Post-Visit Activities : Helping Watersheds : Procedures Sixth - Eighth Grade Online Curriculum : Watersheds

Materials

• Computers with internet access
• The rest to be determined by the students and the teacher

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Procedure

1. Have the students examine the websites: the Environmental Protection Agency Surf Your Watershed site for South Carolina (http://www.epa.gov/surf3/states/SC/) and the South Carolina DHEC Bureau of Water site, South Carolina Watershed Management Program  (http://www.scdhec.net/water/). Have students use the maps on these sites to find the watersheds where their towns are located.
2. Have students use the "Water Quality Assessment for Watersheds" meter on the EPA site to determine how water quality is around their community. How does this compare with other areas in the state? What is the water quality of areas upstream of their community? What is the water quality of areas downstream? What areas of South Carolina had the best water quality? What areas had the worst water quality? Students should write their findings in their journals.
3. Have students use the DHEC site to learn more about the watershed where they live. Have them research some of the characteristics of their watersheds and list some of the factors that might be affecting the water quality of their local watershed. Have the students write what they find in their journals.
4. Based on what the students learned from viewing the websites, from their pre-visit activities and from their visit to the Aquarium, have students discuss and list some of the factors they think  may be affecting the water quality of the local watershed or some of the other watersheds in the state. What can be done about it? Have students discuss things that they can do to help watersheds.
5. Based on what students have discussed, have them decide upon a project that they can do to help local watersheds. Have them plan and implement this project. If students have trouble coming up with ideas, suggest some of the ideas below.

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Project Ideas

• Start a recycling program in the school.
• Start a composting program with cafeteria leftovers.
• Do a litter pick-up somewhere in the community or participate in or organize a Riversweep in the area.
• Write letters to politicians about conservation issues related to water quality and watersheds.
• Start an education campaign in school to educate others about conservation issues related to water quality and watersheds (create posters, website, t-shirts, etc.).
• Plant plants next to a local body of water to create a riparian buffer zone.
• Find out what chemicals are being used on the school property (herbicides, pesticides, etc.). Determine how healthy they are to local environment. Devise a plan to reduce their use on the school property.
• Participate in a conservation agency student involvement program:
  South Carolina DHEC Bureau of Water South Carolina Water Watch Program
  http://www.scdhec.net/water/

  United States Environmental Protection Agency Adopt Your Watershed Program
  http://www.epa.gov/adopt/