Activities / Standards

Task 1
Xeriscape is a water conservative landscape. The area being landscaped consists of water efficient plants and organic or inorganic mulches. Design a landscape plan for a specific area of your school, home, park or other. Explain and rationalize the plan. (Be creative, it does not have to be the same as anyone elses, just be able to explain why you planned it the way you did). If materials are available, implement your plan. Keep the area size manageable, perhaps a 10 feet x 10 feet area. If you prefer a larger area just be sure to adjust your time and materials. Consider ways you will obtain the materials, supplies and equipment needed to accomplish this landscape project. Example: plant and mulch donations, scraps and recycables that may be reused for borders, bridges or decorations, remember use your imagination).

Task 2
You will perform an Indoor and Outdoor Water Use Review. (School or Home)

Indoor Use

• Read the Water Meter, check the leak indicator (this is a small dial that is located on the face of the big dial).
• First design a form or table to record the data. This may be done on a computer spreadsheet or simply with a ruler, pencil or markers.
• What type of toilet do you have? 1.6 gallon per flush, 3.5 gpf, or more.
• Check the toilet(s) for leaks. Drop three drops of food color (blue is best) into tank and wait a few minutes to see if the die has leaked into the toilet bowl, if so there is a leak.
• Check showerheads and faucets to measure how many gallons per minute the plumbing fixtures are using. To measure, use a 5 gallon bucket for the shower and a 2 quart sauce pan or any other measuring container that will fit in the sink. Measure how much water was used in one minute then calculate to determine how much was used in the time spent taking a shower or using the faucet.
• Identify and note any leaks. Determine how many drops of water it takes to measure one gallon then calculate how many gallons a leak will waste in one month.
• Time and record how long each person in your family uses the shower or leaves the sink running while brushing teeth, shaving, washing dishes, cleaning or preparing food, etc.

• Determine the type of the existing landscape. Does it have low water use or high water use plants? To help identify the plants, here are a few resources:
  • Check the school library for the El Paso Water Utilities Desert- Blooms CD-Rom, also available on the internet.
  • Obtain a comprehensive plant list from the El Paso Water Utilites, Water Conservation Department or the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Extension Service.
  • Public libraries and nurseries carry a variety of plant books or plant lists.
• Chihuahuan Desert internet links list native plants.
• What type of irrigation system has been installed? Is it an underground system? If so, does it have drip, sprayers, bubblers? Identify the differences of each and its specific uses. Is hand-held sprinkler attached to the garden hose? Is the air-conditioner bleed-off line diverted to water the landscape?
• Air Conditioner type (Refrigerated air conditioner or Evaporative Air Conditioner)
• Residential Car wash- Determine which uses more water, a commercial car wash or residential car wash.
• Swimming Pool-is the pool covered when not in use and how often is it drained, or backwashed? What type of filter system is there? Sand filter, Diatamaceous Earth or other. (Teachers can do a water filtration activity). After recording everything on the Indoor/Outdoor Water Use Review Form, do the calculations on the worksheet. A report needs to be prepared to recognize the water conservative methods, but also include areas of improvement, such as maintenance, individual or family water use behaviors and plant selection. List the current incentive programs offered locally or create your own ideas on incentive programs on promoting water conservation.
  (examples: Multimedia (documentaries, commercials, research, etc.) art work for posters, billboards, bumper stickers, informational brochures, etc.)

• Collect current (one-two years) news media clipping (newspapers, multimedia, journals) in reference to Water Quantity or Water Quality (local, state, national, or international).
• Determine in the articles or media if an ordinance or regulatory issue is being addressed and be prepared to discuss or share your opinion to the class about the issues.
• Take a position on some of the water articles and write responses to editors, or make a multimedia presentation to present to the class or city council on your position.

• Make up a draft contingency plan, be sure to include facts, historical data and predictions to support your plan. (This data may also be hypothetical).
• Write a persuasive letter or speech to deliver to the Mayor; the objective is to express the urgency in implementing the plan in order for the Mayor to approve the plan.

• 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