STANDARD COURSE OF STUDY CORRELATIONS: Science, Grade 8, Goal 3: The learner will conduct investigations and

utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the hydrosphere.

INTRODUCTION TO LESSON: Students will use interactive tech­nology (Google Maps) to investigate and map their river basin and its important features.

BACKGROUND FOR TEACHER: North Carolina’s river basins act as natural boundaries that guide the flow of water over land to lakes, rivers,

streams and, eventually, the ocean. You may need to review some key terms with students before beginning this lesson, including river basin, tributary, head­waters and mouth of a river. The N.C. Division of Water Resources publication “The Water Connection” is a helpful, comprehensive water primer that may be down­loaded at http://www.ncwater.org/Reports_and_Publications/primer/.

engage f Show Chapter 2 of the video. Lead a discussion about river basins. Ask students which river basin they live in (they may have noticed road signs identifying river basins) and discuss why it is important to be informed about river basins. Have students brainstorm what features in their river basin are important to them. (Some may name places where they enjoy recreational activities, while others may actually live near water-supply sources. All should recognize that a drinking water source is a key feature.)

explore f Discuss with students the various sources of drinking water (water treatment facility versus well systems) and the methods of treating wastewater (wastewater treatment facility versus septic systems).

Divide class into pairs and give each a copy of Assignment Sheet 1. Have students read the instructions from beginning to end. Ask them what they feel like they need to know before they can complete the activity (this may include how to use Google Maps or where to find the features). Have students complete the worksheet. (Note: The Savannah River Basin is the only one in North Carolina that doesn’t contain the river for which the basin is named. If you are in this river basin, you will need to modify instruction number 1 of Assignment Sheet 1 and number 8 of Assignment Sheet 2. Students may substitute the name of the river closest to them.)

explain f Give a copy of Assignment Sheet 2 to each pair of students. Disclose the class username and password and have students enter them in the space provided on the worksheet. All students will create their maps using this account. Before stu­dents begin working, provide the following information:

• Clarify key features that are to be included on final maps. Review key terms: e.g., tributary, public access point, wastewater treatment facility, water treatment facility.

• Provide addresses of water treatment facilities or help students locate them using a search engine.

• Demonstrate how to log in and use Google Maps.

EXPLORING NORTH CAROLINA

������������������Episode: Basin Basics

Mapping Your River Basin

MATERIALS � Copies of Assignment

Sheets 1 and 2, one per pair of students

� Computers with Internet access

PREPARATION � This lesson will take two

class periods. � Go to https://www.google.

com/accounts/NewAccount and set up a general Google account with a class User-name and Password. Stu­dents will need to sign in to this account to use Google Maps. Also, set up a Google e-mail account, as this is how Google com­municates any updates/ information.

� View Getting Started with Google Maps for Educators (http://www.google.com/ educators/start_maps.html) to become familiar with how the tools work. Though many of the tools used in Google Maps are intuitive, students may find certain aspects initially challeng­ing. Be prepared to assist.

For a follow-along viewing guide for students, see Viewing Guide 18. Rafting photo courtesy of N.C. Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. •1•

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Mapping Your River Basin

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6134'Rhodh iss Statesville B. Everett WAKE Hollow Lake DARE MARTIN DAVIDSON Jordan Ground Lookout Raleigh

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BRUNSWICK North Carolina has 17 major river basins within its boundaries. Map courtesy of N.C. Office of Environmental Education.

Cape Fear

• Show how to: find a location using the address bar; add a marker and change its color; delete an unwanted marker; and change between road maps, satellite maps and terrain maps.

Important Account Security Notes: Check all student maps to ensure that they are “unlisted” so that information is not shared publicly. Monitor the site daily to make sure no vandalism or account abuse is happening. After the project is complete, change the account password so that students can no longer access the account for future use unless directed to do so.

elaborate f Have students complete one of the following exercises:

• Research an environmental issue that is affecting your river basin and use Google Maps to create a presentation for the class.

• Create a virtual field trip to important ecological locations in the river basin (working individually or with a partner). Videos, images and other documents can be incorporated into Google Maps.

evaluate f Each individual is to submit a completed map with his or her reflection paragraph written on the back. Assess completed student maps and reflections. (Note: You may want to include additional reflection questions if this activity is part of a larger unit on river basins and watersheds.)

Teacher’s Notes:

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Plan a field trip to the school’s drinking water source and/or wastewater treatment facility. Many water treatment plants employ outreach educators who will visit schools.

Additional Resources:

Discover North Carolina’s River Basins booklet • Down­load at http://www.eenorth carolina.org/ecoaddress.htm.

