Exploring the Underground World
Task 1
Pair up with a partner to draw a community and a cross section to
show the underground.
- Include a diagram of how the hydrological cycle works.
- Include surface water intrusion
- Include agricultural, Industrial, and residential activity
- Highlight potential hazards to groundwater contamination
Task 2
Investigate what other states and cities do to recycle household
chemicals, plastics, batteries, etc. and compare with your local
environmental center how such recycables are handled.
Design a brochure, flyer, or bumper sticker to campaign for better
recycling that will help prevent groundwater and surface water pollution.
Task 3
Divide into groups of 3 or 4 to designate a community well as a
well head protection area.
- Consider who your contacts will be to initiate the program.
- What training will be required?
- List what contaminants were found, if any.
Task 4
USGS Real-time Groundwater Data make a graph that projects the aquifer
level as population increases between two percent annually for the
next ten years? If website connections are not possible then make
up hypothetical data. Summarize your conclusions orally or as a
written report.
Task 5
Your neighbor across the street has started a wrecking service without
proper legal permission and has resulted in stock piling wrecked
cars for an indefinite period of time (junk yard). All neighborhood
residents are on private wells therefore do not have their water
tested daily for contaminants as would a public supply system. You
are concerned the wrecked vehicles are leaking hazardous waste on
the ground.
- List the hazardous substances that might contaminate the aquifer.
- What steps can you take to prevent this potential groundwater contamination
to occur? Example: petitions, city/council hearings, photos for
evidence, etc.)
National Science Standards
Unifying Concepts and Processes
- Systems, orders and organizations
- Evidence, models, and explanation
Science as Inquiry
Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
- Understanding about science inquiry
- Physical Science
- Properties and changes of properties in matter
- Motions and forces
- Transfer of energy
Life Science - Structure and function in living systems
- Regulation and behavior
- Population and ecosystems
Earth and Space Science - Structure of the earth system
- Earth history
Science and Technology - Understanding about science and technology
Science in Personal and Social Perspectives - Personal Health
- Populations, resources, and environments
- Natural hazards
- Risks and benefits
- Science and technology in society
History and Nature of Science - Science as a human endeavor
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