Field Trip Trailhead & Standards Click here for Field Trip Permission Slip
(PDF format)

On this field trip, you'll learn amazing things about water. You'll learn about aquifers, how your drinking water gets to you, what other kids have to do around the world to get their water, and ideas for helping to protect this precious resource. Now get ready for some fun! (This virtual field trip was designed for elementary students but can be easily adapted for students of all ages.)

Topics Covered

Students will be introduced to the following topics on this field trip:

  • Water for survival
  • The Water Cycle
  • Ground water aquifers
  • The Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer
  • How water is used
  • Sources of contamination
  • Conservation tips

Washington State EALRs


Washington State EALRs here.

Objectives

  • Students are introduced to the importance of water for survival.
  • Students are introduced to the water cycle.
  • Students will learn about groundwater aquifers.
  • Students will learn how they can actively participate in protecting drinking water.


A Few Terms To Learn

  • aquifer
  • groundwater
  • pollution

National Standards
(see below)

National Standards

Here is a partial list of National Standards across the curriculum that can be met through use of the Aquifer Virtual Field Trip.

Science
Grades K-4

  • S.K-4.1 SCIENCE AS INQUIRY
    Students should develop
    • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
    • Understanding about scientific inquiry

  • NS.K-4.4 EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
    Students should develop understanding of
    • Properties of earth materials
    • Changes in earth and sky

  • NS.K-4.6 PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES
    Students should develop understanding of
    • Personal health
    • Characteristics and changes in populations
    • Types of resources
    • Changes in environments
    • Science and technology in local challenges

Technology
Grades K-12

  • NT.K-12.1 BASIC OPERATIONS AND CONCEPTS
    • Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems
    • Students are proficient in the use of technology

  • NT.K-12.2 SOCIAL, ETHICAL AND HUMAN ISSUES
    • Students understand the ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.
    • Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software
    • Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity

  • NT.K-12.3 TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS
    • Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity
    • Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works

  • NT.K-12.4 TECHNOLOGY COMMUNICATION TOOLS
    • Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences

  • NT.K-12.5 TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH TOOLS
    • Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources

  • NT.K-12.6 TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM- SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING TOOLS
    • Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions
    • Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world

Language Arts
Grades K-12

  • NL-ENG.K-12.8 DEVELOPING RESEARCH SKILLS
    • Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

  • NL-ENG.K-12.12 APPLYING LANGUAGE SKILLS
    • Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

Geography
Grades K-12

  • NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and regions
    • Understand the physical and human characteristics of places.

  • NSS-G.K-12.3 Physical Systems
    • Understand the physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface.
    • Understand the characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface.

  • NSS-G.K-12.5 Environment and Society
    • Understand how human actions modify the physical environment.
    • Understand how physical systems affect human systems.
    • Understand the changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

  • NSS-G.K-12.6 The Uses of Geography
    • Understand how to apply geography to interpret the past.
    • Understand how to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

For a complete listing of National Standards, click here.

 

This virtual field trip was jointly developed by the Spokane Aquifer Joint Board and Persistent VISION in Spokane, Washington.

TrailheadTeacher's ResourcesStart Field Trip

Home | About | Education | Links | Contact
Aquifer | Kids/Teachers | Conservation | Business | Household | Reports/Studies/Maps

Copyright 2001-2007 Spokane Aquifer. All rights reserved.
Send comments or questions to info@spokaneaquifer.org