Read: Hurray for the Clean Water Act
From Wisconsin DNR’s Environmental Education for Kids or EEK!
Flip back in time to 1972...Wisconsin's waterways were in serious trouble. An increase in people and manufacturing, along with the use of laundry detergents with high phosphate levels were overwhelming some wastewater treatment plants. A large amount of waste was discharged into lakes and streams. Many of Wisconsin's industries, the dairies, breweries, papermakers, and vegetable canneries were big water users that also sent their wastes into Wisconsin waters. Some waterways became wastelands of smelly water and floating sludge. All over the country people were concerned about how we use water and they let their representatives in Washington D.C. know it. The result was the Clean Water Act and its goals of making water "fishable and swimmable."
Continue and read more:
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/cleanWaterActBirthday.htm
Watch: Clean Water Act: Better at Age 40
from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Think: Wisconsin's water: valuable, vulnerable, vanishing?
Wisconsinites are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful waters where we can swim, fish, boat or simply enjoy the view from one of the state’s hundreds of beaches, parks or piers.
The cultural and economic importance of Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams cannot be overstated. That’s why Clean Wisconsin works hard year-round to protect our wonderful waters.
Read and Watch More Stories: http://cleanwisconsin.org/cleanwater
What Does Clean Water Mean to You?
Watch the short video below curtousy of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). Then create a 15 second video response. The best videos will be used as commercials in our class's news story. View videos others have submitted through Youtube.
Click This:
EPA Region 5 Clean Up Sites:
From the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Lower Fox River and Green Bay Site
Background Page
Clean Wisconsin:
http://cleanwisconsin.org/cleanwater
Clean Water Act 40th Anniversary Website
Wisconsin DNR’s EEK
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/earth/pathtocleanwater.htm
Watch This:
After the Storm by Weather Channel and the EPA
Non-Point Source Pollution
How farmers can help clean our waters
Read This:
Articles can be found in Badgerlink
Unsafe for Swimming, E: the Environmental Magazine Jul/Aug2012
EPA Tells Wisconsin DNR it Doesn’t Meet Federal Water Standards,
By Tony Walter of the Greenbay Press Gazette
EPA approves Wisconsin's phosphorous pollution plan
By Lee Bergquist of the Journal Sentinel
Week | Learning/Content | Activites | Assessment |
1. | Background knowledge about what clean water means to them. | Readings/videos | What water means to you- 15 second video |
2. | Read information about watersheds | Erosion/Watershed Lab |
3D Watershed |
3. | Research your position. What makes up a feature newstory? | Take notes on a news show like 20/20 |
Discussion/Blog Letter to the Editor |
4. | Script and film | Write script. Students need to take a position on their role. | Students will complete a 2-3 minute news cast which will be video taped. |