
Compare areas of maximum water
supply of clean, fresh
through stages of the
supply on this map with a biome map
water. We need to use
waMr cycle.
of the world. What correlations are
Despite the extent
it efficiently, to appor-
evident?
to which natural tion it fairly, and, at
Which continent receives thq least
forces control water,
the same time, to
water relative to its size?
preserve wetlands
humans exert a strong
Compare this map with a topographi-
and other crucial
influence over it in
cal map. In northwestern North
components of the
many ways. We
America, what accounts for the heavy
divert, transport, and
ecosystem.
rainfall along the coast and the lighter
precipitation a short distance inland?
Water rights are more of an issue in the
AQUATIVITY
Middle East than in the Sahara. Why?
How Do We Use Water?
What accounts for the difference in
rainfall between East and West Africa?
Percentages
It might help in answering this ques-
Of Total Water Withdrawal
tion to consult a topographical map.
Worldwide:
What factors might explain the pattern
of water supply in Australia?
SOUKS: WORLD RESOURCES eiSTrISITE
What are the implications of thin information in plan-
ning conservation strategies? (For example, in which
sphere of our lives would a 30 percent savings make
the biggest difference?)
Ask students to graph the data in other waysa bar
graph, or a pictograph using corn, factory chimneys,
and other symbols, to show these percentages.
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5
PART I: AGRICULTURE
sprinklers, and letting
f all the
AQUATIVITY
water drip onto crops
fresh
Drought in a Glass!
water that
through small holes in
people
hoses or pipes.
When drought strikes, crops often wilt and
use in the world,
Agronomists are
die before they're sufficiently mature to be
about two-thirds goes
finding out how to
harvested. You can easily simulate the
to agriculture.
make the most of the
effects of drought on a crop.
available water by
Because rain may
Place a stalk of cut celery in a glass with
learning more about
be insufficient for
no water. Let it stand overnight. What hap-
growing crops, farm-
soil and erosion,
pens to the celery? Now, cut the celery
ers rely on a variety
about plants and their
stalk about half an inch from the base and
of techniques to bring needs, and about con-
place it back in the
serving groundwater.
water to their fields.
glassthis time filled
Called irrigation,
In many parts of the
with water. Let it
these methods
world, careful selec-
stand overnight.
include flooding
tion of crops, as well
What happens to the
entire fields, channel-
as new techniques for
celery? How is the
ing water between
irrigation, are in-
celery like crops?
creasing the amount
rows of crops, spray-
ing water through
of food available.
AQUATIVITY: Making Every Drop Count
1-12...Oh!
Plant two small, leafy plants of the same size in moist soil.
Use equal-size, small flower pots with drains in the bottom.
Over the course of two weeks, water both plants at about
It takes more than 60
the same time, keeping a careful record of exactly how
gallons of fresh water to
make one egg.
much water you are providing each. The two plants should be
watered by distinctly different methods:
Froduction of a steak
1. Water one plant with a pitcher or watering can. Moisten the
takes nearly 1,000 gal-
entire pot of soil. Remember, measure and keep a record of exactly
lons.
how much water you are using.
A glass of milk takes
2. Water the other plant with an eyedropper. Drip the water so
almost 50 gallons of
that it soaks down directly to the roots, near the stem. Water only as
water to produce.
much as you think the plant
SOURCE: 'REFLECTIONS ON WATER; A
needs. Keep a precise record
NATIONAL GEOCIRAINSC SOCIETY VIOE0
of how much water you use.
It takes 115 gallons of
After the two weeks, com-
fresh water to grow
'Dare how much water you
enough wheat to make
used on each plant. Did the
one loaf of bread.
two methods use significantly
SOURCE: EXPLORAVO VCDPI WORLD,
NATIONAL GEOORAPNIC SOCIETY
different amounts?
ast
AQUIFER
WA8GALLALA
tems deliver water
gate their crops. But
ers. Every day, farm-
Despite low
closer to crops,
flooding wastes water
ers pump the Ogallala
rainfall, the
reducing evaporation.
and increases runoff
for the water that
land of the
Techniques for mea-
that can be polluted
helps to keep
High Plains
suring the moisture in
by fertilizer. And
America's supermar-
is a rich agricultural
the ground are help-
much sprinkler water,
kets stocked and its
regionthanks in
ing farmers regulate
aimed high, evapo-
livestock amply fed.
large part to millions
the amount of water
rates before reaching
In the 1950s, when
of gallons of water
they use. All of these
the ground.
heavy pumping
pumped to the fields
innovative techniques
To conserve the
began, the Ogallala
from the Ogallala
save farmers both
Ogallala, some farm-
seeme d like an end-
aquifer. This huge
money and water.
ers are using innova-
less source of fresh
natural reservoir of
tive measures that
water. But it is now
groundwater under
H2...Oh!
save water. They are
being emptied in
the High Plains holds
using treated waste-
places much faster
a quadrillion gallons.
The Ogallala aquifer
water to irrigate their
than it is being natu-
The aquifer lies only a
holds enough water
crops. New, lower
rally replenished.
foot or two under the
underground to fill
pressure sprinkler
Many farmers use
surface in some
Lake Huron.
systems increase effi-
flooding and sprin-
places, and as deep
GEOGRAPHIC
SOURCE: MARCH 1993 HATICAAL
ciency, and other sys-
kler systems to irri-
as 1,300 feet in oth-
AQUATIVITIES
CL)acity
The Water-holding
Make
Of an Aquifer
A Mini-Aquifer
which water table is the low-
Fill three identical glasses:
In a clear glass or
est? What does this indicate
with
one with gravel, another
plastic container,
about the water-holding
with
coarse sand, and a third
arrange (in the fol-
capacity of the materials?
soil. The sample materials
lowing order) stones,
(The lower the resulting
must be dry. Add red food
bits of sponge, gravel, soil,
water table, the greater the
dye to a supply of water, then
and vegetation. Slowly add
water-holding capacity of that
add an equal volume of the
water until it collects up to the
material.)
