Lesson VI: Water Conservation Introduction Water users can be divided into two basic groups: system users (such as residential users, industries, and farmers) and system operators (such as municipalities, state and local governments, and privately owned suppliers). These users can choose from among many different water use efficiency practices, which fall into two categories: Engineering practices: practices based on modifications in plumbing, fixtures, or water supply operating procedures Behavioral practices: practices based on changing water use habits This lesson explores a number of water use efficiency practices. The practices have been evaluated by many researchers, and there is a growing body of literature that presents the results of many studies related to water use efficiency. This lesson addresses the following questions: What's the problem? What practices might be used to solve it? How effective are they? What do they cost? Where have they been used successfully? Practices for system users residential, industrial/commercial, and agricultural are presented first, followed by practices for system operators. Objectives Students will explore and discuss water conservation practices. Students will answer the following questions related to water conservation practices: What's the problem? What practices might be used to solve it? How effective are they? What do they cost? Where have they been used successfully? Students will develop and share k-6 lesson plans. Students will complete all culminating activities. Students will develop an electronic portfolio that includes all activities completed during the Earth Science module on the Hydrosphere. Activities Students will study and discuss the conservation information on the website http://www.epa.gov/OW/you/chap3.html. Students will review end discuss the water conservation information or the following NASA website: http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/library/displayDir.cfm? Internal_ID=N_PG_8570_0001_&page_name=Chp8 Cooperative learning groups will present information from assigned research. Students will develop and share related k-6 lesson plans. Culminating Research Activities for Module Identify and describe major cloud formations (i.e., cumulus, cirrus, etc.) Using your knowledge of cumulus clouds develop a weather forecast (optional) Research recent discoveries by NASA related to water on the planet Mars Compare and contrast the hydrosphere of Earth with that of Mars Develop an annotated bibliography of websites as references for the study of the Hydrosphere Develop an annotated bibliography of books and periodicals that reference the hydrosphere and its significance to earth Develop a unit plan on the Hydrosphere Develop eight (8) lesson plans, one for each grade level (K-6), emphasizing major aspects of the hydrosphere. How NASA Studies Water (Kids Site) -http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/water.htm Water on Mars (Kids) -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/news/2000/news%2Dmarswater.asp Learning About Clouds -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/2002/news%2Dclouds.asp Science and Icebergs -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/news/1999/news%2Diceberg.asp Watching Soil Moisture from Space (Kids) -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/news/2001/news%2Dsoil.asp Frequently Asked Questions About El Nino (Kids) -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/earth/weather/el%2Dnino/faq.html Flying Through A Hurricane -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/news/2002/news%2Dcamex.asp Deep Sea Expedition -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/news/2001/news%2Dthermalvent.asp Big Cities Make It Rain -http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/news/1999/news%2Datlanta.asp Develop an electronic portfolio of all activities from the learning module on the Hydrosphere. [Return to Home Page]