That Is The Question?By Rob Lowman

STS Module On STS Module On Human Impact on Human Impact on

Lakes and Rivers and Lakes and Rivers and our Environment!our Environment!

8th Grade Science

Earth’s Changing Surface

You and the Environment

10-15 Days

TopicTopic

Increasing development along the Increasing development along the Catawba River shores.Catawba River shores. Destruction of wildlifeDestruction of wildlife Destruction of Natural resourcesDestruction of Natural resources Destruction of EcosystemDestruction of Ecosystem

RationaleRationaleScience Concepts Covered: (NC Standard Science Concepts Covered: (NC Standard

Course of Study)Course of Study)

Competency Goal 1: The learner will build an Competency Goal 1: The learner will build an understanding of the hydrosphere and its understanding of the hydrosphere and its interactions.interactions.

Objectives:Objectives: 1.01 Explain the composition, properties, and structure of 1.01 Explain the composition, properties, and structure of

the hydrosphere.the hydrosphere. 1.02 Analyze hydrospheric data over time to predict the 1.02 Analyze hydrospheric data over time to predict the

health of a water system: health of a water system: Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Alkalinity &Nitrates. Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Alkalinity &Nitrates.

1.03 Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of 1.03 Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms.dissolved gases, and life forms.

1.04 Assess human impact on water quality.1.04 Assess human impact on water quality. 1.05 Evaluate the effects of point and non-point sources of 1.05 Evaluate the effects of point and non-point sources of

pollution on North Carolina water.pollution on North Carolina water.

Science Concepts Covered: (NC Science Concepts Covered: (NC Standard Course of Study) Cont.Standard Course of Study) Cont.

Competency Goal 2: The learner will build Competency Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of population dynamics.an understanding of population dynamics.

Objectives:Objectives: 2.01 Evaluate data related to population growth, along 2.01 Evaluate data related to population growth, along

with problems and solutions: with problems and solutions: Waste disposal, Food supplies, Disease control, Waste disposal, Food supplies, Disease control,

Resource availability, & Transportation. Resource availability, & Transportation. 2.02 Conclude that some ecosystem resources are finite.2.02 Conclude that some ecosystem resources are finite. 2.03 Explain how changes in habitat may affect 2.03 Explain how changes in habitat may affect

organisms.organisms. 2.04 Analyze practices that affect the use, availability, 2.04 Analyze practices that affect the use, availability,

and management of natural resources: and management of natural resources: Land use, Urban growth, Manufacturing.Land use, Urban growth, Manufacturing.

Why Use STS?Why Use STS? Increase hands on activities to allow Increase hands on activities to allow

students to take ownership of their students to take ownership of their education education

Address the concerns or questions the Address the concerns or questions the students may have concerning the students may have concerning the Hydrosphere and Population DynamicsHydrosphere and Population Dynamics

Enhance the creativity of each studentEnhance the creativity of each student Students will become more curious about Students will become more curious about

their their environmentenvironment

NC Strands NC Strands

Nature of Science:Nature of Science: Science as a human endeavorScience as a human endeavor Nature of scientific knowledge Nature of scientific knowledge Historical perspectives Historical perspectives

The The Standard Course of StudyStandard Course of Study for Middle for Middle School Science provides unifying threads of School Science provides unifying threads of understanding to weave through the understanding to weave through the integrated science content goals and integrated science content goals and objectives for middle school. The strands objectives for middle school. The strands include the following goals:include the following goals:

NC StrandsNC Strands

Science as Inquiry:Science as Inquiry: Ability to do scientific inquiry. Ability to do scientific inquiry. Understanding about scientific inquiry. Understanding about scientific inquiry. Ability to perform safe and appropriate Ability to perform safe and appropriate

manipulation of materials, scientific equipment, manipulation of materials, scientific equipment, and technology. and technology.

Mastery of integrated process skills.Mastery of integrated process skills. acquiring, processing, and interpreting dataacquiring, processing, and interpreting data identifying variables and their relationships identifying variables and their relationships designing investigations designing investigations experimenting experimenting analyzing investigations analyzing investigations constructing hypotheses constructing hypotheses Formulating models Formulating models

NC StrandsNC Strands

Science and Science and Technology:Technology:

What technologies What technologies are. are.

Ability to perform Ability to perform technological design. technological design.

Understanding Understanding science and science and technology.technology.

Science in Personal and Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:Social Perspectives:

Personal and community Personal and community health. health.

Population growth. Population growth. Environmental quality. Environmental quality. Natural and human-induced Natural and human-induced

hazards. hazards. Science and technology in Science and technology in

local, national, and global local, national, and global challenges. challenges.

Careers in science and Careers in science and technology.technology.

