ScienceSource 8 - Unit D

Water, Sanitation, and Health - this World Health Organization website outlines the world's water resources, and the challenges faced by much of the world in obtaining fresh water.

Unit Task: The Importance of Fresh Water - access to fresh water is yet another "luxury" that many of us take for granted every day.

• Water.org - this nonprofit organization attempts to provide access to safe drinking water wherever it is currently a challenge; watch some amazing videos to get an idea of the struggles people endure.
• Where is Earth's Water? - a wonderful summary of freshwater availability throughout the world.

EarthEcho Water Challenge - get involved! Try your hand at water quality testing.

Distribution of Water - 70% of Earth is covered in water, but how much can humans use to drink?

• Where is Earth's Water Located? - where is Earth's water located and in what forms does it exist?
• Water Science for Schools - might just be the best site on the Internet for learning about the Earth's water.

Ground Water - what makes up the groundwater zone?

• What is Ground Water? - a very good explanation.
• Aquifers and Groundwater - great info from the USGS.

Glaciers - large blocks of snow or ice that slowly flow downhill:

• All About Glaciers - great site!  Learn about why glaciers form, browse a gallery of glaciers, or follow the glacier story, from growing years, to on the move, to retreat.
• Glaciers and Icecaps: Storehouses of Fresh Water - in a way, glaciers are just frozen rivers of ice moving slowly downhill.

The Water Cycle - Earth's water is always in movement;

• The Water Cycle - a great explanation from NASA's Earth Observatory.
• Water Cycle - a colour diagram explains the water cycle.  Click on any topic on the diagram and explore more.
• Water Cycle - lots of info with activity sheets at the end.
• The Hydrologic Cycle - this page is divided into sections of interest, like evaporation, condensation and transport.  Each section has lots of information and good diagrams to help you.

The Water Cycle - - choose the path of a drop of water as it moves through the water cycle and find out how water is distributed in different regions (ExploreLearning login is required).

Watersheds - where are Canada's drainage basins?

• Watersheds Canada - excellent Canada watershed info.
• Watersheds 101 - from Conservation Ontario, all sorts of interesting Ontario watershed information.

Earth's Supply of Water - sure Earth has water, but what kinds, where and of what quality? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Section 10.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Coastal Storms - hurricanes and tornadoes are dangerous forms of weather:

• How Tornadoes Work - very good explanation.
• How Hurricanes Work - fascinating set of pages.

Great Lakes Storms - there have been many severe storms on the Great Lakes, sometimes with tragic consequences:

• Great Lakes Storm of 1913 - the “Freshwater Fury” was the deadliest and most destructive storm to hit the great lakes.
• SS Edmund Fitzgerald - this famous and tragic shipwreck was the result of a massive winter storm.

Water's Influence on Weather and Climate - what does water have to do with weather and climate conditions? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Section 10.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Shifting Climate Patterns - are they real? Joint the debate:

• Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report - watch the video, and download the "Summary for Policymakers"... this is tough reading, but the charts speak volumes.
• What climate change means for southern Ontario and Quebec - very interesting overview of what can be expected from climate change in eastern Canada.

Greenhouse Effect - the natural greenhouse effect allows life to exist on Earth, while human activity adds to the enhanced greenhouse effect:

• Enhanced greenhouse effect - an Australian perspective on the greenhouse effects.
• The Greenhouse Effect- another nice overview, with student activities given at the end.
• Greenhouse Effect - all the details of how it works and how the term came to be used.

Changing Glaciers - over time, glaciers can advance, retreat, or completely disappear.

• Helm Glacier Melting Away - excellent info in this blog post.
• Climate Change and British Columbia’s Glaciers - excellent information on melting glaciers.

The Effects of Ice on Water Systems - why are glaciers important? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Section 10.3 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Point Pelee National Park - a true forest oasis:

• Point Pelee National Park of Canada - lots of great information from Parks Canada.
• Point Pelee National Park - a good summary of the features of the park.

Environment Canada Weather Radar - zoom in on a particular area for a closer view, don't forget to click the play button to see the weather systems move.

Unit Task: The Importance of Fresh Water - access to fresh water is yet another "luxury" that many of us take for granted every day.

• Water.org - this nonprofit organization attempts to provide access to safe drinking water wherever it is currently a challenge.
• Wateraid - an amazing resource on the importance of fresh water worldwide.
• Water - water and us, from the World Health Organization.

The Walkerton Tragedy - showing the importance of providing clean drinking water.

