CULMINATING ACTIVITY

Our Shrinking Groundwater: You Can Make A Difference

Activity Overview:

In this activity students synthesize their conceptions of groundwater, its value, and
the impact of forces of nature and human activities on its availability. They will apply
understandings developed through experiences with computational science, mathematical
modeling, visualization, observation, and Internet research to a real world situation that is
novel to them. Students will be divided into groups with each member of the group
representing an appointee to the State Groundwater Policy Commission. They will use
conceptual understandings, computer technology skills, science process skills, and
communication skills in their roles as appointees. The commission of students will
develop a rationale for groundwater policy formation, write a scientifically sound
comprehensive water management plan, and present the plan to the governor.

Objectives:

Students will:
 Apply conceptual understandings of groundwater to a novel situation.
 Work in groups to develop a rationale for groundwater policy formation,
write a scientifically sound comprehensive water management plan, and
present the plan to an audience.

Cross Curricular Activities:

Social Studies

Students will use good citizenship skills to model citizen participation in

the process of public policy development.

English

Students will use writing skills to write a public policy proposal. They
will also communicate and defend their proposal in an oral presentation.

Process Skills

synthesizing communicating inferring predicting

computer skills analyzing collaboration

Louisiana Team 11 National Computational Science Leadership Program

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Materials:

Each Student Cooperative Group must have the following:

 Student products from Activities 1 – 5
o physical groundwater model
o mathematical model
o STELLA model
o research
 Articles on Web site
 Computer access
 Microsoft PowerPoint (optional)
 Activity Sheet

Suggested Time Frame:

Three 50-minute class periods

Procedure:

Day 1

Working in groups, students will read and analyze the news articles provided and
then formulate a rationale for or against a state groundwater policy.

Day 2 and 3

1. Working together each group will write a proposal based on scientific

evidence that supports their rationale.
2. Each group will prepare a PowerPoint presentation or some other type of
presentation to present their proposal to the governor (the class).
3. The class will vote on the proposals and select the most feasible one. This
represents approval by the governor. The proposal will then be submitted
to the legislature for a vote.

Thought Provoking Questions:

Not applicable for this assignment.

Assessment:
1. PowerPoint presentation or other presentation
2. Peer and self-evaluation

Resources:

 Dunne, Mike. Major aquifers show decline in water levels. [online]

Available www.theadvocate.com/news/story.asp?storyid=18467, January
5, 2001.

Louisiana Team 11 National Computational Science Leadership Program

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  Dunne, Mike. State has made other attempts at water policy. [online]
Available. www.theadvocate.com/news/story.asp?storyid=21292, May 6,
2001.

 Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in partnership with USGS.

Groundwater rights in Louisiana [Online] Available.
http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/lawater/rights.asp

Louisiana Team 11 National Computational Science Leadership Program

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