Spring water lesson plan
From UA Sky School Wiki
TITLE: Where does the Sky Center's water come from?
AUTHOR: Benjamin Blonder and Kirstin Neff
GOALS:
- Introduce water issues on Mt. Lemmon
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Understand the sources of water for Tucson and for Mt Lemmon
- Understand the reason only one shower per student per trip is permitted
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESS:
Materials required
- Graduated cylinder or other volume-measuring instrument
- Timer
INTRODUCTION/ENGAGEMENT:
- On the meadow hike, stop at the spring between the fire lookout and the rock outcrops.
- Point out the spring, and let students know it is the only source for Mt Lemmon.
EXPLORATION
- Ask where this water comes from (groundwater, snowmelt) and if it is the same as Tucson's water (groundwater from runoff, and recharge from Colorado River)
- Ask students how much water is available per week at the site, and how to find out
- Measure the stream flow rate (volume per time) using the graduated cylinder and a timer, then use a whiteboard to calculate total flow per week
- Calculate how many shower and toilet flushes are possible given that a shower uses (~ 100 liters for 10 minutes) and a toilet uses (~ 8 liters per flush)
APPLICATION
- Discuss limitations on on-site water usage (one shower per student per week, yellow-mellow toilet policy)
ASSESSMENT
- Students will be able to calculate water available per student per day
- Students will be able to explain where Mt Lemmon's and Tucson's water comes from
