Board Approval:

This in-school program has been pre-approved by the following school boards:

• Greater Essex County District School Board
• Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board
• Lambton Kent District School Board

Note: Participation of schools in this program is at the discretion of the school Principal.

Workshop Description:

Water is life. It is the most important component of any ecosystem, as all living organisms require water to grow and survive. Nevertheless, various human activities are major contributors to the growing problem of water scarcity. In this workshop, students will explore the interconnectedness of habitat and wildlife through the lens of water. They will assess their water use and learn about the social, economic, and environmental impacts of water scarcity. Hands-on, sensory activities (e.g., construction and observation of water filtration systems, use of tools for water assessment, etc.) will help demonstrate water systems and contextualize water quality. A broad range of grassroots and systemic water scarcity solutions will be explored.

Learning Goals:

To provide students with in-class hands-on learning activities and practical experiences that challenge students to apply and extend their knowledge of life systems, particularly with regards to water (i.e., systems, scarcity, and quality).

Students will:

• Assess their water use footprint and reflect on personal water use.
• Assess the impact of human activities on the sustainability of water resources.
• Learn about the social, economic, and environmental impacts of water scarcity.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the characteristics of Earth’s water systems and the influence of water systems on a specific region and its wildlife/habitat.
• Investigate factors that affect local water quality.
• Use scientific method to assess water quality and draw conclusions about its health.
• Explore possible solutions to the Canadian and global issue of water scarcity.

Curriculum Expectations:

Grade 6 Science & Technology: B1.1, B2.1, B2.2, B2.3, B2.4
Grade 7 Science & Technology: B2.1, B2.2, B2.3, B2.4, B2.7, B2.8
Grade 8 Science & Technology: E1.1, E1.3, E2.2, E2.3, E2.6
Grade 9 Science, Applied: B1.1, B2.1, B2.2
Grade 9 Science, Academic: B1.1, B2.1, B2.5