Teach21 Strategic Reading Lesson Plans
Investigating Flood Risk in My Neighborhood
Earth Science
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Title Investigating Flood Risk in My Neighborhood
Subject: Science
Grade Level: Earth Science
Creator: Jeff Chaffins jchaffins@aol.com
Sponge Activity:

Data for this lesson can be obtained from various on-line locations, such as http://wvgis.wvu.edu/, http://mapwv.gov, and on a provided data DVD.
Activating Prior Knowledge: ArcGIS 9.3 or ArcGIS 10
Vocabulary Development:
Content Standards and Objectives Learning Target
SC.S.ES.1.5
draw conclusions from a variety of data sources to analyze and interpret systems and models (e.g., use graphs and equations to measure and apply variables such as rate and scale, evaluate changes in trends and cycles, or predict the influence of external variances such as potential sources of error, or interpret maps).		 Students should be able to utilize computer software, such as ArcGIS, to analyze and evaluate topography in order to create topographical maps of a local watershed.
SC.O.ES.2.7
investigate and describe the properties of water, which contribute to its critical role in physical and chemical weathering.		 Students should be able to describe the flow of water throughout a local watershed and predict potential damage.
SC.O.ES.2.8
compare and contrast the effectiveness of agents and processes of degradation:  weathering by gravity, wind, water, and ice.		 Students should be able to differentiate between different types of physical degradation.
SC.O.ES.2.13
construct and/or interpret information on topographic maps.		 Students should be able to utilize computer software to create topographical maps of a local watershed.
21st Century Skills
Information and Communication Skills: 21C.O.9-12.1.LS3 - Student creates information using advanced skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation and shares this information through a variety of oral, written and multimedia communications that target academic, professional and technical audiences and purposes.


Thinking and Reasoning Skills: 21C.O.9-12.2.LS2 - Student draws conclusions from a variety of data sources to analyze and interpret systems.


21C.O.9-12.2.LS4 - Student visualizes the connection between seemingly unrelated ideas and independently produces solutions that are fresh, unique, original and well developed. Student shows capacity for originality, concentration, commitment to completion, and persistence to develop unique and cogent products.


Personal and Workplace Skills: 21C.O.9-12.3.LS2 - Student independently considers multiple perspectives and can represent a problem in more than one way, quickly and calmly changes focus and goals as the situation requires, and actively seeks innovations (e.g. technology) that will enhance his/her work.


21C.O.9-12.3.TT2 - Student works collaboratively to acquire information from electronic resources, conducts online research, and evaluates information as to validity, appropriateness, usefulness, comprehensiveness and bias.


Essential Question:

Students will use the computer lab facilities to access multi-media sources via the internet to create topographical maps and aerial photos of the Krouts Creek watershed, which is a watershed that runs through a large portion of our school’s area.  This watershed floods frequently and presents many problems for residents living in its proximity.

 

Students will specifically use the ArcGIS software, as well as the information provided by various websites (see above), to create a visual representation of their neighborhood.  Students will be allowed the creativity to label their maps and determine the information that they will include, such as locations of schools and other buildings, populations, or any other information that they deem pertinent to the issue.

 

Students should import the aerial photography, USGS topographic data, and other landform data.

 

Once completing their maps and photos, they will then collaborate in small groups to analyze the potential flow of precipitation runoff.  They will visually see exactly where the water comes and the potential flow patterns of the runoff due to the topography of the land in this watershed.

 

Other topics that will be discussed will be flow properties of water, water degradation and erosion of landforms, and societal response to natural disasters, specifically to flooding.

 

This lesson should provide a dramatic visual for the students.  Many have never seen an aerial map of their living areas, neighborhoods, etc.  Analysis of the topography of the watershed will lend itself to their understanding of the sources of the runoff that causes the frequent flooding.
Skill Lesson Through Direct Instruction and Modeling: No handout is needed with this lesson.
Active Literacy: The teacher will observe as students access and create topographical maps of the Krouts Creek Watershed.  The teacher will observe the ability of students to use the data and collaborate with their peers. 
Internet Required: Yes
Lesson Plan Source: ESRI Lesson Plan Project
Teacher Led / Student Computer Lab: Computer Lab Lesson

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