Water

Description

This comprehensive unit on water is organized by subject area. Each subject area then takes a multidisciplinary approach to a specific water theme. Together these activities build understanding that water is essential to all life.

Descriptions of the Activities:

Introduction- Water

Students read a passage that describes water as a natural resource and its role in metabolism and photosynthesis. Water's properties as a solid, gas and liquid are introduced along with the topics of ocean salinity and water pollution.

Science Activity 1 - Salt Water vs. Fresh Water

Students conduct two simple density/buoyancy experiments, and answer reflective questions. They then research and draw the Plimsoll Mark and conduct two experiments to compare the freezing, melting, and boiling point of salt vs. fresh water. Students will read a short passage about Ph levels and carry out experiments to classify salt and fresh water according to Ph. The unit concludes with a simple corrosion experiment to introduce Acid Rain.

Science Activity 2- Living With Polar Bears

Students read about the Polar Bear's habitat and complete an independent research and writing exercise on the factors effecting Polar Bear populations. Students then investigate causes and effects of climate change, make predictions about future impacts and discuss ways they can help by using less energy. The culminating activity is a board game in which students review what they have learned about polar bears and climate change.

Social Studies Activity 3- Mapping our Water

Students examine graphs and calculate percentages relating to the amount and distribution of fresh water. They use maps to investigate the location and availability of the earth's water resources. A study of the importance of Canada's surface waters, groundwater aquifers and wetlands as providers of fresh water is also included.

Social Studies Activity 4 - Drought

This unit explores how human activity impacts on the earth's ability to provide. Students examine a case study about the Dust Bowl Drought, research the farming practices that contributed to the situation and explore causes and effects of human migration. As a culminating activity, students act on what they have learned by designing an ideal town with particular attention being paid to meeting demands on water.

Language Arts Activity 5 - What You Learned

Students complete both short and long answer quizzes and prepare a class presentation on one of themes explored in the four activities.

Supplementary materials and links intended to extend and value student learning experience are included in the Water - Wild Ideas Section.

Question	Response
What skills does this resource explicitly teach?	Testing for ph. Classifying linear vs. cluster settlements.
What important, related ideas/issues are not addressed in this resource?	Acidification of the oceans means all life is in danger. The polar ice is melting at a much faster rate than previously predicted. Rising sea levels create new problems. Desertification continues to occur worldwide.
What important ideas are implied by the resource, but not taught explicitly?	Water is precious. Everything is connected. We need to protect the Polar Bear. Uneven renewable water distribution could mean future mass migration to places that have it: Brazil, Russia, Canada. Our behaviour must change to protect our greatest resource.
To enhance this resource the following changes would be beneficial:	Build in an action component using some of the suggested links or LSF's Project Flow Initiative. Consider supplementing paper and pen lessons with Socratic discussion and some student project ideas.

Principle	Rating	Explanation
Bias Minimization	Very Good	Makes young people aware of the conservation issues we face in our country and around the world.
Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions	Very Good
Respects Complexity	Very Good
Action Experience	Poor/Not considered
Action Skills	Poor/Not considered
Empathy & Respect for Humans	Good	Cartooning the case study account of the black cloud must be accompanied by respect.
Personal Affinity with Earth	Good	Outdoor activities are not included
Locally-Focused	Very Good
Past, Present & Future	Very Good

Principle	Rating	Explanation
Open-Ended Instruction	Good	Guided inquiry with some open exploration.
Interdisciplinary and Multidisciplinary Learning	Very Good
Discovery Learning	Poor/Not considered	The science experiments are strictly guided as are the 'read and do' activities.
Values Clarification	Mediocre	There is little opportunity for discussion.
Differentiated Instruction	Good	No suggestions or accomodations for those with learning difficulties are provided.
Experiential Learning	Mediocre
Cooperative Learning	Mediocre
Assessment & Evaluation	Good	Summative assessment is provided for all components.
Peer Teaching	Mediocre
Case Studies	Very Good
Locus of Control	Mediocre

