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A watershed is an area of land that drains to a particular river, lake, bay or other body of water.
Watersheds are sometimes called “basins” or
“drainage basins.”
We all live in a watershed. Some watersheds, like that of your local stream or creek, are small.
Others, like the Chesapeake Bay watershed, are very large.
Human activity can affect the quality of the water that drains into the bodies of water around them.
Image Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

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Use these digital resources to learn more about Maryland watershed areas and how environmental issues impact the
Chesapeake Bay watershed:
 The Chesapeake Bay Program website : A website providing information about Chesapeake Bay wildlife, watershed, and restoration
 The Chesapeake Bay Program : Learn the issues affecting water quality and the Chesapeake Bay.
 US Geological Survey: Watersheds : Learn all about watersheds in this text based article. What are they? Where are they found? What purpose do they serve?
 NBC Learn video report : Chesapeake Bay watersheds and pollution in Baltimore’s urban streams
 A Natural Focus with Laurie Sanders: What Is a Watershed?: A
Discovery Education video about watersheds
 Surf Your Watershed : Find out which watershed you live in by typing in your zip code
 Ten Things You Can Do to Make a Difference in Your
Watershed: EPA website about water and environment
Image Source: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

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Image Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

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Think about what you’ve learned concerning watershed areas.
Compare the human actions presented and pick one that you think may have the strongest impact on the quality of water in your watershed.
You may choose to:
Write a brief constructed, informative response with an accompanying Voki to present your response
OR
Create a short video PSA explaining your choice.
In your response, be sure to describe:
 What the human action is
 What is the effect of the action on the watershed
 Two suggestions to fix the problem in the short term and long term
Select the images to receive tutorials on creating Vokis and Flip cam videos from the
BCPS Office of Instructional Technology
Assessment rubric suggestions for grading:
Video production
Voki

Image Source: Purvation
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Try these sites for more interactive Bay experiences.
 MPT Bayville interactive website : An interactive site that informs students and families about the Chesapeake Bay.
 Chesapeake Bay Field Scope : Field Scope is a
National Geographic tool for exploring, sharing, and analyzing real-world data sets, including observations from students and scientists studying the world around them.

Next Generation Science Standards
MS-ESS3 Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3.cC: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
Common Core State Standards
Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
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Time Frame: 1-2 class periods
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Differentiation:
Students may use Voki or make a video PSA instead of written response.
Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Tactile,
Reflective, Active, Global Understanding
Notes to the teacher:
Gold Stars denote a high lexile
Silver Stars denote lower lexile
Standards for the 21 st Century Learner
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.
2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real-world situations, and further investigations.
Maryland Technology Literacy Standards for Students
3.0: Use a variety of technologies for learning and collaboration.
Last updated: July 2013
Created by Anna Conner linked to email address,
BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2013, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. The models may be used for educational, non-profit school use only.
All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Lesson module .