Where, oh where, has that water gone?

WHERE, OH WHERE,
HAS THAT WATER GONE?

Pam Keller
St. Mary’s Grade School
Salina, Kansas

Overview:
Students will locate and identify water sources that flow into Tuttle Creek Reservoir. Students will understand the benefits of a reservoir.

Grade level: 3-5

Time needed:
2-3 class sessions over a one-week period.

Geographic theme:
Location, Human/Environment Interactions, and Movement.

Kansas Social Studies Standards for Benchmarks, Grade Levels, 5-K:
The student will understand the connections among people, places, and environment in the classroom, local school, community, Kansas, the United States, and different nations in the world.

The student will understand the effects of economics, science, and technology in the classroom, school, community, Kansas, the United States, and different
nations of the world.

National Geography Standards, Grades K-4:

#1

The geographically informed person knows and understands how to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.

#3

The geographically informed person knows and understands how to analyze the spatial organizations of people, places, and environments on earth’s surface.

#14

The geographically informed person knows and understands how human actions modify the physical environment.

Outcome:
The students will know and understand what a reservoir is and how it affects the area.

Performances Objectives:
The students will:

locate and label the water sources which flow into Tuttle Creek Reservoir.
research and realize the importance of Tuttle Creek Reservoir.

Vocabulary (see Glossary):

source dam

reservoir

Materials Needed:

Library books on rivers, dams, reservoirs, etc. to display during lesson.
Kansas Maps
County Maps
-Riley County -Pottawatomie County
-Marshall County -Washington County-Nemaha County
“K” Encyclopedia
Brochures “Tuttle Creek Lake” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Kansas Outline map
K-W-L chart for each group
Handout fo the Tuttle Creek History
Video on Dams & Reservoirs
National Geographic Magazine or other print containing pictures of dams.
Pencils
Markers

Procedure:
Session One:

1.

Students will be divided into five groups with at least four to a group.

2.

Present a K-W-L chart for each group

3.

As a group the students will list what they know (K) about Dams and Reservoirs.

4.

As a group the students will list what they want (W) to know about Dams and Reservoirs.

5.

As a class we will review all information form Step #1 and Step #2 of the K- W-L chart.

6.

The groups will be directed to locate Tuttle Creek Dam and Reservoir on a Kansas Map.

7.

The groups will be directed to locate all creeks, rivers, etc. that empty into Tuttle Creek. This will be accomplished by using state and county maps.

8.

Each group will be given a Kansas outline map and they will transfer their findings to this map.

Session Two:

1.

The groups will research and understand the purpose/importance of Tuttle Creek Reservoir.

2.

The teacher will direct a class discussion on the 5 benefits of this reservoir.
Flood Control
Water Quality
Recreation
Wildlife
Navigation

3.

The groups will draw, construct, or create a way to show or explain each of the five benefits.

4.

The groups will present their benefit project and share the importance of the reservoir.

5.

Complete the K-W-L chart the (L) for what I learned about Dams and Reservoirs.

Assessment:

1.

Record student’s on task performance and participation as contributors to their groups.

2.

Check group maps of water that flows into reservoir.

3.

Check group benefits of reservoir project.

4.

Collect K-W-L chart to record group ideas.

Extensions:

1.

Students will select another Kansas Reservoir and compare it to Tuttle Creek.

2.

Students will take a field trip to Milford or Kanopolis for first hand experience. (Any Dam/Reservoir, within traveling distance.)

3.

Students will use a U.S. outline map and take the water from Tuttle Creek to the Mississippi River and continue on its journey to the Gulf of Mexico

4.

Students might create a replica of the benefits of the reservoir example- water skiing, fishing, boating, flood control, etc...

5.

Share the children’s literature mentioned under resources, these have excellent vocabulary and illustrations.

Resources:

Any and all materials you can acquire from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers- Brochures on Kansas lakes.
Any and all materials you can acquire from the Division of Water Resources, 901 S. Kansas Ave, Second Floor, Topeka, KS 66612.
Video from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of the flood of 1993.
Children’s Literature

a.
b.

c.
d.

Bains, Rae, Wonders of Rivers, Troll Associates.
Dorros, Arthur, Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean, Harper Collins Publications.
Goetz, Delia, Rivers
Updegraff, Robert and Imelda, Rivers and Lakes.

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e-mail: pphillip@fhsu.edu

irc staff / jh 03/16/98 (updated kn 06/23/99)
Disclaimer

#1	The geographically informed person knows and understands how to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
#3	The geographically informed person knows and understands how to analyze the spatial organizations of people, places, and environments on earth’s surface.
#14	The geographically informed person knows and understands how human actions modify the physical environment.

1.	Students will be divided into five groups with at least four to a group.
2.	Present a K-W-L chart for each group
3.	As a group the students will list what they know (K) about Dams and Reservoirs.
4.	As a group the students will list what they want (W) to know about Dams and Reservoirs.
5.	As a class we will review all information form Step #1 and Step #2 of the K- W-L chart.
6.	The groups will be directed to locate Tuttle Creek Dam and Reservoir on a Kansas Map.
7.	The groups will be directed to locate all creeks, rivers, etc. that empty into Tuttle Creek. This will be accomplished by using state and county maps.
8.	Each group will be given a Kansas outline map and they will transfer their findings to this map.

1.	The groups will research and understand the purpose/importance of Tuttle Creek Reservoir.
2.	The teacher will direct a class discussion on the 5 benefits of this reservoir. Flood Control Water Quality Recreation Wildlife Navigation
3.	The groups will draw, construct, or create a way to show or explain each of the five benefits.
4.	The groups will present their benefit project and share the importance of the reservoir.
5.	Complete the K-W-L chart the (L) for what I learned about Dams and Reservoirs.

1.	Record student’s on task performance and participation as contributors to their groups.
2.	Check group maps of water that flows into reservoir.
3.	Check group benefits of reservoir project.
4.	Collect K-W-L chart to record group ideas.

1.	Students will select another Kansas Reservoir and compare it to Tuttle Creek.
2.	Students will take a field trip to Milford or Kanopolis for first hand experience. (Any Dam/Reservoir, within traveling distance.)
3.	Students will use a U.S. outline map and take the water from Tuttle Creek to the Mississippi River and continue on its journey to the Gulf of Mexico
4.	Students might create a replica of the benefits of the reservoir example- water skiing, fishing, boating, flood control, etc...
5.	Share the children’s literature mentioned under resources, these have excellent vocabulary and illustrations.