A Case Study in Water Use: The Colorado River How do people depend on the Colorado River and share its water?

Preview

Preview Let’s review what you learned in the previous lesson. Find and name the states in the Southwest region. What places did you visit on the big rig tour? What geographic features did you learn about? What did you learn about the history of the region?

Preview Do you recognize this important geographic feature of the Southwest? It is the Colorado River, one of the longest rivers in the United States.

Preview In this lesson, we will find out how people in the Southwest depend on the Colorado River. Read Section 1, Introduction, in your Student Text (Page 169).

Preview Where does the Colorado River begin? Where does it end? Do other rivers flow into the Colorado River? Which ones? Through which states does the Colorado River flow? Which international border does the river cross?

Preview Let’s trace the route of the Colorado River. Identify the places and geographic features the river passes by.

Preview Can you think of a time when there wasn’t enough of something for everyone who wanted some? Turn to page 69 in your Interactive Student Notebook. Read the directions, and write about your experience. Who would like to share their stories? Briefly explain what happened, how you felt, and why. What is the best way to share something when there isn’t enough for everyone?

Preview In this lesson, you will learn how people have shared the use of the Colorado River. The Colorado River is an important source of water for people in the West and Southwest. It is an example of a limited resource. This means that there is not enough water in the Colorado River to supply water to all the people who want it.

Vocabulary Here are the key social studies terms we will learn in this lesson: Source Tributary River basin Drought Irrigation Reservoir Habitat Conservation wastewater

Reading Notes

Reading Notes Read Section 2, The First Settlers in the Colorado River Basin, in your Student Text (page 170). Use what you’ve learned to complete the map and answer the questions in your notebook (page 70). Now read Section 3, Explorers Arrive, in your Student Text (page 171). Use what you’ve learned to complete the map and answer the questions in your notebook (page 71).

Reading Notes Read Sections 4 through 6 in your Student Text (pages 172-174). Use what you’ve learned to complete the map and answer the questions in your notebook. Now read Sections 7 through 10 in your Student Text (pages 175-178).

Reading Further

Reading Further What does this photograph show? Can you imagine people living right here? What might be the challenges of living here? What might be the benefits of living here?

Reading Further These waterfalls are found in a remote area at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. A group of American Indians, the Havasupais, live nearby. You will learn about the role of water in the lives of the Havasupais. Read the Reading Further section, At Home in the Grand Canyon, in your Student Text (pages 180-183)

Reading Further Suppose you move to Supai, Arizona. Think about the ways water might affect your life there. Answer the questions on page 74 in your notebook. Let’s discuss our answers.

Reading Further Would water affect the kind of home you would build? How? Would it affect the kinds of foods you would eat? How? Would it affect the jobs you would do? How? Would it affect how you had fun? How?

Processing

Processing Read the Summary in your Student Text (page 179). Turn to page 75 in your Notebook. Let’s read the directions together. Now design your poster. Let’s share our posters. How do the posters help people understand the challenges of water use in the future?