ACTIVITY 30
CHALLENGES OF THE
MISSISSIPPI DELTA
Challenge: How has the Mississippi River
challenged the people of New Orleans?
http://app.discoveryeducation.com/player/view/assetGuid/8F6A7F38-63AA-4CD6AD45-A5653CE8C6C4
KEY VOCABULARY
 A river channel describes the path of a riverbed that
is carved into the land.
 A geologist is a scientist who studies rocks, minerals
and other non-living (i.e., abiotic) parts of the earth.
 An engineer is a person who uses scientific
knowledge to solve practical problems. Engineers are
involved in designing most items that are used in
everyday life.
 An ecologist is a scientist who studies the
interrelations of organisms with each other and with
their environment.
GETTING STARTED
1. Copy the following three lists of terms . . .
LIST 1
LIST 2
LIST 3
sediments
deposition
marsh
water
average
deposition
weathered rocks
floodplain
sediments
erosion
sediments
mouth of river
topographic map slowing water
rainfall
movement
constructive force delta
2. Look for a relationship between the words in each list.
3. Cross out the one term that does not belong in the group.
4. Circle the term that should be the title of the list.
STILL GETTING STARTED
LIST 1
sediments
water
weathered rocks
EROSION
topographic map
movement
EROSION is the movement of weathered rocks, or
sediments, by water, ice and air.
STILL GETTING STARTED
LIST 2
DEPOSITION
average
floodplain
sediments
slowing water
constructive force
DEPOSITION is a constructive force that happens when
slowing water drops sediments onto a floodplain.
FINALLY DONE GETTING STARTED!
LIST 3
marsh
deposition
sediments
mouth of river
rainfall
DELTA
A DELTA, or marsh, is a place where the deposition of
sediments occurs at the mouth of a river.
RIVER SYSTEMS
 Both large river systems, like the Mississippi, or small river
systems, like the Rolling River in Boomtown, have a natural
balance of erosion and deposition.
 This balance of erosion and deposition, creates ongoing
changes in deltas, as the land is built up by deposition, lost
through erosion, and replenished during floods .
 What do you think happens if the balance between those two
processes is disturbed?
 In this activity, you will investigate what has happened to the
natural cycle of erosion and deposition along the Mississippi
River in southern Louisiana.
PROCEDURE: PART 1
Read the introduction on page 28.
Each member of your group will play the role
of a different person as you read the
transcript aloud . . .
 Teresa Corelli (interviewer for Student Science Hour)
 Natalie Ludlow (ecologist)
 Dr. K.C. Sandoval (geologist at Boomtown University)
 Ethan Porter (engineer from Builders, Inc.)
Read the interview on pages 29-33.
PROCEDURE: PART 2
 After finishing the reading, groups should discuss the
question, “What can the people of New Orleans do
about the long-term problem they face?”
 After discussing the question above, complete the
“Intra-Act Discussion: Challenges of the Mississippi
Delta” sheet for all four roles. This should be
completed individually – not as a group.
 Each group member should share their opinion about
each statement and explain why they agreed or
disagreed.
ANALYSIS QUESTIONS (PAGE 34)
Work in your groups to answer questions
#1, #2 and #3. (#3 should read,
“Compare and contrast . . .”) Answers
should be written in your journal.
ANALYSIS ANSWERS (#1)
1. Some of the major problems that
New Orleans faces include:
 flood risk;
the loss of wetlands in the delta;
the land sinking in the city; and,
the potential for the river to change its
channel.
ANALYSIS ANSWERS (#2)
Erosion and deposition relate to the problems
in New Orleans because they are the primary
earth processes in that region. The natural
balance of these two earth processes has
been disrupted by humans. The river’s inability
to drop sediments in the new Orleans area has
contributed to the problems listed in your
answer to question #1.
ANALYSIS ANSWERS (#3)
3A. Compare (i.e., similarities)
Both
Both
Both
Both
communities have a delta.
have a river system.
have a marsh.
are concerned about the safety of the community.
3B. Contrast (i.e., differences)
No structures have been built on Boomtown’s Delta Marsh.
Boomtown has a much smaller river system.
Boomtown has a smaller population.
New Orleans experienced a devastating event.
Boomtown is a fictitious community.