Introduction
 
 
 

    Drip, drip, drip.  For millions of years water has dripped on rocks and carved pathways into the sides of mountains making canyons, gullies, and ditches.   The force of water is tremendous.  Often water comes in great amounts causing damage and destruction.  These great waves of water or floods have many causes.   This Webquest will explore how the force of water can change and shape our environment over a short period of time or many years.
 
 

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                                                            The Task
 

    The mayor of Black Canyon, a small town in the Badlands of South Dakota, needs help.  Many people in the town are worried that about the spring thaw melting the winter snow.  They are worried that then floods will occur wiping out the main road and the town.

    You know that the town council is meeting to decide on a flood plan.  Many people want your recommendation for a flood plan.  You decide to ask some experts in geology, forestry, and flood control for some information to help you with your plan.  Your task is to make a recommendation to the citizens of Black Canyon for a flood control plan.
 
 
 
 

The Process
 
 

1.  You will be assigned to a team to investigate one of the following topics:
 

•  Forestry - Your team has to investigate how trees help hold the land during storms and floods and prevent erosion.

 
•  Geology - Your team has to investigate how mountains and rocks are changed and shaped by rain and erosion.  Often this process in increased by floods.

 
• Flood Control- Your team has to investigate the damage floods cause and what people can do to minimize the damage.

3.  Using the Inspiration software or Kidpix, make a web showing the information you found.
 

4.  Use your web to make a written recommendation to the mayor how he or she should protect the town from floods.

5.  Be prepared to use your research at a town meeting, where you will convince the mayor and the citizens that your flood plan is the best.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Resources

Forestry Resources: 

Woods have many resources that include trees, animals, and insects

Alberta Junior Rangers are students who study trees

This site lists many forestry sites for kids

Environmental news

Department of Natural Resources Information about trees

This site will tell you more about the forest habitat

Books 

Norris, Louanne.  An Oak Tree Dies and a Journey Begins.
New York: Crown Publishing, 1979.
An old oak tree falls into a river and ends up as driftwood near the ocean.

Romanova, Natalia.  Once There was a Tree.
New York:  Dial Books, 1985.
An old stump is a home for creatures and even helps people; when it's gone a new tree appears.

Thornhill, Jan.  A Tree in the Forest.
New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992.
The life story of a 200 year old maple.
 
 

This site tells you about geology and erosion

This site is about South Dakota and the rocks and mountains found there

This site tells how the US Geological Survey studies rocks and mountains

How the Colorado River formed the Grand Canyon

This site will help you understand how water formed the Badlands
 

Books 

Rhodes, Frank H.T.  Geology.
New York: Golden Press, 1972.
This book will give you drawings and information about erosion and how weather shapes the Earth.

Ruchlis, Hyman.  How a Rock Came to be a Fence on a Road Near a Town.  New York: Walker, 1973.
This is the history of a gray rock and its journey over three million years.

Silver, Donald.  Earth: The Ever-changing Planet.
New York: Random House, 1989.
How the Earth was formed and shaped by erosion and other forces in nature.
 
 
 

Investigate how a hurricane can cause floods

Explore how rivers can help and hurt the environment

This site explains information about  rivers :

What you should do to prepare for a flood and what to do during a flood

What is a floodplain and where do you find one

What causes floods and how can you plan for them

Books 

Rozens,Aleksandros.    Floods.
New York:  21st Century Books, 1994.
What is a flood and how is the land is changed by floods.

Erlbach,Arlene.  Floods.
Chicago:  Children's Press, 1994.
This New True book has pictures and text about river floods and flash floods.

Walker, Jane. Tidal Waves and Floods.
1992.
River channels can be good and bad therefore causing or preventing floods.
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 

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Evaluation
 
 
 
 
 

Each student will be given an individual grade and a group grade.

You will be graded individually on your written summary of your team's plan.  This written summary will contain details from your team web to support your position.   It will be written in complete sentences with good spelling.

Your team grade will be based on the following activities:
 

• cooperation in researching resources
• web made on computer using Inspiration or Kid Pix
• presentation of your recommendation at the town meeting

Conclusion
 
 

The force of water is a powerful tool that shapes the environment.  Sometimes it happens slowly and is barely noticeable until many, many years have  passed.  However, some the force of water in floods is very powerful and destructive.   Either way the force of water changes our world.

After completing this Webquest,  you will have a better understanding of how complex it is to decide on what to do about erosion and floods.
 
 

If you would like more information on this topic, visit these links:

This link will help you learn about California rivers
 

This link will tell you what groundwater is and about the Children's Groundwater festival