Foundation Exemplars/Water Bodies

AIMS:

To provide a greater understanding of key terms relating to the water cycle, an appreciation of water bodies, water pollution and how water bodies can be purified

OUTCOMES:

•Understand the meanings of the terms: evaporation, transpiration, condensation and precipitation

•Contribute ideas and use strategies to compare and evaluate information presented

•Make notes on the parameters used to monitor water quality (temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen) & the process for purifying water bodies

MATERIALS/RESOURCES:

•Student workbook for Level 2, Project 4 - 'Why do we need water?'

•Access to Second Life (SL) with headsets

•YouTube links for Lake Savers & Genesis Project video on Mahopac HS main page:

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:

•Brainstorm questions on water, water quality & the purification of water in lakes & streams

•Prelog computers into SL with an avatar ready

•Students select a computer, familiarise themselves with moving, sitting, walking, zooming in, using text & voice chat

•Introduce guest speaker Jack Mosel (Earth Science teacher from Webutuck High School, former teacher at Mahopac High School & joint owner of Lake Savers - contact Jack on Facebook)

•Watch two videos, then a 20 minute interactive session with Jack using in-world PowerPoint

•Visit to Better World: The Centre for Water Studies sim dedicated to increasing the understanding and appreciation of water habitats

•Discuss presentation, visit, & give feedback in groups, then complete notes

EVALUATION:

•Check as students ask and answer questions in the session – all students must participate at least once

•Notes submitted for checking of Literacy note-taking competency (Project work in foundation is competency based)

•Final project portfolio report on an aspect of water that has been researched