Introduction of STS Introduction of STS Topic Topic

Students will go on a Field Trip to a local Students will go on a Field Trip to a local public access on the Catawba River.public access on the Catawba River. Representative from the NC Wildlife Representative from the NC Wildlife

Department will speak to students on a wide Department will speak to students on a wide range of topics concerning the river and the range of topics concerning the river and the land surrounding.land surrounding.

Students will take water samples and Students will take water samples and organisms and gather insects to be used organisms and gather insects to be used later in an exploratory activity.later in an exploratory activity.

Students will research local newspapers on Students will research local newspapers on the development of land around the river. the development of land around the river.

Potential Direction of Potential Direction of StudyStudy

What are Natural Resources?What are Natural Resources? What is Wildlife?What is Wildlife? Why are the lakes, rivers, and oceans Why are the lakes, rivers, and oceans

in danger?in danger? What does the construction of houses What does the construction of houses

have to do with the river and us?have to do with the river and us? How do you become a wildlife officer?How do you become a wildlife officer? What is the community doing about What is the community doing about

this problem?this problem? What can we do as students?What can we do as students?

Questions Cont.Questions Cont. Why should I care what happens to the Why should I care what happens to the

river?river? What causes pollution?What causes pollution? What is Water Quality?What is Water Quality? Why does temperature affect how fish Why does temperature affect how fish

live?live? If the water runs out can we make If the water runs out can we make

more?more? What type of fish live in the lake?What type of fish live in the lake? What is a hydrosphere?What is a hydrosphere? What is population dynamics?What is population dynamics?

Learning ActivitiesLearning Activities Stream Profile Lab: Analyzing the water Stream Profile Lab: Analyzing the water

qualityquality Growth Potential Lab: Determining the best Growth Potential Lab: Determining the best

water quality for fish production and growthwater quality for fish production and growth Students will bring in water samples from Students will bring in water samples from

different areas of the county and river to be different areas of the county and river to be analyzedanalyzed

Conduct Research on the Internet and explore Conduct Research on the Internet and explore Interactive Learning SitesInteractive Learning Sites

Guest Speakers from:Guest Speakers from: Water Treatment PlantWater Treatment Plant Lumber Processing PlantLumber Processing Plant Fish HatcheryFish Hatchery

ResourcesResources Charlotte Nature MuseumCharlotte Nature Museum NC Aquarium NC Aquarium Catawba Science CenterCatawba Science Center NC Wildlife DepartmentNC Wildlife Department Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) County PlannersCounty Planners Sheriff and Fire MarshalSheriff and Fire Marshal Manager of Local Building SupplyManager of Local Building Supply Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce InternetInternet

Social ActionSocial Action

By writing letters to newspapers, county By writing letters to newspapers, county agencies, state agencies, congressman, local agencies, state agencies, congressman, local building suppliers, creating new environmental building suppliers, creating new environmental action clubs, and creating videos; students action clubs, and creating videos; students become involved in their own learning. They will become involved in their own learning. They will create awareness of the potential danger create awareness of the potential danger inherent with rising development. The students inherent with rising development. The students also become socially involved by conducting a also become socially involved by conducting a Town Hall meeting to discuss the issue and allow Town Hall meeting to discuss the issue and allow agencies and interest groups to voice their agencies and interest groups to voice their concerns and interest in order to discuss possible concerns and interest in order to discuss possible solutions. Also, a river clean up will be solutions. Also, a river clean up will be conducted during the year to help with the effort.conducted during the year to help with the effort.

Science ConceptsScience Concepts

Wildlife HabitatsWildlife Habitats Water QualityWater Quality RunoffRunoff ErosionErosion DrainageDrainage GroundwaterGroundwater Water TableWater Table EcosystemEcosystem

PollutionPollution Nonrenewable & Nonrenewable &

Renewable Renewable ResourcesResources

Point & Non-point Point & Non-point SourceSource

ConservationConservation RecycleRecycle

Students as Citizens:Projected Outcome Student becomes more aware of surroundings and current

events. Now that they are aware of the outcome, they can help

change other students thinking? Take their opinions to the city and state government. They can change the outcome for their children and future

generations. In the future, if they do not act, half of the land we have

now to sustain wildlife and filter our lakes, rivers and oceans will be gone.

They have acquired science knowledge to make better decisions and even devote themselves to a job that deals with the development and preservation of lakes, rivers, or even oceans.

Students may even think about how they can change government laws for the safety of our nation even the world.

Take an active stand in their community and save a protect their own backyards in the process of saving the World!

EvaluationEvaluation

Paper-pencil test on topics that have been Paper-pencil test on topics that have been discussed.discussed.

Evaluation of the data they have collected Evaluation of the data they have collected and the experiments that have been and the experiments that have been conducted.conducted.

Interactive Internet Learning Assessments.Interactive Internet Learning Assessments. Clean Up at local Lake or RiverClean Up at local Lake or River Observe Earth DayObserve Earth Day Daily JournalDaily Journal