ERIC ED377068: Give Water a Hand. School Site Action Guide. Organizing Water Conservation and Pollution Prevention Service Projects in Your Community.

33 Pages·1994·1.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
SE 055 457
ED 377 068
TITLE Give Water a Hand. School Site Action Guide.
Organizing Water Conservation and Pollution
Prevention Service Projects in Your Community.
National 4-H Council, Chevy Chase, MD.; Wisconsin
INSTITUTION
Univ., Madison. Coll. of Agricultural and Life
Sciences.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
SPONS AGENCY
PUB DATE
94
34p.; Additional funding provided by Church & Dwight
NOTE
Co., Inc. For related documents, see SE 055
455-459.
AVAILABLE FROM
University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative
Extension, Environmental Resources Center, College of
Agriculture & Life Science, Madison, WI 53706.
PUB TYPE
Classroom Use
Instructional Materials (For
Guides
Learner) (051)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.
Activism; Citizen Participation; *Conservation
DESCRIPTORS
(Environment); Drinking Water; Environment;
*Environmental Education; Instructional Materials;
Intermediate Grades; Junior High Schools; Pollution;
*School Location; *Student Projects; Study Guides;
Water; *Water Quality; Water Resources
Environmental Action; Watersheds
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
Students grades 4-8 can use this guide to explore the
topics of water, and water conservation at a school site, while
conducting an environmental community service project. Youth groups,
led by a group leader, work with local experts from business,
government, or environmental organizations to complete the project.
Nine. activity sections involve students in:
(1) exploring background
information;
(2) mapping watersheds;
(3) researching water quality
impacts associated with school sites;
(4) consulting with an expert;
(5) choosing a service project;
(6) creating an action plan;
(7)
tracking project progress;
(8) measuring and recording results; and
(9) brainstorming additional projects. Activities provide background
and procedural information, as well as worksheets and discussion
questions. Sidebars '.ighlight key vocabulary. The guide contains an
application for a Youth Earth Service Award and advice on how to
create partnerships with community organizations. (LZ)
***********************************************************************
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
***********************************************************************
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EDUCATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
and Improvement
"PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
Office of Educational Research
INFORMATION
MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
a
kUCATIONAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
kande
Give watevk
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FLAI
reproduced as
This docume-: nes been
or organization
received trum tne person
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made to improve
Minor changes have been
rep's...motion Quality
this d ocu.
Or onions stated ,n
Point ot vie
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* necepissarily repreSent /Acta!
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
do not
ment
OE. RI position or Rebel,
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
gE1001. SITE ACTION GUIDE
ORGANIZING WATER CONSERVATION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION
SERVICE PROJECTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Made Possible With Support From:
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
..1`cn
Makers of Arm & Hammer ° Baking Soda
1994
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(:L3\
2
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
W E LCOM E!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
'ow- ideas, energy, creativity and hard work can make a
1A Why Water? Make a Difference!
1
ftlr your community and for the earth! This
of Site Action Guide will help you organize your own s2r-
1B What's Your Ecological Address?
.:
projects to Give Water a Hand!
Map Your Watershed
3
iany of the best environmental service projects, young
pet-, :e work together with experts from businesses, govern-
8
1C What's Happening? Research Needs
ment or environmental organizations. Your group leader
can work with you to find a local expert, or Partner, who
2A What Does Experience Say?
can help you with your project. National Give Water A Hand
17
Get Input from an Expert
Partners, and the resources they offer, are listed in the
Leader Guidebook.
2B What Can We Do? Choose a Service Project
18
AWARDS
2C Who? What? When? Where? Plan for Action
21
You can use these materials at any time. If you choose tc
participate in Give Water A Hand during '94-95, your group
24
How's It Going? Keep on Track
3
has an opportunity to earn a Youth Earth Service Award.
These awards will be presented to selected participants at
25
4A We Did All That? Celebrate Success
the United Earth ceremonies in Washington, D.C. during
National Drinking Water Week, May 7 - 13, 1995.
26
4B What's Next? Take Next Steps
To apply for this award, you must complete your
project, fill out the recognition form (on page 27) and
send it in no later than March 1, 1995.
27
- Give Water A Hand Recognition Form
Anybody Out There?
PLANNING YOUR TIME
back cover
Get Partner Support
To complete a service project, your group needs a timeline.
There are nine activities in this book. Each activity has a
timeline estimating how long it will take. Take a few min-
utes now to fill in the dates when you think you will do each
activity. Remember, to apply for recognition, you must sub-
mit your application by March 1, 1995.