Online, interactive map of North Carolina River Basins • http://www.ee.enr.state.nc.us/ public/ecoaddress/riverbasins/ riverbasinmapinteractive.htm

The Water Connection: Water Resources, Drought and the Hydrologic Cycle in North Carolina • http://www. ncwater.org/Reports_and_ Publications/primer/ • A primer on the state’s surface water and groundwater resources and their intercon­nectedness. It also addresses North Carolina's climate, drought management and water-supply planning for the future.

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Mapping Your River Basin

Assignment 1 Prepare for Making Your River Basin Map

� Each river basin in North Carolina is unique, yet all 17 river basins have common functions important to all the people living within their boundaries. All river basins have public access to waterways, sources of drinking water, and a means through which wastewater is treated before it is returned to the community’s rivers and streams. In preparation for creating your map, collect the following information. You may need to use the “Terrain” and “Satellite” features of Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps) to find some of this information.

1. Main River — Find the river or rivers for which your river basin is named. Identify the location of the headwaters and the point that is nearest your home. For the addresses, list the names of the roads at the nearest major intersection.

Name of River:

Headwaters:

Point nearest your home:

2. Tributary — Identify the creek or stream closest to your home that flows into the main river in your river basin. Write the names of the two streets that are nearest to the creek or stream.

3. Public Access — Identify two public access points for nearby lakes or rivers. Write the names and addresses of the public access points below. If no street address is available, use the names of the roads at the nearest major intersection.

Public Access #1:

Public Access #2:

4. Drinking Water Source — Write the address of the location at which drinking water is supplied and/or treated for your town or city. If your town does not have a treatment plant and your family uses well water, use your home address.

5. Wastewater Treatment — Write the address of the location at which wastewater is treated for your town or city. If your house has its own septic system, use your home address.

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Mapping Your River Basin

Assignment 2 Create Your River Basin Map

� Task: The directions below explain how to use the “My Map” feature of Google Maps to map the information you gathered in Assignment 1. Please note that your answers to #10 should be written on the back of your printed maps. You will print two completed maps—one for you and one for your partner.

1. Log on to Google Maps. Here’s how: • Go to http://maps.google.com/ and click “Sign In” in the upper right corner. • Sign in with the following information (provided by your teacher):

Username: ______________________________________________________________________________

Password: ______________________________________________________________________________

2. Click on “My Maps” at upper left corner. 3. Click on “Create New Map.” 4. Enter a title for your map that contains your last name and your partner’s last name.

Example: SmithandWellsMap 5. Enter a description of the map that indicates which river basin you are mapping. 6. Important: Under privacy settings, click “Unlisted.” Click the “Done” tab next to the map. Look under your

map title to make sure that your map is unlisted and not public. 7. Click the “Edit” tab to edit your map. Find your home by entering your address in the Google maps search bar.

Your house should be indicated with a red-letter marker. Click on this marker and then click on “Save to My Maps.” Choose your map and click “Save.” In the marker window, change the color of the marker to red. Then find and add your partner’s home address to your map using the same method. Use a red marker for your partner’s home also.

8. Find and mark the following items as directed below. Be sure to type in the title of each item: • Main River — With green markers, mark the river that your river basin is named after. Mark the head­

waters, the mouth of the river, the point nearest your home and the point nearest your partner’s home. • Tributary — Find the creek or stream closest to your home that flows into the main river in your river

basin. Mark this tributary with a light blue marker. Have your partner do the same. • Public Access — Find two public access points to nearby lakes or rivers in your river basin. Mark the

locations with a fish, a boat and/or a swimmer, depending on which activities are allowed there. You and your partner should each mark a location.

• Drinking Water Source — With a blue marker, mark the location of the facility at which drinking water is treated for your town or city. If your town does not have a water treatment plant, mark your family’s drinking water source instead. Have your partner do the same.

• Wastewater Treatment — With a yellow marker, mark the location of the wastewater treatment facility for your town or city. If your house has an independent septic system, place the marker next to your home. Have your partner do the same.

9. Click on the “Print” tab to print your map on a single page. (Before printing, use the “Print Preview” function under the “File” menu to make sure it will print on one page. You may need to shrink the map to 85 percent to fit it on a single page.) Print a duplicate copy for your partner.

10. On the back of your individual map, reflect on what it was like to create your map. Write a paragraph that answers the following questions:

• What did you like about making this map?

• What was difficult about making this map?

• Once you created your map, what surprised you about your river basin?

• What might be another interesting feature for future students to include when mapping their river basin?

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