Step 1Select a province
Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 6
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    - Manage Ideas and Information
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- Grade 7
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    - Number Operations
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    - Interactions and Ecosystems
- Grade 8
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    - Manage Ideas and Information
  - Math
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    - Number Operations
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    - Freshwater and Saltwater Systems
British Columbia
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- Grade 6
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    - Reading and Viewing
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    - Human and Physical Environment
- Grade 7
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    - Reading and Viewing
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    - Number
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    - Ecosystems
- Grade 8
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    - Number
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    - Earth and Space Science: Water Systems on Earth
Manitoba
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- Grade 6
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    - Number
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    - Interactions Within Ecosystems
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    - People & Places in the World: World Geography
- Grade 8
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    - Number
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    - Water Systems on Earth
New Brunswick
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- Grade 6
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    - World Cultures: Environment and Culture
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    - Reading and Viewing
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    - Number
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  - Science
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    - Ecosystems
- Grade 8
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Other Ways of Represeting
  - Math
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    - Number Concepts/Number and Relationship Operations
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    - Water
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    - Atlantic Canada in the Global Community: Physical Setting
Newfoundland & Labrador
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- Grade 3
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    - Patterns and Relations
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    - Environment and Culture
    - World Issues
- Grade 7
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reading & Viewing
    - Writing & Other Ways of Representing
  - Math
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    - Number
    - Patterns and Relations
  - Science
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    - Interaction of Ecosystems
- Grade 8
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Other Forms of Representation
  - Math
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    - Number
    - Patterns
  - Science
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    - Water Systems on Earth's Surface
Northwest Territories
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- Grade 6
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    - Manage Ideas and Information
  - Math
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    - Number Operations
    - Patterns
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    - The Land: Places and People
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    - Manage Ideas and Information
  - Math
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    - Number Concepts
    - Patterns
  - Science
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    - Interactions and Ecosystems
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    - Canada: Origins, History and Movement of People
- Grade 8
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    - Manage Ideas and Information
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    - Number Operations
    - Patterns
  - Science
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    - Freshwater and Saltwater Systems
Nova Scotia
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- Grade 6
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Other Ways of Representing
  - Math
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    - Number
    - Patterns
  - Social Studies
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    - Environment and Culture
    - World Issues
- Grade 7
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  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Other Ways of Representing
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Number
    - Patterns and Relations
  - Science
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    - Interactions Within Ecosystems
- Grade 8
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Other Ways of Representing
  - Math
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    - Number Sense
    - Patterns and Relations
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    - Water Systems on Earth
  - Social Studies
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    - Decades of Change
    - Geographic Influences
Nunavut
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- Grade 6
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    - Manage Ideas and Information
  - Math
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    - Number
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    - Changing and Preserving Our Environment
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    - The Land: Place & People
- Grade 7
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Students use language to negotiate and manage information
    - Students will demonstrate an understanding of texts
  - Math
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    - Number Operations
    - Patterns
  - Social Studies
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    - Changes in the Circumpolar World
- Grade 8
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  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Students use language to negotiate and manage information
  - Math
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    - Number Operations
    - Patterns
  - Science
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    - Interactions in Our Environment
  - Social Studies
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    - Middle Societies
Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 6
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reading
    - Writing
  - Math
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    - Number Sense and Numeration
    - Patterning and Algebra
- Grade 7
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reading
    - Writing
  - Math
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    - Number Sense and Numeration
    - Patterning and Algebra
  - Science & Technology
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    - Interactions in the Environment
- Grade 8
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  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Writing
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Number Sense and Numeration
    - Patterning and Algebra
  - Science & Technology
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Water Systems
Prince Edward Island
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 6
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Other Ways of Representing
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Number Sense
    - Patterns and Relationships
  - Social Studies
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - World Issues
- Grade 7
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Representing
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Patterns & Relations
  - Science
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Interactions Within Ecosystems
- Grade 8
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Reading and Viewing
    - Writing and Representing
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Patterns & Relations
  - Science
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Water Systems on Earth
  - Social Studies
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Geographic Influences
Quebec
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 6
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - TO USE LANGUAGE TO COMMUNICATE AND LEARN
  - Math
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    - Reasoning Using Mathematical Concepts and Processes
- Grade 7
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
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    - Reads and listens to written, spoken and media texts
    - Represents her/his literacy in different media
    - Writes a variety of genres for personal and social purposes
  - Math
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    - Solves a situational problem
  - Science & Technology
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    - The Living World
- Grade 8
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Reads and listens to written, spoken and media texts
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Solves a situational problem
  - Science & Technology
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - The Living World
Saskatchewan
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 6
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - English Language Arts 6: Compose and Create
    - English Language Arts 6: Comprehend and Respond
  - Math
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    - Mathematics 6 : Number
- Grade 7
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  - English/Language Arts
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    - English Language Arts 7: Comprehend and Respond
  - Math
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    - Mathematics 7: Patterns and Relations
  - Science
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    - Science 7: Life Science: Interactions within Ecosystems
- Grade 8
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - English Language Arts 8: Compose & Create
    - English Language Arts 8: Comprehend and Respond
  - Math
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    - Mathematics 8 : Patterns and Relations
  - Science
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Science 8: Water Systems on Earth
Yukon Territory
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 6
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Communicate Ideas and Information
    - Comprehend and Respond
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Number Concepts
    - Patterns
  - Social Studies
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Environment
- Grade 7
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Comprehend and Respond
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Number Operations
    - Patterns
  - Science
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Ecosystems
- Grade 8
  - Step 3Select a subject
  - English/Language Arts
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Comprehend and Respond
  - Math
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Number Operations
    - Patterns
  - Science
    - Step 4Relevant matches
    - Global Ecosystems
    - Social Issues

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Water

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Description

General Assessment

Sustainability Education Principles

Pedagogical Approaches

Relevant Curriculum Units

Brought to you by

Water

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Description

General Assessment

Sustainability Education Principles

Pedagogical Approaches

Relevant Curriculum Units

Brought to you by