Observe
i glass.
water to e..
gravel. How is the water dis-
what occurs. Does the water
tributed in your aquifer? How
soak into the vari-
would chang-
ous materials at the
ing the size of
same rate? Does
the rocks
the "water table"
change the
come to the same
volume of wa-
level in all three
ter the aquifer
glasses? If not,
holds? (See
what determines
activity, right.)
RESPECTIVELY.
PROM WA/ER*19DM MASSACHUSETTS WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY,
1919. APCI
COMFIGHT
ACTIVITIES ADAPTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE WATER ENWFOHMENT FEDERATION.
civ, A
RAEL
Israel is dry, most For all the peoples
_r
of Israel and neighbor-
of it desert. It
receives little
ing Syria and Jordan,
rights to surface water
rainfall, and much
and groundwater are
of its water supply has
highly charged, cru-
a fairly high level of
cial issues in need of
salt. Nevertheless
long-term resolution.
Israel maintains rich
agricultural produc-
tion, even exporting
Making every drop count,
quantities of citrus
drip irrigation rations water
to individual plants from
fruits and other pro-
holes in pipes or plastic tubes.
duce. One of the keys
N011 MOTOORAPHER JONES L. STAW*LO
to Israel's agricultural
AQUATIVITY
success is water man-
Cucumbers + Salt = ?
agement.
The most important
Plant equal nu.mbers of cucumber seeds in two small cups of soil. Place
technique used by
them in the sun. Water each daily with equal amountsone with fresh
Israeli farmers to
tap water, the other with salt water (made by adding 1 part salt to 25
manage water is drip
parts water). Observe and record the results over the course of a week.
irrigation. Drip irriga-
What can you conclude? Try this experiment with other seeds.
tion uses perforated
pipes or plastic tubes
AQUATIVITY
and computerized sys-
tems to bring exactly
Desalination:
the necessary amount
Making Salt Water Fresh
of water to the roots of
each plant. It avoids
Mix a solution of salt water by
the unnecessary irri-
adding 1 part salt to 25 parts water.
gation of soil between
Taste the water. Is it salty? In an
plants. About half of
electric tea kettle, heat the salt water
Israel's irrigated fields
to boiling. As steam pours out of the
are now watered by
kettle, hold a cookie sheet (use
drip irrigation.
kitchen mitts!) full of ice cubes over
Besides facing
the spout so that the steam condens-
scarcity of supply,
es on the underside of the pan.
Israelis have had to
Collect the condensed drops in a
deal with salinity in
bowl. Taste the collected water. Is it
their water. They have
salty? The collected water is dis-
worked to find and
tilleda process used commercially
develop crops that can
to desalinate water in many coun-
thrive on brackish
tries with inadequate freshwater
water---water that con-
supplies.
tains some salt.
9
PART II: TRANSPORTATION
the Panama and
nations have con-
The North
AQUATIVITY
Suez Canals are
structed navigation
American
Who Lives
canalsthousands of
perhaps the most
continent is
Near Water?
important in the
miles of them. The
rich in lakes
Identify in an
Chinese began build-
and riversliquid
world. The Panama
Canal, opened in
almanac the
ing the Grand Canal,
highways that con-
1914, cuts across
15 largest
the world's longest
nect people and
canal systemsome
cities by population in
the Isthmus of
goods. Most of our
Panama, linking the
North America. Find
largest cities grew up
the cities in an atlas,
Atlantic and Pacific
along waterways. The
AQUATIVITY
then label them on a
Oceans. The Suez
history of our land
Getting
Canal, opened in
copy of the map on
and people is largely
Around
1869, connects the
the next page. How
tied to the systems
Mediterranean and
many of these cities
On Water
that facilitate trans-
have access to major
Red Seas. The 51
portation by water.
bodies of water?
miles of the Panama
How many
Among the most
Check in an encyclo-
Canal and the 101
ways do you
important inland
pedia to see how the
and other
miles of the Suez
water systems are the
cities make use of
people get around
Canal radically
Mississippi River sys-
changed the face of
these bodies of water.
on water? Work with
tem, the Great
surface trans-
your class to list as
LakesSt. Lawrence
portation.
many as you can,
Seaway system, and
then illustrate them
the Atlantic Intra-
in a bulletin board
coastal Waterway.
display. Examples:
They provide inland
ferry, barge, row-
access for enormous
boat. Then there are
amounts of freight
water skis, ice
carried by tug-
AQUATIVITY
guided barges and
skates, snowmo-
Water Shortcuts
biles, hydrofoils!
steaming freighters.
Transportation by
On a map of the Western
thousand miles
river and lake is as
Hemisphere, calculate the dis-
longmore than
important overseas as
tance a ship must sail from
2,400 years ago.
it is in North America.
Boston to San Francisco without
Canal locks, which
Major rivers of the
using the Panama Canal. Then figure out the
enabled canal
world are really inter-
distance via the canal. What is the savings
builders to negotiate
national superhigh-
in miles? How many days would a ship save,
hills and waterfalls,
ways, connecting
using the canal, if it travUed an average of
were probably in-
whole economies.
20 miles an hour, 24 hours a day? Perform
vented some 700
To avoid unnaviga-
similar calculations for a ship sailing
years ago in Europe.
ble hazards on rivers
between London, England, and Bombay,
Although not the
and to open new ship-
India, withoutthen withthe Suez Canal.
first or the longest,
ping routes, many
What do ships save besides time?
1 0
North American Rivers
Photocopy this map for activities on pages 8, 13, and 16.
11