Water – A Natural Resource

St. Spyridon Parochial School

Mr. S. O’Brien

Introduction

Living in New York City, we are exposed to one of the world’s most extensive public water systems. This complex system of tunnels, aqueducts, and reservoirs provides water to the millions of inhabitants of, and visitors to NYC on a daily basis.

It has come to your attention that a very large and powerful multi-national corporation (which shall not be named for legal reasons) plans to build a new facility in White Plains, NY. This new facility will rely heavily on the water supply that services NYC and will redirect water as it leaves the Kensico Reservoir for its own purposes.

Task

The mayor of NYC has commissioned you to analyze this situation, and report your findings.

In your assigned groups of three:

1. Create a PowerPoint presentation outlining:

· The current policy regarding the ‘ownership’ of water, and water rights.

· The impact that large corporations can have on the supply and demand for water – with examples.

· The structure of the NY watershed:

o How water reaches NYC and where it comes from

o How the redirection of water from the Kensico Reservoir can impact residents of NYC

2. Design a poster to draw attention to these issues to display in school.

Individually: Compose a poem to submit to NYC’s annual ‘Water Resources Art & Poetry’ Competition.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/environmental_education/artpoetry13.shtml

Process/Resources

Following the steps of the Public Policy Analyst (PPA), complete these activities.

1. Define the Problem – Worksheet 1

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/history.shtml

2. Gather the Evidence – Worksheet 2

http://www.indiaresource.org/campaigns/coke/2006/cokewwf.html

http://www.hulu.com/search?q=Blue+Gold%3A+World+Water+Wars

3. Identify the Causes – Worksheet 3

http://www.unwater.org/downloads/PB5_Corruption_in_the_water_sector_2006.pdf

4. Evaluate an Existing Policy – Worksheet 4

http://nywaterlaw.com/

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/watershed_protection/index.shtml

http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/78258.html

5. Develop Solutions – Worksheet 5

http://www.unwater.org/statistics_urb.html

http://www.unwater.org/statistics_res.html

6. Select the Best Solution – Worksheet 6

http://www.unwater.org/downloads/EPLP-051.pdf

Evaluation

PowerPoint

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Content - Accuracy	All content throughout the presentation is accurate. There are no factual errors.	Most of the content is accurate but there is one piece of information that might be inaccurate.	The content is generally accurate, but one piece of information is clearly flawed or inaccurate.	Content is typically confusing or contains more than one factual error.
Sequencing of Information	Information is organized in a clear, logical way. It is easy to anticipate the type of material that might be on the next card.	Most information is organized in a clear, logical way. One card or item of information seems out of place.	Some information is logically sequenced. An occasional card or item of information seems out of place.	There is no clear plan for the organization of information.
Buttons and Links Work Correctly	All buttons and links work correctly.	Most (99-90%) buttons and links work correctly	Many (89-75%) of the buttons and links work correctly.	Fewer than 75% of the buttons work correctly.
Cooperation	Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively all of the time.	Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively most of the time.	Group delegates tasks and shares responsibility effectively some of the time.	Group often is not effective in delegating tasks and/or sharing responsibility.
PPA Policy	All questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were clearly stated.	All questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were not clearly stated.	Not all questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all answers were not clearly stated.	All questions were not answered completely.

Collaboration/Team Work

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Quality of Work	Provides work of the highest quality.	Provides high quality work.	Provides work that occasionally needs to be checked/redone by other group members to ensure quality.	Provides work that usually needs to be checked/redone by others to ensure quality.
Working with Others	Almost always listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Tries to keep people working well together.	Usually listens to, shares, with, and supports the efforts of others. Does not cause \"waves\" in the group.	Often listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others, but sometimes is not a good team member.	Rarely listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others. Often is not a good team player.
Focus on the task	Consistently stays focused on the task and what needs to be done. Very self-directed.	Focuses on the task and what needs to be done most of the time. Other group members can count on this person.	Focuses on the task and what needs to be done some of the time. Other group members must sometimes nag, prod, and remind to keep this person on-task.	Rarely focuses on the task and what needs to be done. Lets others do the work.
Problem-solving	Actively looks for and suggests solutions to problems.	Refines solutions suggested by others.	Does not suggest or refine solutions, but is willing to try out solutions suggested by others.	Does not try to solve problems or help others solve problems. Lets others do the work.

Poster Design

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Required Elements	The poster includes all required elements as well as additional information.	All required elements are included on the poster.	All but 1 of the required elements are included on the poster.	Several required elements were missing.
Content - Accuracy	At least 7 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.	5-6 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.	3-4 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.	Less than 3 accurate facts are displayed on the poster.
Knowledge Gained	Student can accurately answer all questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster.	Student can accurately answer most questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster.	Student can accurately answer about 75% of questions related to facts in the poster and processes used to create the poster.	Student appears to have insufficient knowledge about the facts or processes used in the poster.
Attractiveness	The poster is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness.	The poster is attractive in terms of design, layout and neatness.	The poster is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy.	The poster is distractingly messy or very poorly designed. It is not attractive.
Graphics -Clarity	Graphics are all in focus and the content easily viewed and identified from 6 ft. away.	Most graphics are in focus and the content easily viewed and identified from 6 ft. away.	Most graphics are in focus and the content is easily viewed and identified from 4 ft. away.	Many graphics are not clear or are too small.

Poem

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Focus on Assigned Topic	The entire poem is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic.	Most of the poem is related to the assigned topic. The poem wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic.	Some of the poem is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic.	No attempt has been made to relate the poem to the assigned topic.
Accuracy of Facts	All facts presented in the poem are accurate.	Almost all facts presented in the poem are accurate.	Most facts presented in the poem are accurate (at least 70%).	There are several factual errors in the poem.
Creativity	The poem contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader\'s enjoyment. The poet has really used his imagination.	The poem contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader\'s enjoyment. The poet has used his imagination.	The poem contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the poem. The poet has tried to use his imagination.	There is little evidence of creativity in the poem. The poet does not seem to have used much imagination.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Your PowerPoint presentation has been received at the Mayor’s office, and your opinions will be taken under advisement! The Mayor also asks that you continue to write poetry and to enter next year’s ‘Water Resources Art & Poetry’ Competition.

Standards

ELA

RI1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RI7: Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

W7: Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.