That Is The Question? By Rob Lowman

STS Module On Human Impact on Lakes and Rivers and our Environment! 8th Grade Science Earth’s Changing Surface You and the Environment Days

Topic Increasing development along the Catawba River shores. Increasing development along the Catawba River shores. Destruction of wildlife Destruction of wildlife Destruction of Natural resources Destruction of Natural resources Destruction of Ecosystem Destruction of Ecosystem

Rationale Science Concepts Covered: (NC Standard Course of Study) Competency Goal 1: The learner will build an understanding of the hydrosphere and its interactions. Objectives: Objectives: 1.01 Explain the composition, properties, and structure of the hydrosphere Explain the composition, properties, and structure of the hydrosphere Analyze hydrospheric data over time to predict the health of a water system: 1.02 Analyze hydrospheric data over time to predict the health of a water system: Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Alkalinity &Nitrates. Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, pH, Alkalinity &Nitrates Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms Assess human impact on water quality Assess human impact on water quality Evaluate the effects of point and non-point sources of pollution on North Carolina water Evaluate the effects of point and non-point sources of pollution on North Carolina water.

Science Concepts Covered: (NC Standard Course of Study) Cont. Competency Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of population dynamics. Competency Goal 2: The learner will build an understanding of population dynamics. Objectives: Objectives: 2.01 Evaluate data related to population growth, along with problems and solutions: 2.01 Evaluate data related to population growth, along with problems and solutions: Waste disposal, Food supplies, Disease control, Resource availability, & Transportation. Waste disposal, Food supplies, Disease control, Resource availability, & Transportation Conclude that some ecosystem resources are finite Conclude that some ecosystem resources are finite Explain how changes in habitat may affect organisms Explain how changes in habitat may affect organisms Analyze practices that affect the use, availability, and management of natural resources: 2.04 Analyze practices that affect the use, availability, and management of natural resources: Land use, Urban growth, Manufacturing. Land use, Urban growth, Manufacturing.

Why Use STS? Increase hands on activities to allow students to take ownership of their education Increase hands on activities to allow students to take ownership of their education Address the concerns or questions the students may have concerning the Hydrosphere and Population Dynamics Address the concerns or questions the students may have concerning the Hydrosphere and Population Dynamics Enhance the creativity of each student Enhance the creativity of each student Students will become more curious about their environment Students will become more curious about their environment

NC Strands Nature of Science: Nature of Science: Science as a human endeavor Science as a human endeavor Nature of scientific knowledge Nature of scientific knowledge Historical perspectives Historical perspectives The Standard Course of Study for Middle School Science provides unifying threads of understanding to weave through the integrated science content goals and objectives for middle school. The strands include the following goals: The Standard Course of Study for Middle School Science provides unifying threads of understanding to weave through the integrated science content goals and objectives for middle school. The strands include the following goals:

NC Strands 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 manipulation of materials, scientific equipment, and technology. Ability to perform safe and appropriate manipulation of materials, scientific equipment, and technology. Mastery of integrated process skills. Mastery of integrated process skills. acquiring, processing, and interpreting data acquiring, 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 Strands Science and Technology: What technologies are. What technologies are. Ability to perform technological design. Ability to perform technological design. Understanding science and technology. Understanding science and technology. Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Personal and community health. Population growth. Environmental quality. Natural and human-induced hazards. Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges. Careers in science and technology.

Introduction of STS Topic Students will go on a Field Trip to a local public access on the Catawba River. Students will go on a Field Trip to a local public access on the Catawba River. Representative from the NC Wildlife Department will speak to students on a wide range of topics concerning the river and the land surrounding. Representative from the NC Wildlife Department will speak to students on a wide range of topics concerning the river and the land surrounding. Students will take water samples and organisms and gather insects to be used later in an exploratory activity. Students will take water samples and organisms and gather insects to be used later in an exploratory activity. Students will research local newspapers on the development of land around the river. Students will research local newspapers on the development of land around the river.

Potential Direction of Study What are Natural Resources? What are Natural Resources? What is Wildlife? What is Wildlife? Why are the lakes, rivers, and oceans in danger? Why are the lakes, rivers, and oceans in danger? What does the construction of houses have to do with the river and us? What does the construction of houses 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 this problem? What is the community doing about this problem? What can we do as students? What can we do as students?

Questions Cont. Why should I care what happens to the river? Why should I care what happens to the river? What causes pollution? What causes pollution? What is Water Quality? What is Water Quality? Why does temperature affect how fish live? Why does temperature affect how fish live? If the water runs out can we make more? If the water runs out can we make 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 Activities Stream Profile Lab: Analyzing the water quality Stream Profile Lab: Analyzing the water quality Growth Potential Lab: Determining the best water quality for fish production and growth Growth Potential Lab: Determining the best water quality for fish production and growth Students will bring in water samples from different areas of the county and river to be analyzed Students will bring in water samples from different areas of the county and river to be analyzed Conduct Research on the Internet and explore Interactive Learning Sites Conduct Research on the Internet and explore Interactive Learning Sites Guest Speakers from: Guest Speakers from: Water Treatment Plant Water Treatment Plant Lumber Processing Plant Lumber Processing Plant Fish Hatchery Fish Hatchery

Resources Charlotte Nature Museum Charlotte Nature Museum NC Aquarium NC Aquarium Catawba Science Center Catawba Science Center NC Wildlife Department NC Wildlife Department Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) County Planners County Planners Sheriff and Fire Marshal Sheriff and Fire Marshal Manager of Local Building Supply Manager of Local Building Supply Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce Internet Internet

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

Science Concepts Wildlife Habitats Wildlife Habitats Water Quality Water Quality Runoff Runoff Erosion Erosion Drainage Drainage Groundwater Groundwater Water Table Water Table Ecosystem Ecosystem Pollution Nonrenewable & Renewable Resources Point & Non-point Source Conservation Recycle

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!

Evaluation Paper-pencil test on topics that have been discussed. Paper-pencil test on topics that have been discussed. Evaluation of the data they have collected and the experiments that have been conducted. Evaluation of the data they have collected and the experiments that have been conducted. Interactive Internet Learning Assessments. Interactive Internet Learning Assessments. Clean Up at local Lake or River Clean Up at local Lake or River Observe Earth Day Observe Earth Day Daily Journal Daily Journal