Completion Date:
Starting Date:
- V
You are heft
3 3-On Track
4B-Next Steps
3 2A-Input
4A- Celebration
3 1C-Research
2C-Plan
2B-Choose
3 1A-Why Water
1B-Ecologlcal Address
Target
Dates:
(Write in your target dote for each section)
WHAT TO DO RIGHT AWAY
PROJECT
NOTEBOOK
Order a topographic map of your site. See Leader Guide
1.
Use the Project
Notebook
to keep notes,
page 1 for instructions on ordering.
names
and phone
numbers.
You'll need
this information
Find a local water expert to help you with your project.
for the Give
2.
water A Hand
Recognit;on
See the back cover of this guide.
Form.
Your name:
Send in the registration form accompanying these
3.
materials.
Your group's
name:
li
3
GIVE WATER A HAND SCHOOL SITE ACTION GUIDE
1A) MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
w1-cov
YOUNG PEOPLE IN YOUNG PEOPLE IN
two nonpoint source educational
commercials to be aired on local TV
OHIO DID THIS!
CALIFORNIA
stations.
DID THIS!
Wouldn't it be fun to have a
THOUSANDS OF YOUNG
wetland on your school
Students in Pinar School in Santa
grounds? Students in the
PEOPLE AROUND THE
Rosa, California built structures to
Groveport Madison Schools in central
COUNTRY HAVE MADE A
reduce runoff from the student
Ohio are helping to restore 85 acres of
DIFFERENCE THROUGH
parking lot at their school. They re-
wetlands on school property. A com-
WATER CONSERVATION
searched different types of structures
mittee of students, teachers, adminis-
AND POLLUTION
and talked to manufacturers about
trators and community members
what type of storm water interceptor
PREVENTION PROJECTS.
oversees the project. Students have
to use. They also built an 80 foot
been studying the environment of the
long, 15 foot wide grass area to filter
YOU CAN ORGANIZE
proposed wetlands area and conduct-
runoff. The students then took water
YOUR OWN PROJECT
ing water quality tests. One said "I
samples up and downstream from
WITH HELP FROM
loved it."
their constructions, tested the water
EXPERTS IN YOUR
for pollution, and compared their re-
COMMUNITY.
sults with results from professional
labs. They are currently producing
WATER CYCLE
'7!:"Mtirn,
--,
-
r
.0090X
FrAwater I ake5
97.2%
Seas
Oceans
Atmosphere
2.%
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ew
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Grol.°Aiigater
drinking water
IX of all the earth's water is available
a,/ a iource of
Evaporation: Water changing to a
Evapotranspiration: Water evaporat-
Runoff: Rain or snow melt that flows
gas or vapor and disappearing into
ing from plants.
over land into rivers, lakes, reservoirs
the air.
or other bodies of water instead of
soaking into the ground.
Starting Date:
Completion Date-
You arc here...
J IA MI, W.11(
0 3-On Track
2A-Input
111-Ecological Address CI 1C-Research
4A-Celebration
O 2C -Plan
2B-Choose
4B-Next Steps
Target Date:
4
GIVE WATER A HAND SCHOOL SITE ACTION GUIDE
\A"
WHY IS
Unfortunately, people
do not always use water
wisely. We have used it
WATER SO
to carry away our waste.
Rir:0)39-:fit\ve9U1r.;
We've put hazardous
IMPORTANT?
materials in or on the
(Definitions
ground where they seep
of words
you might
Did you know that you are not know)
Pollution.
intc groundwater. We've
An undesirable
mostly water? You probably
change in air,
water or land
often used more water than
that can
/
cause harm to
drink six to eight cups of
human
health, animals
we need. Yet we can im-
or plants. Hazardous
water, milk, fruit juice, or soda each
chemi-
cals and animal
prove our water resource: by
waste, for
example, can
pollutants.
day. Animals and plants are almost all
be
conserving water at home,
water too. Three quarters of the earth
Conserve:
cleaning waste from cities
Using natural
resources, such
is covered with water, although most
water, in a
as
before it returns to rivers or
way which does
not harm them
or use them
of it can't be used by people, piants or
up.
lakes, and preventing pollut-
animals. So we don't just use water,
Hazardous
ants from washing into wa-
materials: Materials
that can
we at.-e water.
cause harm to
terways with the rain.
people or the
environment.