• Walkerton E. Coli Tragedy Archive - a huge collection of dated articles which chronicle the entire disaster.
• Health Canada - E. Coli - a government health page devoted to E. Coli.
• Drinking Water Treatment Methods - as well as general safety concerns.
• Report of the Walkerton Inquiry - you can download the whole report here.

Natural and Human Factors Affecting Our Water Supply - what can change our water supply and how can we make sure we have water to drink? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Section 11.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Water Treatment Plant Virtual Tours - check out these facilities to learn more about water treatment:

• Water Treatment Virtual Tour - there is a button near the bottom of the page to start the tour.
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Tour - everything you need to know from flush to finish.

Section 11.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Obtaining Water Quality - what do people do to make our water drinkable? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Down the Drain - what are you actually pouring down the drain?

• Laundry Detergent - what is it made of?
• Drinking Water Contaminated by Excreted Drugs - this article explains that there are a lot of drugs contaminating our drinking water.

Water Treatment Function - exactly what happens when water is treated?

• How Sewer and Septic Systems Work - good diagrams and explanations help to explain the process.
• Septic Tank - with no connection to a sewer system, waste water must still be treated.
• Water Purification - all the steps necessary for making safe drinking water.

Yellow Fish Road Program - reminding people of the connection between storm drains and water systems:

• Yellow Fish Road - a website that explains the whole program.
• Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority - scroll down on this page to learn more about the Yellow Fish Road program.

Water Run-off Solutions - there are "green" ways to reduce surface runoff:

• Bioswale - reducing runoff can be a simple as a well-designed ditch.
• Reduce Runoff with a Rain Garden - extensive information on what rain gardens do and how to build them.

Managing Our Water Systems - how much do you know about wastewater? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Section 11.3 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Public Health Inspectors - these inspectors are responsible for protecting the health and safety of Canadians.

• Become a Public Health Inspector - learn about what it means to become a public health inspector.
• Public Health Inspector - information about this career from AHS.

Unit Task: The Importance of Fresh Water - access to fresh water is yet another "luxury" that many of us take for granted every day.

• Water.org - this nonprofit organization attempts to provide access to safe drinking water wherever it is currently a challenge; watch some amazing videos to get an idea of the struggles people endure.
• The Worth of Water - part of the WaterAid project, read how water supplies can drastically change daily life.
• Water - water and us, from the World Health Organization.

Measuring Water Consumption - municipalities track your water consumption and then charge you for it:

• Water Meter - all the details of how a water meter works.
• Water meters - very good information from Ontario's Peel Region.

Stewardship Through Water Conservation - do you know how to conserve water? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Section 12.1 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Bottled Water vs. Tap Water - the debate rages! Here are a few interesting opinions and studies:

• Bottled Water - good background reading for the facts on bottled water.
• Water, Water Everywhere, but Guilt by the Bottleful - how do you feel about using bottled water?

The Water Debate Continues: Bottled vs. Tap - this 30 minute series of interviews has very interesting arguments regarding the heated debate over bottled vs. tap water. Make sure you also listen to the other podcast on the same page on water bottle recycling.

Water Quality and First Nations Communities - a serious issue:

• Water in First Nation communities - a federal government summary of the problems and what is being done.
• Safe Water for First Nations - an excellent website about First Nations water issues.

Water Levels in the Great Lakes - what are the issues surrounding the amount of water found in the Great Lakes?

• Great Lakes Water Levels - get the latest updates for the levels of each Great Lake.
• Great Lakes Water Levels Sensitive To Climate Change - what do recent studies of Great Lakes water levels reveal?

Section 12.2 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Issues Relating to Water's Sustainability - what do people think about how to save water, and why? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Desalination - used in several areas of the world:

• Desalination - where it is used and all the details of how it works.
• Thirsty? How 'bout a cool, refreshing cup of seawater? - desalination explained by the USGS.

Water Sustainability through Science and Technology - what are some solutions to the water conservation problem? Find out by trying this puzzle.

Section 12.3 Quiz - need more practice? Try this online quiz.

Unit Task: The Importance of Fresh Water - access to fresh water is yet another "luxury" that many of us take for granted every day.

• Water.org - this nonprofit organization attempts to provide access to safe drinking water wherever it is currently a challenge.
• The Worth of Water - part of the WaterAid project, read how water supplies can drastically change daily life.
• Water - water and us, from the World Health Organization.
• How Hard Can It Be to Carry Water? - if you and your family's life depended on the water you were carrying, could you make it back to them in time?

Reading a Triple Beam Balance - this excellent activity lets you practice with a virtual triple beam balance.