Curated OER
China's Three Gorges Dam
A very well-done resource includes an informational reading passage describing the controversy and impact of China's Three Gorges Dam. It also includes eight guided reading questions, a pros/cons arguments chart, and a creative writing...
Curated OER
Youth Activity: How People Get Their Water Reservoirs: "Holding Tanks" for Drinking Water
Learners experience and participate in "Riding the Water Cycle" with this lesson. They explore, analyze and study the role of reservoirs in maintaining a reliable supply of drinking water. Each student constructs a model of a reservoir.
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
How Can a Dam Affect a River? Activity B
Second in a pair of activities, young ecologists continue to examine the food pyramid of a freshwater ecosystem. They take a look at the food pyramid drawn in Activity A and consider what would happen if a reservoir was created on the...
Curated OER
"Tri-County" Project--Rivers Lakes Reservoirs
Students examine data about the rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in the state of Nebraska. An understanding of the political implications of boundaries is developed.
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
How Can Work Be Done with Water Power? Activity C
Third in a set of lessons regarding reservoirs, dams, and hydropower, this involves a two-day hydropower plant simulation. Collaborative groups build, maintain, and finance the plant. The transparency of the reservoir setup can be...
Curated OER
Biodiversity Debate - Stream Side Science
Role play community members who are both for and against the construction of a dam. Research the pros and cons and then hold a classroom debate. This activity ideally follows a series of stream studies, links to which are included. Use...
Curated OER
Falling Water
Young scholars drop water from different heights to demonstrate the conversion of water's potential energy to kinetic energy. They see how varying the height from which water is dropped affects the splash size. In seeing how falling...
Curated OER
Generating Power
Learners construct a working model of a turbine and explain how water generates power. By the end of the lesson, they list the effects of Kingsley Dam on people, plans, and animals -- both positive and negative.
Curated OER
Water Conservation/ Pollution: Why is the Water Running?
Students consider water conservation and chemical pollution of water. In this water use instructional activity, students discover how water towers and dams are used to take water to desired locations. Students also discuss the effects of...
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
How Can a Dam Affect a River? Activity A
Written for Washington state students in life science, this lesson provides an opportunity to examine the residents of local freshwater habitats. You or the class collects a water sample, and learners try to examine what organisms live...
Curated OER
Whose Water Is It?
Students role-play as San Francisco residents in 1908 who support or oppose the building of a dam in Yosemite National Park. They create posters and write letters to representatives defending their positions.
Curated OER
Looking At Dams
Students examine the importance of dam projects in the Kansas-Lower Republican River Basin. Students create and experiment with a model of an earthern dam.
Curated OER
No One's a Winner!
Students create two-dimensional maps showing the affects of a dam on those living both above and below the dam. Students discover the importance of educating the public before the construction of a dam.
Curated OER
Lake Billy Chinook
Students explore aerial photographs and maps of Round Butte Dam. They examine the land modifications necessary to create a dam. After reading a book about building a dam, students compare the environmental impact of Lake Billy Chinook to...
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Designing the Wilderness - The Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir
High schoolers study the controversy over building the Hetch Hetchy Dam and determine their points of view regarding the use of public lands.
Curated OER
Where, Oh Where, Has That Water Gone?
Students study the benefits of reservoirs while locating and identifying water sources that flow into Tuttle Creek Reservior.
K12 Reader
Water Carves the Land
What affect do bodies of water have on the world around us? Kids can find out by reading this passage. After reading, they answer five questions related to the text.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Hetch Hetchy: The Story of San Francisco's Water
How did San Francisco supply enough water for its residents over the last two centuries? Learn about droughts and water conservation in California, as well as specific historical events that led to the water system today. Kids read two...
Curated OER
Water Conservation
Middle schoolers explore the need for water conservation. In this water conservation lesson, students use videos for discussion about water conservation and the benefits and drawbacks of different water management techniques. They...
Curated OER
The Three Gorges: Should Nature or Technology Reign?
Students examine the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China. In this Three Gorges Dam lesson, students research Internet sources pertaining to the dam. Students discuss the geography and culture of East China as they prepare for...
Curated OER
An Uphill Swim
Students explore the concepts and engineering principles used in a canal lock system and apply those concepts to navigate a boat through a working model of a canal lock waterway.
Curated OER
Flood Control Project
Students examine the reasons why dams were built in Nebraska. They identify factors that need to be considered when building a dam. They create a dam of their own.
Curated OER
Biodiversity Debate
Ninth graders debate the positive aspects of dam construction. They discuss how a dam changes the ecosystem. In groups, 9th graders research and gather information for a debate. They state their position and write a report supporting it....
Curated OER
Watersheds: The San Francisco Bay Watershed
Sixth graders make a model of a watershed. In this geography lesson, 6th graders view a shaded relief map of California and locate landmarks. Students examine the San Francisco Bay Watershed by following the journey of water through the...