Groundwater:
Water found
Water makes life on earth possible.
in the ground
in cracks and
Brainstorm a list of the ways
spaces between
You depend on water for drinking,
particles.
rocks and soil
people can affect water.
cleaning, growing and processing
Water quality:
Try to think of both good
"Quality"
food, growing cotton for cloth, swim-
means how
or bad something
good
and bad ways. Keep your
is. Water
ming, fishing, boating, cooking, put-
must be good
quality, with
list; you'll add to it later.
very few pollutants,
before
ting out fires and generating electricity
we
can drink it safely.
through hydropower dams. Try to
Changing the small ways
think of one item or action that
that people affect water
doesn't involve water!
can have a big effect on
improving our water qual-
Water also connects us to the rest of
ity now and protecting it
plant and animal
the natural world
from future pollution.
communities depend on water in
What you do on your
many of the same ways: for food, wa-
farm or ranch, or in your
ter and shelter. Since every drop is
house, yard, road, parks,
used again and again, water is re-
businesses, and schools can conserve
cycled. We share this precious re-
water and improve its quality. You've
source with all other living things
already begun to make a difference by
past, present and future.
picking up this book. Keep going to
learn what you can do to Give Water a
Hand!
....
NEXT TIME:
...
..
.....
.
7
Bring all your maps, a sheet of clear
plastic as big as your biggest map
person-
10 ways you
(from art stores or office supply
List at least
stores), a piece of cardboard as big
ally use water.
as your map, thumb tacks, dry erase
markers, tissues and pencils. Your
group can make a bigger difference
if you team up with a local expert.
Invite him or her to come next time
to help and advise your group as
you map your watershed. (See the
water in
people affect
back cover of this guide if you
List how
bad ways.
don't yet have an expert to help
good and
you understand your site.)
2
5
GIVE WATER A HAND SCHOOL SITE ACTION GUIDE
B) MAP YOU R
.064 col
cs1
WATE RS H E
Amailing address helps the Post
To work on water issues, you should
In urban areas, streams sometimes
Office deliver letters to the
flow through pipes underground. If
know where your water comes from,
right place. An "ecological
where it goes after you use it, and
you live in a city or large town, ask an
address" can help you find rivers and
what streams, rivers, lakes or coastal
expert if there used to be any streams
streams in your community and help
areas are in your watershed. A good
or wet areas in town. In dry climates,
you find ways to work on water issues.
tool to help collect and record all of
streams and rivers may only flow after
Local streams empty into larger
this information is called a watershed
snowmelt or during the rainy season.
streams, rivers or lakes, which may
map. This will help later as you find
Look for dried-up waterways.
empty into a larger river, which emp-
out what needs to be done in and
ties into an ocean or the Great Salt
around your community and plan ser-
Lake. Your ecological address includes
vice projects to conserve and protect
all of the land (farms, towns, moun-
water.
tains) around these waterways.
Picture A Watershed
Starting Date:
Completion Date:
You are here_
J IA Why Water
J IR I «thIgic .I Address
O
2A-Input
J 3-On Track
1C-Research
2B-Choose
2C-Plan
O 4B-Next Steps
4A-Celebration
I
Target Date:
6
ACTION GUIDE
GIVE WATER A HAND - SCHOOL SITE
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
TO KNOW YOUR
ridr6Wiqt\v/rOilitri
WAT E R S H E D?
Watershed:
An area of land
'To pv'ofect YOU,' vivelAs,
where all
drains,
water
or "sheds", to
the same river,
reservoir
or other body
of water.
mouintains,ll
pl'otect yot.tv-
Altitude: How
many feet something
is above
sea level. (The
- Emperor Yu of Chino, 1,600 B.C.E.
sea is a good place
to start be-
cause it is nearly
the same height
world.)
all around the
Topographic
ou are part of a watershed. This means that everything you do
map: A map
with lines to
the height
show
for better or
can affect nearby surfacewater and groundwater
or altitude of hills,
valleys, moun-
tains, etc. Each
worse. This watershed is a geographical community which in-
line connects
altitude.
points at the
same
cludes all the humans, plants and animals who live in it and non-living
Waterbody:
parts, such as rocks and soil. As China's Emperor Yu understood long
A specific
area where water
found, such
is
as streams, rivers,
ago, whatever happens upstream in a watershed affects everything
wetlands,
reservoirs,
ponds,
groundwater, lakes,
downstream. To improve the water quality of a stream, look at the
or oceans.
Wastewater
whole area it drains. Anything dumped on the ground in the water-
(sewage)
treatment
plant: A
place where
shed can end up in its waterbody. What's more, we all live down-
used water (from
toilets, washing
machines, industries)
is pumped
stream.
to be cleand
and purified before
it is returned
ways.
to local wateer-
Think about this: most of us drink water from our local watershed.
