A Bullfrogs view of...

Our Local Watershed and Water Education for Young Minds...

Brentwood Elementary VESD Mrs. Bishop's Class
  


   
   

 

 

 

What is a Watershed?

 water shed

Watershed

A watershed is land from which the rainfall drains toward a river, lake or underground aquifer. It is the land itself, not the water.

Visualize

At your outdoor water source, in this case the Mojave River as it runs by Rockview Park, have students sketch the river and surrounding area. Shade in the section of the picture that represents the watershed.

Make a Model

Students work in groups.

MATERIALS: chart paper, construction paper, soluable markers, scotch tape, scissors, spray bottle of water.

  1. Crumple chart paper
  2. Then smooth out
  3. Place chart paper on construction paper, stopping one inch from edges.
  4. Trim edges with scissors if necessary. THIS IS THE LANDSCAPE OF LAKES AND MOUNTAINS.
  5. Use brown marker to color the mountain tops and ridges. THIS DEFINES THE WATERSHED BOUNDRIES.
  6. Predict where the rivers and lakes will be, color these areas with the blue marker.
  7. Use the spray bottle, heavily mist the paper. The colors and water will run.
  8. Let the paper dry.
  9. Were the predictions correct?
  10. EXTENSION: After paper has dried add dots of other colors to represent polluted items that have been dumped in the water shed. Again mist the paper and let dry. What happens to the new colors?

Managing the Watershed, a Debate

Sleepy Valley is a quiet peaceful community. It is situated around a magnificent lake. It has fallen on hard times economically. Recently the city council has received a petition from a large corporation.. The petition asks for permission to divert a substantial amount of water to create an indoor winter play area by creating man made snow using water from the lake.. They point out that the revenue and jobs created will support the city. It will however, lower the lake so that the size of boats must be limited to 25 feet and the Delta Green Ground Beetle might not survive. In addition there will be a waiting list created for sewer hook-ups needed by any news homes being built. There also might be a slight elevation in green house gases due to the air conditioned structures that will shelter the snow.

What should the city council do?

The class can debate allowing the construction of the indoor play area.

Students should be placed in teams of from four to eight, each team is divided into a Pro side and a Con side.

Debate format:
  1. PRO opening followed by CON opening. (The opening explains why you are for, PRO, allowing the construction. Or why you are, against, CON, the construction. Notes should be taken.)
  2. Two minute break, to review notes and prepare rebuttal.
  3. PRO Rebuttal followed by CON Rebuttal (Rebuttal is the argument that is presented to explain why the evidence that has been presented by the opposite side is not correct) Notes should be taken.
  4. PRO Response followed by CON Response (Response is a statement about what the opposite side said during the rebuttal)
  5. CON Summary followed by PRO summary (Summary explains what your side proved)
 

Follow the debate with a class discussion before a vote is taken.
What is a social traed off? Might a social trade off be necessary to find a solution?
Should the water be diverted?
Should the rights of the boaters be respected?
Should the Delta Green Ground Beetle be protected?
Should the city council look elsewhere for income?
What would the best solution be?
Will everyone be happy with your solution? Why?

Have class vote on the petition.