How Can We Protect and Clean Earth's Water?
How Can We Protect and Clean Earth's Water?
This module is currently being field tested and is not yet available for purchase.
How Can We Protect and Clean Earth’s Water? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to address a bundle of grade 5 engineering and earth and space science standards. In this module, students:
- Use evidence to develop a model explaining how human activities contribute to an ocean pollution problem
- Explain how the interactions of two components of Earth’s systems contribute to an ocean pollution problem
- Use evidence from graphed data and a simulation to explain how the atmosphere and geosphere interact to impact weather in two locations in California
- Design and build models of solutions to problems related to water scarcity and polluted water
- Test models of solutions to water-related problems and compare solutions based on how well they meet solution criteria and constraints
Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.
Family Letter
Dowload the Family Letter
Before starting How Can We Protect and Clean Earth’s Water?, share the Family Letter with students’ caregivers. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Ocean Plastic (1:58)
Download the Ocean Plastic Video
This video includes several clips to introduce the problem of macroplastic pollution in the ocean.
Ocean Intro
Download the Ocean Intro PDF
This file shows a graph of the amount of macroplastic pollution in the ocean over time.
Research Stations
Download the Research Stations PDF
This file shows images of the model trash materials and the two investigation setups students will use.
Earth Systems
Download the Earth Systems PDF
This file lists the questions students will answer during their text-based research.
Community Plastic
Download the Community Plastic PDF
This file provides information to support students as they design solutions to the ocean macroplastic pollution problem.
Local Solution
Download the Local Solution PDF
This file supports students in discussions about the role of engineering in society and in testing their model solutions.
Tulare Basin
Download the Tulare Basin PDF
This file provides an introduction to the landscape in the Central Valley of California and the Tulare Basin as students begin to define a water-related problem.
Precipitation
Download the Precipitation PDF
This file supports students as they graph precipitation data for locations relevant to the problem.
Rainfall Sandbox
https://carolinascienceonline.com/static-assets/marketing/RainfallSandbox0.1/index.html
Students use the simulation to research weather conditions associated with atmosphere-geosphere interactions.
World Water
Download the World Water PDF
This file supports students as they research the distribution of water on Earth.
Aquation Intro
Download the Aquation Intro PDF
This file introduces students to the Aquation game.
Aquation game
Play Aquation
Students play the strategy game to learn about existing solutions to water-shortage problems.
Tulare Solutions
Download the Tulare Solutions PDF
This file supports students as they test model solutions.
Atmospheric River
Download the Atmospheric River PDF
This file introduces students to a water pollution problem caused by excessive rainfall and flooding.
CV Solutions
Download the CV Solutions PDF
This file supports students in planning their solution materials testing.
CV Testing
Download the CV Testing PDF
This file supports students as they test and compare model solutions.
Kit Tips & Tricks