Topics Covered

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

• Water for survival
• The Hydrologic Cycle
• Ground water aquifers
• Aquifers in the U.S.
• The Spokane Valley - Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer
• Ice Age floods & geologic results
• How water is used and what happens to it
• Sources of contamination
• The effects of urbanization
• Water facts and conservation tips

Objectives

• Students will learn the differences between surface water and ground water.
• Students are introduced to the hydrologic cycle.
• Students are introduced to the system of processing drinking water for consumption.
• Students are exposed to the geologic history of the aquifer and invited to view landscapes that have resulted from these forces.
• Students are invited to assess potential environmental impacts to drinking water and to think about what they can do to avoid or prevent such impacts

Terms To Learn

National Standards

Partial list of National Standards that can be met through use of the
Aquifer Virtual Field Trip.

Science
Grades 5-8

• NS.5-8.3 students should develop understanding about populations and ecosystems
• NS.5-8.3 students should develop understanding about diversity and adaptations of organisms
• NS.5-8.5 students should develop understanding about science and technology
• NS.5-8.6 students should develop understanding about populations, resources, and environments
• NS.5-8.6 students should develop understanding about natural hazards
• NS.5-8.7 students should develop understanding of science as a human endeavor
• NS.5-8.7 students should develop understanding of nature of science

Technology
Grades K-12

• NT.K-12.1 Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems
• NT.K-12.1 Students are proficient in the use of technology
• NT.K-12.2 Students practice responsible use of technology systems, information, and software
• NT.K-12.2 Students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity
• NT.K-12.3 Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity
• NT.K-12.3 Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works
• NT.K-12.4 Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences
• NT.K-12.5 Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources
• NT.K-12.6 Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions
• NT.K-12.6 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 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.

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.