The New Currency - Water Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 7-8 grades
Subject matter: Science, Social interaction with environment
Time allotment: 2 class periods, over 2 week span

Overview:
In the West, Water is a "hot" topic. With the increasing population and current weather patterns, water users in the West are facing some hard decisions on water and its usage. What can be done now to stave off shortages in the future? This lesson plan helps students develop an awareness of the need to develop responsible water usage habits.

Objectives:
Students will be able to understand water is a critical resource for life.
Students will be able to discuss their water usage and find ways to conserve water.

Procedures: View the video segment (also available on DVD) about urban water. Give students a focus for media interaction - ask them to pay close attention to the video segment, identify the "problem," and be ready to discuss the issues presented in the video.

Discussion:

A) What is the problem?

B) Why did they say water will be good as gold?

C) Why is water such a critical resource?

Post Viewing Activity:

Have students predict how much water it takes to wash their hands.

Have volunteer come up to wash their hands and capture the water used while washing hands in dishpan.

Have 2 other volunteers come up and pour water into plastic gallon jugs to measure the amount used.

How close were the predictions?

Discuss with students how much water they think they might use in a twenty-four hour period.

Prompt students to think about additional activities that entail using water… i.e. cooking dinner, laundry etc.

Hand out water usage charts.

Have students estimate and record the amount of water they think they use in a twenty-four hour period and for a week on their Water Usage Chart.

Discuss their estimates.

Culminating Activity
The following week have students bring in their completed water usage charts.

Discuss students water usage for the week. Were the predictions close? Were they surprised at the amount of water they used in a week? (Estimates vary on the water usage per person but most estimates are between 80-100 gallons of water per day.)

Review the video segment. (Also available on DVD)

What are some possible solutions?

What steps can students take to reduce their water usage? Discuss.

Given students answers there may additional extensions that can be incorporated if there is enough class time.

Extensions:
Use spreadsheet software to perform calculations.

Invite hydrologist in to discuss further conservation efforts.

Make posters to post in school to increase student body awareness of conservation strategies.

Track water usage from their water meters.

Find ways to reduce usage.

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