Water Sustainability Lesson

Mr. Dayne Austin

Water Sustainability
Grade: 4th
STANDARDS

Arizona Science Standard; Life Science, Concept 3,PO 1. Describe ways various resources
(e.g., air, water, plants, animals, soil) are utilized to meet the needs of a population
Arizona Social Studies; Geography, Science Strand 4 Concept 3:
Describe uses, types, and conservation of natural resources.

LESSON SUMMARY/OVERVIEW

This lesson will completed on day 5 of a weeklong sustainability unit on water. Students will be
introduced to the topic of Futures Thinking. A power point can be created, or on students
personal electronics (iPad/lap tops) students can look up information. After understating of what
Futures Thinking is, students will apply the knowledge they have gained during the unit and
create the future Phoenix in 50 years when water is scarce. Students will answer a series of
questions through illustrations, writing, and notes they have decided upon with their group. At
the end, students will share their ideas and as a class we will decide if their Futures will allow
humans to survive and still have fresh water.
OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to understand their individual impact and become knowledgeable on water
use in Phoenix. Using Futures Thinking, students will apply their knowledge on the negative
effects humans have on water resources and how it will affect Phoenix one day.
ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION

-Students will actively participate in class discussions

-Students will collaborate as a group and answer Futures thinking questions
-Students will present their Future Phoenix and explain their reasoning using factual information
they have learned during the water sustainability unit

PREREQUISITE KNOWLEDGE

Students will have to know

-The region and state they live in. The climate in AZ and ways in which they use water.
-The basic understanding of rivers and aquifers.
-Negative consequences
MATERIALS

Power Point, access to internet, Laptop/iPad, Colored Pencils, Paper, access, Field trip
VOCABULARY/KEY WORDS

Water Systems, Aquifer, Sustainability, Contamination, Replenish, Sources, Scarce, Futures

Thinking
TEACHING PROCEDURES

-Begin by asking the students what they have learned about both using and conserving water in
Phoenix.
Use name sticks to choose students for answers, as this will keep them engaged.
-Transition from what they know about water use in the present and ask them what they think the
future water source in Phoenix will look like. Will we always have access to fresh and safe
water? Will we run out of water?
-This will bring us to the presentation of Futures thinking. Show a power point that demonstrates
Futures Thinking and explains the topic to fourth graders. Repeat the content multiple times and
have the class repeat and respond to the teacher as a whole group.
-Once students have been introduce and have a good understanding of Futures thinking,
introduce activity.
-Within groups, students will imagine what Phoenix will be like in 50 years. Using their current
knowledge, they will apply what they know to design and describe what future residents can
expect.
-Students will be encourage to illustrate, write sentences, paragraphs or notes that they can
present to the whole class.
-Students will be able to decide after each presentation, if this is a possible Future that Phoenix
may experience if we do not conserve the water resources we have.
-Once each group is complete, they will discuss in their groups ideas that they may want to
change that they admired in other groups.
-All work will be collected and turned in.
-Before leaving, their exit ticket will be to think, pair and share ways they will instantly start to
reduce and conserve water each day.
RESOURCES

Populations-Futures Thinking. ASU, retrieved 11/9/14

WAYS OF THINKING CONNECTION

This lesson will connect students to Futures thinking. This is the realization that the choices we
make today will decide our future along with the future generations to come. Students need to
imagine the consequences that humans have that impact the earth, and how we can
manage ourselves to progress to the future we want. Students will have to be comfortable with
uncertainty as the future cannot be predicted.