Ceiling Water-O
Diana A. Hoffman
Chase Middle School
Topeka, Kansas

Overview:

This lesson will provide 3 review of the basic concepts and vocabulary for water lessons. It will also provide an opportunity for an innovative use of otherwise unused classroom resources.

Grade Levels: 4-8

Time: Two class periods

Geography Themes:

Place, Location, Region, Movement, Human/Environment Interaction


Kansas Social Studies Standard for Benchmarks, Grade Levels 8-K

The student will understand the connections among people, places, and environments in the classroom, local school, community, Kansas, the United States, and different regions in the world.


National Geography Standards, Grades 5-8:

#6	How culture and experience influence people's perception of places and regions.
#7	The physical processes that shape the patterns of the Earth's surface.
#8	The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on the Earth's surface.
#11	How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control on the Earth's surface.
#13	The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on the Earth's surface.
#14	How human actions modify the physical environment.
#16	The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.



Outcome:

Students will develop an awareness of terms important to understanding water issues in southwest Kansas.


Performance Objectives:

1. Student will identify water terms and vocabulary.
2. Student will evaluate alternative use of water resources in western Kansas.

 

Materials:

• Index cards with definitions written on them
• Index cards with the vocabulary to be reviewed written on them
• Blank Bingo (Water-O) Cards for each child
• List of Terms for each student

 

Procedures:

(Class Period 1):

1. Divide the class into groups of four.
2. Have each group brainstorm the meanings of five of the assigned terms.
3. Discuss terms, with the entire group looking up terms in the dictionary as needed. Students should take notes on their term list.

(Day 2):

Teacher Preparation:

Using ceiling tiles as an overhead grid system, attach the vocabulary words to the cross points and other locations above student desks, as necessary. Hint: To avoid having to use and move a ladder around the room, attach a flat card to the top end of a yardstick and then place the card to go on the ceiling on top of it. The yardstick then extends your reach to ceiling level. A circle of masking tape on the vocabulary card will stick it to the ceiling.

 

Student Activities:

1. Distribute "Water-O" card to each student.
2. Students fill in the names of classmates, including self in a random order.
3. When complete "Water-O" cards are ready, teacher draws and reads the definition to one of the terms on the ceiling above the students.
4. Students need to determine who is sitting under the correct term, and they then may cover that student's name on their "Water-O" card.
5. This continues until students have covered the student names in the predetermined pattern on their card. You may play four-in-a-row, four-corner bingo, blackout bingo or other variations.
6. Student says "Water-O" when they have a win.
7. Teacher and class review the student's card to determine if it is a winner.
8. Students are asked to propose some alternative uses of Kansas water resources and evaluate the practicality of each alternative.

Assessment:

1. Observe and note appropriate student identification of terms.
2. Observe student participation and suggestions for alternative water use.

Extending the Lesson:

• Students could use the water terminology to write "Eco-Poems."
• Research projects using terms to evaluate water resources in western Kansas and expanding to other areas.

Water-O Terms Key

1. Water Policy Decision (1945) - all water in Kansas belongs to all of the people.
2. alluvium - a deposit of sand or mud laid down by flowing water in river beds.
3. ICUWA - Intensive Ground Use Water Area
4. Aquifer - conveying or supplying water.
5. Water Transfer Act (1986) - you must now apply to move water into your area from another area.
6. exotic river - originates in water surplus zone and flows through a water deficit region, for example, Arkansas River or Colorado River
7. Ogallala Aquifer - underground lake, which supports large major area of irrigation in the U.S.
8. molisoil - most common Soil in Kansas
9. accretions - increase of land by natural build-up, for example, sand bars or flood plain
10. avulsion - flood cuts of land; this does not change property lines
11. reliction - gradual recession of water, leaving land permanently uncovered
12. flood - a large flow of water covering the land
13. watershed - the region from which a river receives its supply of water
14. urban - situated in or dwelling in a city
15. rain - water vapor of the atmosphere falling in drops
16. quality of water - the relative goodness of water
17. acre foot - the amount of water required to cover one level acre to a depth of 1 foot, 43,560 cubic feet
18. water rights - right to draw upon a water supply
19. NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard
20. point of diversion - where water is split off from the main body of water to divert it to other uses
21. river alluvium wells - wells drilled in the sponge of river edges
22. 3 major types of natural vegetation in Kansas - tall, short and mixed grass
23. vested rights - established by law as permanent water rights
24. source point - point where water originates
25. wells - shafts dug into the ground to seek water or other minerals
26. CFS - cubic feet per second
27. riparian water laws - laws designed to restore water conditions after damage, injury or decay
28. section - 640 acres
29. special master - person appointed by the Supreme Court to work out water deals between the states of Kansas and Colorado
30. circle irrigation - irrigation using pipes and sprinkler heads
31. flood irrigation - the act of running water over the top of the land, flooding the field
32. weather modification - to attempt to change the current weather through man-made interventions
33. watershed district - a particular watershed region or locality, a watershed area
34. grass barriers - grass strips designed to stop silt from running directly into a body of water

Water-O Terms

1.	Water Policy Decision (1945)	18.	water rights
2.	alluvium	19.	NIMBY
3.	IGUWA	20.	point of diversion
4.	aquifer	21.	river alluvium wells
5.	Water Transfer Act (1986)	22.	3 major types of natural vegetation in KS
6.	exotic river	23.	vested rights
7.	Ogallala Aquifer	24.	source point
8.	molisoil	25.	wells
9.	accretions	26.	CFS
10.	avulsion	27.	riparian water laws
11.	reliction	28.	section
12.	flood	29.	special master
13.	watershed	30.	circle irrigation
14.	urban	31.	flood irrigation
15.	rain	32.	weather modification
16.	quality of water	33.	watershed district
17.	acre foot	34.	grass barriers

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Water - O

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