Enjoying Water Assignment

In this activity, you will learn about the freshwater resources in your area.

1. Identify the rivers and lakes in the area using a local map. If you do not have a map, you can find one online. You may know of ponds in the area, too. Make your own map that shows the freshwater resources in the area. Try to include lakes and ponds as well as rivers and streams.
   
   
2. Choose one of these resources to visit. Take your notebook with you, and make a list of your observations. How big is it? Is it deep? Is the water clear or murky? Are there plants and animals in or near the water? Why is it considered a lake, pond, river, or stream? Describe the area with enough detail that your teacher and classmates can see the area as if they were there.
   
   
3. Take pictures of interesting features of the area.
   
   
4. Do Internet research or, if possible, contact the city or state organization that maintains the area. Find out the history of the area and how it is used. Is it a popular recreation spot? Is it a source for tap water? What sorts of wildlife visit the area?
   
   
5. Organize your results into a newspaper-style article. Come up with a newsworthy topic, such as how the feature has been used over time, or how it has changed over time. Or, perhaps you could write about the geology that created the resource, important events that have happened there over the years, or wildlife that migrate to visit the water source. Maybe you will discover that the water resource has inspired people to write stories or shoot a movie. Whatever your topic, include a map with your article that indicates where the water source is located and one or more photographs that show features that relate to your article.

Before you begin, click the Rubric button and read how your work will be graded, to make sure you understand how to create an excellent article.