EDUCATION PROGRAM
Protecting Water at the Source
Grade Range: 8–12
Duration: 2 hours and 45 minutes
In this interactive environmental science program, students will learn about the importance of watersheds and will be challenged to make connections between historical and modern-day water issues. Students will learn about the problems that led to the development of the public waterworks system in Boston and how the system evolved over time to meet the needs of the growing city. Students will then be encouraged to consider solutions to modern-day problems such as Environmental Justice issues and Urban Watershed Management through map analysis, group discussion, and hands-on activities with our watershed model.
$5 per student
Enduring Understanding
Watershed protection is crucial to preserving the water we use and the environments we live in. Watershed degradation does not impact everyone equally, but there are steps that we can take to work on making our watersheds safe for everyone.
Essential Question
What steps can be taken to keep our watersheds healthy?
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Understand the importance of watershed protection
- Identify some key watershed management practices for developing areas and how they can be implemented in various situations
- Identify sources of degradation and pollution within a watershed
- Design and implement a watershed management plan using the Enviroscape Watershed Model
- Compare and contrast historical and modern-day water issues
- Understand how increased immigration, urbanization, and industrialization led to the need for a public waterworks system in Boston
- Understand the basic concepts of Environmental Justice
- Analyze maps to identify Environmental Justice trends in Massachusetts
Curriculum Connections
Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Standards:
HS LS2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy and Dynamics:
HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
HS. Engineering Design:
HS ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller problems that can be solved through engineering.
HS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity:
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Science and Engineering Practices – Developing and using models:
Modeling in 9-12 builds on K-8 experiences and progresses to using, synthesizing, and developing models to predict and show relationships among variables between systems and their components in the natural and designed world(s).
- Use a model to provide mechanistic account of phenomena (HS-ESS2-4)
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
ESS3.A: Natural Resources
- Resource availability has guided the development of human society. (HS-ESS3-1)
- All forms of energy production and other resource extraction have associated economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical costs and risks as well as benefits. New technologies and social regulations can change the balance of these factors.
ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
- The sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources. (HS-ESS3-3)
- Scientists and engineers can make major contributions by developing technologies that produce less pollution and waste and that preclude ecosystem degradation. (HS-ESS3-5)
ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
- When evaluating solutions, it is important to take into account a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, and to consider social, cultural, and environmental impacts. (secondary to HS-ESS3-2), (secondary HS-ESS3-4)
Upcoming Events
Current Exhibit
A Walk Around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir
Join us for this unique look at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir (past and present) and submit your photos to become a part of this special exhibition!