Septic tank:
An underground
Although some people get water from elsewhere (Los Angeles gets
storage tank
for
wastes from homes
with no
water from distant mountains, for example), most of us get it from a
sewer line to
treatment plant.
a
It may come directly from a pri-
local well or a nearby lake or river.
vate well. More likely it comes indirectly through a government
water department or utility. The utility draws water from a nearby
source, and some of them treat or clean it, then they pipe it to homes, schools
and businesses.
After water is used, it goes down the drain, to a private septic system, or through
the sewer to a wastewater treatment plant. There it is treated, or cleaned, before
it is sent back into local lakes, oceans or rivers. You can help yourself and the
public utilities by using less water and by keeping pollutants out of wastewater.
---
--------
-----
----
watershed.
Describe your
and animals
of plants
What kinds
city or the
Is it in a
live in it?
a rain
story about
country? Tell a
school site.
falls on your
drop that
drinking
your school's
Where does
from?
water come
school's
your
Where does
go?
wastewater
Watershed Map.
Keep your
later.
You'll need it
4
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GIVE WATER A HAND SCHOOL SITE ACTION GUIDE
MAPPING THE WATERSHED
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Look at the Sample Topographic Map on page 5. This map includes the watershed
pictured on page 7. Can you find this watershed on the map? See Using Maps, page 7
Topographic map or maps
in the Leader Guidebook if you need to learn more about how to read maps.
which include your school
site and any other maps you
To complete these activities on your maps, you may need help from a local water
have collected of the area,
expert. See Get Partner Support on back cover for ideas on how to find and talk to helpful
a clear sheet of plastic as big
experts.
as your topographic map
(this plastic is called mylar or
acetate and is available at art
supply stores or office supply
stores for a few dollars),
a piece of cardboard as big
as your map,
thumb racks,
dry erase markrrs & tissues
HOW TO DRAW THE OUTLINE OF YOUR OWN WATERSHED.
the waterbody Cat drains your
From these 'Xs", draw arrows on
5)
Place the clear sheet of plastic
1)
school's watershed?
your map to show the flow of
over the topographic map
runoff. Which direction will rain
(topo map) and tack both onto
Two small streams can be part of
or snow that falls on your school
the cardboard. If you don't have
a larger river's watershed. What
flow? Where does runoff flow
plastic, make a photocopy of the
larger watershed is your school
into waterbodies?
map and draw on it in pencil.
in? Write the name on your map.
Think like water. Water always
On the topo map, find and mark
2)
Bring the map outside. Where is
8)
flows down hill.
It always takes
your school. A road map can
the highest point of land you can
If you gu out-
the easiest path.
help you find things.
see? Walk to that point. Is your
side and look or walk down hill
school at the top or bottom of a
Find the streams, ditches,
3)
never going
from your school
hill? Where does water go when
marshes, lakes, oceans or rivers
up you will come to a
it rains or snows? Can you see
closest to the school and mark
waterbody sooner or later. Re-
the nearest waterbody? Can you
them in blue on the map.
member, it may flow
see hills, mountains, buildings,
underground in pipes. Look for
If runoff flows mainly through
airports, power lines, railroad
openings where water enters the
street gutters and into storm
tracks or other things that are on
storm drains.
sewers, there may not be a
the map? Look at your map and
stream close by. Even water
find these features.
flowing underground through
Where does your school get its
9)
Look at the Sample Watershed
6)
pipes must drain into a body of
drinking water? The school custo-
It has the out-
Map on page 7.
water at some point. You may
dian can help you figure out this
lines of watersheds already
want to ask a staff person from
question and the next one. Your
drawn. Look at the arrows show-
the city government to visit and
may also need to call the water
ing where water flows. The
demonstrate how the storm wa-
utility that pumps water to your
outline of each watershed is be-
ter system handles runoff from
Find and mark the source
school.
tween waterbodies, mostly along
your school site.
or sources if they are on your
the tops of ridges or hills.
map.
On your own map, find the high-
7)
Use the contour lines and num-
4)
10) Where does your school's waste-
est ground (the hills and ridges)
bers on the topo map to find the
water go? Wastewater may be
between two waterbodies. Draw
highest and lowest points around
filtered through a septic tank or
a line along the highest points
your school. Mark the hilltops
pumped through underground
(connecting the "Xs" on hill tops)
with "Xs".
pipes to a wastewater treatment
completely around your stream,
plant. Find it and mark it if it's on
including its bottom end or
your map.
"mouth." What is the name of
N EXT TIME:
Make enough copies of the Needs Checklist for each person or team. Get permission from the principal to do the Needs
your school.
Checklist
6
9
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