Water
A Sample Lesson Plan
A Sample Lesson Plan
Students will learn where Los Angeles gets its water and the importance of water conservation.
Where in the World is Water?
Water is found in a lot of different locations and in a lot of different forms. The majority of our world’s water is located in the ocean. In fact, 97.5% of the world’s water is salt water, while only 2.5% is fresh water. Fresh water is found in rivers and lakes, as groundwater, and in the form of precipitation (rain and snow). Everyone needs water to survive, making it an extremely valuable resource.
Water is found in a lot of different locations and in a lot of different forms. The majority of our world’s water is located in the ocean. In fact, 97.5% of the world’s water is salt water, while only 2.5% is fresh water. Fresh water is found in rivers and lakes, as groundwater, and in the form of precipitation (rain and snow). Everyone needs water to survive, making it an extremely valuable resource.
Water in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a dry costal climate, with minimal precipitation. Only 12% of our water comes from local sources, while the remaining 88% is imported from three different locations.
Los Angeles has a dry costal climate, with minimal precipitation. Only 12% of our water comes from local sources, while the remaining 88% is imported from three different locations.
- Local Sources: I bet you didn’t know that Los Angeles has a river! However, we are unable to use any of the river’s water. This demonstrates Los Angeles’ lack of local water use.
- San Francisco Bay Delta: LA receives 20-25% of its water from the Bay Area. The water is transported south through the California Aqueduct System, which is 444 mi long! Major problems include the destruction of ecosystems.
- The Eastern Sierras: Water is collected from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the form of snowmelt. The Owen’s River provides 50% of LA’s water. Unsustainable practices, however, have turned Owen’s Lake into a giant dustbowl.
- The Colorado River: The Colorado River travels through multiple states. All of these states use the water, creating competition over water use. Furthermore, water from the Colorado River was mistakenly over-allocated during a time of heavy rainfall, but continues to be used at this unsustainable level.
ACTIVITY! Four Corners
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of Los Angeles’s four major water sources. Students will divide into the four corners of the classroom, each corner representing a region from which Los Angeles gets its water (Local Sources, the San Francisco Bay Delta, the Eastern Sierras, and the Colorado River). First, students will represent the population of people in each region. Then, students will be moved to represent the amount of water available in each region. We will learn that there is a discrepancy between population and availability of water in each region. |
Pumping Water
So how does all this water get to Los Angeles? We have to pump it! Pumping water from Northern California to Southern California is the single largest consumer of state energy. The water must be pumped over a long and mountainous distance.
So how does all this water get to Los Angeles? We have to pump it! Pumping water from Northern California to Southern California is the single largest consumer of state energy. The water must be pumped over a long and mountainous distance.
Why Conserve Water?
- It is important to share water with other regions. For example, the Colorado River no longer drains to Mexico- it is used up beforehand!
- Unsustainable use jeopardizes future availability of water.
- Unsustainable water usage threatens plant and animal habitats.
- Saving water means saving money. It is incredibly expensive to transport water through the California Aqueduct System. Saving water around the house will also mean a lower water bill for your parents!
ACTIVITY! Toothbrushing
Students will compare and contrast differences in water use when brushing their teeth. Two students will be chosen as volunteers. One will brush their teeth in an unsustainable manner (leaving the faucet running) and the other will brush their teeth in a sustainable manner (turning the faucet off). Sustainable Youth Volunteers will act as the “faucets”, pouring water from Nalgene bottles into clear plastic bowls, or “sinks”. After two minutes of brushing, the class will compare the two amounts of water in the “sinks,” concluding that turning off the faucet is a great method of water conservation. |
Did You Know?
- Shortening your shower by 1 minute can save 1,000 gallons of water per year.
- Turning off the sink while brushing your teeth can save 3 gallons of water per day.
Lesson in Review
Students will learn that water is an extremely valuable resource and that it needs to be managed wisely. They will also be left with an understanding of the four major regions from which Los Angeles gets its water: local sources, the San Francisco Bay Delta, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Colorado River. At the end of class, students will brainstorm simple ways to conserve water in their homes. “Homework” will to put these ideas into practice and share their experiences the following week.
Students will learn that water is an extremely valuable resource and that it needs to be managed wisely. They will also be left with an understanding of the four major regions from which Los Angeles gets its water: local sources, the San Francisco Bay Delta, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Colorado River. At the end of class, students will brainstorm simple ways to conserve water in their homes. “Homework” will to put these ideas into practice and share their experiences the following week.