Title: Investigating Water Quality in a Watershed

Water is one of the basic needs of all organisms. It has shaped our landscapes as well as the direction of our civilizations. Water is constantly in motion and through this motion we are reminded that we are a part of this and all natural cycles. We might take a drink of water in the evening, and in the morning we flush it down to some unseen fate, possibly unaware that it will come back to us again through the water cycle. In fact, much of what we do may in some way be connected to the water cycle.

The purpose of this unit on watersheds is to challenge teachers to design investigations examining watersheds through water quality studies.
Teachers will:

• Learn how natural processes and human activity can impact water quality
• Learn field techniques for water quality monitoring
• Use GIS technology to examine watersheds
• Use newly acquired information and techniques to conduct an inquiry-based field studies in teams
• Share the results of their studies through written and oral presentations

The watershed investigation will exemplify how teachers can expand their classroom into their communities. It will also act as a great precursor to the rich opportunities available through the mentor-based studies that follow.