In eighth grade students learn about water systems. Curriculum expectations are always based on the Ontario Ministry of Expectations. Many of the activities will reinforce, rather than teach, those expectations. As such, no assessment ideas or rubrics are included.
Understanding Earth and Space Systems: Water Systems
Overall Expectations:
- assess the impact of human activities and technologies on the sustainability of water resources;
- investigate factors that affect local water quality;
- demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of the earth’s water systems and the influence of water systems on specific regions
The challenges presented by stormwater on the school ground also offer an exciting opportunity to experience learning through designing projects to help the schoolyard deal with everything from extreme rain events to droughts. Students are encouraged to look at the challenges and questions that arise as opportunities to learn through experiential, tactile, inquiry based approaches. Using the water cycle as a starting point, the Project Based Learning resource below offers teachers introductory information and activities to engage students in learning about how stormwater and the landscape characteristics of school grounds impact our watersheds.
Teachers using an inquiry-based practice and a student-centred approach to learning like PBL can easily integrate outdoor learning into their everyday practice. This encourages students to engage in natural observations and explorations of their school grounds, which can then naturally lead to projects designed to improve these areas.
For example, the eighth grade students can explore some of the key design principles and features used to manage stormwater so they will be ready to assess how water-wise their school ground is, and generate ideas to improve the health of the school's watershed.
Key Design Principles to Manage Stormwater:
1. Slow-down and hold stormwater for gradual release
a. Rain gardens
b. Wetlands
2. Increase vegetation
a. Trees and islands of green
b. Nature Study Areas
3. Increase permeable surfaces
a. Sand play
b. Mulch
c. Green roofs
4. Collect rainwater for reuse
a. rainbarrel
A ready-to-go Project-Based Learning guide can be found here for you, written by Evergreen in Toronto, Canada.
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| evergreen.ca |
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