The next several lessons will allow you to explore water, its properties, and its protection all on your own.

 Below is a list of each of the activities you will complete for the next several days:

 Day 1:1. Take an introductory quiz on water

  2. Explore the properties of water on-line

  3. Retake the quiz on water

 Day 2: 1. Learn about water processing and water    consumption.

  2. For homework: Record your family's    water consumption for a week.

 Day 3: 1. Learn about watersheds

  2. Answer the questions attached and turn

   them in before leaving class. 

 Day 4: 1. Learn about the Chicago Area      Watershed.

  2. Answer the questions included and turn

   them in before leaving class.

 Please read the directions for each day very carefully so that you do not miss any steps or forget to turn in any work.

Day 1: An Introduction to Water

  Water is a marvelous substance. Its chemical symbol is H2O which means that it has two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. 

 The world's oceans cover over 75% of the surface of this planet. Water provides the necessary ingredient for life to exist on this planet. It is truly a remarkable molecule!

 1. Before you go any further in your exploration of water, click here to take a quick quiz about what makes water so remarkable. Be sure to record your answers on a piece of paper! 

 Remember that you can always click on the 'Back' button to get back to this page.

 2. When you have finished with your quiz, go on to read more about water. To do so, click here. Take a look at the section titled water basics and the sections called water properties and capillary action.

 3. Now that you have read about water, click here to retake the quiz. Be sure to record your answers on a piece of paper! When you have finished, return to this page to answer the questions below. Your answers to the questions, as well as your quiz answers should be turned in before you leave the classroom today.

 a. Water has the ability to 'stick to itself' which   creates surface tension. Give an example of why   surface tension is helpful.

 b. Water has a high specific heat. This means that  it will hold its temperature for a long time.  Therefore, it takes a long time for water to warm up  in the summer and cool down in the winter. Why/when  would this be helpful? 

Day 2: Just how much water do we really use?

 Where does water come from? What happens to water before it reaches your faucet? Click here to find out. When you have finished, complete the following:

  a. Draw a picture of the steps of the water cycle and list three types of precipitation.  (To do this, click on "earth's water" and then click on "water cycle".

  b. Click on "wastewater treatment" and take a tour of a treatment plant.

 Planet Earth is suffering from a water shortage. Much of the earth's water is not fresh water, but salt water, and much of it is dirty. There are parts of the planet that receive no fresh water. Human consumption of water has a direct impact on the water shortage.

 Think about all of the different things you use water for every day. All of the activities listed below are dependent upon water:

  Washing Dishes

  Washing Clothes

  Bathing/Showering

  Brushing your Teeth

  Cooking

  Flushing the Toilet

  Drinking Water

 Can you think of any other activities that require water?

 Homework:

1. Why do you think there is such a shortage of water? If the water cycle recycles water, what is happening to all of that water? Why can't it be used?

2. Over the course of the next week, record your family's water consumption using the chart that follows. You may consider leaving a copy of the chart in each bathroom of your house, as well as in the kitchen. This will enable you to be a bit more accurate.

Calculate Your Family's Water Usage

 In this activity you are going to keep track of your family's water usage for one week. You will keep your records on this piece of paper. You will probably need to tell your family about what you are doing so that they can help you keep track. You may even think about leaving a checklist near the toilets, the showers, and the sinks in your house so that people in your family can help you keep track of when the water is used.

DAY 1

Wash Hands   times   Dishwasher  times

Toilet    times   Shower-10min.  times 

Teeth Brushing   times

DAY 2

Wash Hands   times   Dishwasher  times

Toilet    times   Shower-10min.  times 

Teeth Brushing   times

DAY 3

Wash Hands   times   Dishwasher  times

Toilet    times   Shower-10min.  times 

Teeth Brushing   times

DAY 4

Wash Hands   times   Dishwasher  times

Toilet    times   Shower-10min.  times 

Teeth Brushing    times

DAY 5

Wash Hands   times   Dishwasher  times

Toilet    times   Shower-10min.  times 

Teeth Brushing   times

DAY 6

Wash Hands   times   Dishwasher  times

Toilet    times   Shower-10min.  times 

Teeth Brushing   times

DAY 7

Wash Hands   times   Dishwasher  times

Toilet    times   Shower-10min.  times 

Teeth Brushing   times

 Now that you have kept track of the water you use for 7 days, add up the number of times for each activity and fill in the chart below.

Wash Hands   times X  2 gallons=  gallons 

Dishwasher   times X  12 gallons=  gallons

Toilet    times X  7 gallons=  gallons

Shower (10min.)   times X  50 gallons=  gallons

Teeth Brushing   times X  2 gallons=  gallons  

   Total Number of Gallons/Week: 

Answer these questions:

1. Do you think that your family uses more water than they really need in one week? Explain.

2. What are some things that you and your family could do to cut down on the amount of water you use in one week?

3. Do you think that these calculations are accurate? Why or why not?

4. Graph your results. ('x' axis = activity, 'y' axis = gallons of water)

Day 3: An Introduction to Watersheds

 What is a watershed? You now know all about water and why it is so important to us, but what about the bodies of water around us? 

 Click here to explore watersheds and what they are all about. When you have finished, complete the following and turn it in at the end of class:

1. What is a watershed? Draw a picture that will help you remember what a watershed is.

 2. With whom/what do we share our watershed?

 3. Draw a picture that will represent how industry  effects watersheds.

Day 4: The Chicago Area Watershed

 You have a little background on watersheds now and it is time to explore the Chicago Area Watershed. All of the work you do today on this internet site should be on a separate piece of paper, to turn in at the end of class. 

 Click here and when you enter the site and do the following:

1. Enter your zip code in the box for zip code (if you are at Roosevelt High School the zip code is 60625)

2. Click on the blue link (it is a number).

 3. A picture of the Chicago Area Watershed should appear. Sketch a picture of the Chicago Area Watershed and place a star indicating Roosevelt High School (or your own school).

4. List the rivers and streams in your watershed. Which river/stream is nearest to where you live?

5.  Go to Environmental Information. Then go to Water Use.

a. What does Mgal/d mean?

b. How many Mgal/d of fresh ground water are used in the Chicago Area Watershed?

6.  Answer the following question: Based on what you know about water and watersheds, conservation and protection, what can you and your community do to protect your water resources? (Be sure to give specific examples) Why is this protection necessary?

**HINT: Your answer should be in essay format. I don’t think that you will be able to completely and effectively answer the question in less than 4 paragraphs.