wonders of the water: thematic learning with the mississippi river heath e. capello university of...
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Wonders of the Water:
Thematic Learning with the Mississippi
River
Heath E. CapelloHeath E. Capello
University of MississippiUniversity of Mississippi
January 27, 2006January 27, 2006
So you have Questions…
What’s the big idea?What’s the big idea? How can thematic learning help How can thematic learning help
me?me? How do I apply this information?How do I apply this information?
The Idea
Why Study the Mississippi River?
Its PervasivenessIts Pervasiveness
The Father of Waters
http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/culture.htm
The Father of Waters
River Length: River Length: 3,705 km 3,705 km (2,302 mi) (2,302 mi) Basin Area: Basin Area: 3.2 million km3.2 million km22 (1.2 million (1.2 million
mimi22) or ) or 41%41% of the conterminous United of the conterminous United States States
Population along the Mississippi Corridor: Population along the Mississippi Corridor: 12 million12 million people live in the 125 counties people live in the 125 counties parishes.parishes.
Amount of water discharged to the Gulf: Amount of water discharged to the Gulf: 612,000 ft612,000 ft33/s/s (4.6 million gal/s) (EPA 2003) (4.6 million gal/s) (EPA 2003)
Why Study the Mississippi River?
Its PervasivenessIts Pervasiveness Its LocationIts Location
Location, Location, Location
MississippiMississippi Opportunity to have students Opportunity to have students
learn more about something learn more about something that is a part of their state and that is a part of their state and historyhistory
Environmental stewardship Environmental stewardship and watershed awarenessand watershed awareness
Why Study the Mississippi River?
Its PervasivenessIts Pervasiveness Its LocationIts Location The EnvironmentThe Environment
A watershed in trouble
WatershedWatershed – the entire surface – the entire surface drainage area that contributes drainage area that contributes water to a river or lake.water to a river or lake.
TributaryTributary – a body of water that – a body of water that contributes materials to a larger contributes materials to a larger bodybody
A watershed in trouble
A watershed in trouble
HypoxiaHypoxia Wetland lossWetland loss Water qualityWater quality Navigation and channelizationNavigation and channelization
The Theme
Why use Thematic Learning?
Wiggins and McTighe (1998)Wiggins and McTighe (1998)– Is it worth being familiar with?Is it worth being familiar with?– Is it important to know and do?Is it important to know and do?– Does it create “enduring” understanding?Does it create “enduring” understanding?
TomkinsTomkins– Integrate across curricular areas to Integrate across curricular areas to
explore and explain the answer to explore and explain the answer to questionsquestions
Why use Thematic Learning? Provides students with a familiar base Provides students with a familiar base
Adds comfort to challenging materialAdds comfort to challenging material Integrates core subjectsIntegrates core subjects Allows students to draw connections Allows students to draw connections
between related materialsbetween related materials Opens eyes to the big pictureOpens eyes to the big picture Acts as a foundation for critical Acts as a foundation for critical
thinking and inquiry based learningthinking and inquiry based learning
The Application
Brainstorming1. Problem statement2. Think Time3. Brainstorming4. Think Time5. Reflection6. Conclusion
Use role assi
gnments
to divide labor and
reduce chaos.
Today’s Two Activities
What’s in your Watershed? What’s in your Watershed? Fun with PhytoplanktonFun with Phytoplankton
What’s in your Watershed?
ScienceScience GeographyGeography StewardshipStewardship
Fun with Phytoplankton
BiologyBiology MathematicsMathematics PhysicsPhysics
Extensions: Gulf Hypoxia
http://www.smm.org/deadzone/causes/http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/taskforce/hypoxia.htm
Extensions: Aquatic Food Web
http://www.mindfully.org/Food/Food-Web.gif
Extensions: Technology
Have students create a PowerPoint that Have students create a PowerPoint that answers some of the following answers some of the following questions:questions:– What are some of the most important What are some of the most important
environmental concerns about the river?environmental concerns about the river?– What are some of the literature, music, What are some of the literature, music,
and art that has been inspired by the river?and art that has been inspired by the river?– What historical events have occurred along What historical events have occurred along
the river?the river?
Useful Websites General Biology: General Biology:
http://www.kensbiorefs.com/index.htmhttp://www.kensbiorefs.com/index.htmll
Mississippi River and Hypoxia:Mississippi River and Hypoxia:– http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/– http://www.smm.org/deadzone/top.htmlhttp://www.smm.org/deadzone/top.html
Science and Math Projects:Science and Math Projects:– http://smartweed.olemiss.edu/nmgk8/http://smartweed.olemiss.edu/nmgk8/
Sources and Acknowledgements
The Environmental Protection Agency. 2005 July 28. The Environmental Protection Agency. 2005 July 28. Mississippi River Basin & Gulf of Mexico hypoxia Mississippi River Basin & Gulf of Mexico hypoxia Culture/History. Accessed 2006 January 19. Culture/History. Accessed 2006 January 19. <http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/culture.htm>. <http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/culture.htm>.
National Research Council. 1992. National Research Council. 1992. Restoration of Restoration of Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems. Washington D.C.: National . Washington D.C.: National Academy Press.Academy Press.
Michelsen, Merridee. 2004. Personal communication.Michelsen, Merridee. 2004. Personal communication. Wiggins, G. and J. McTighe. 1998. Wiggins, G. and J. McTighe. 1998. Understanding by Understanding by
DesignDesign. Alexandria, VA:Association for Supervision . Alexandria, VA:Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.and Curriculum Development.
Smith, Jennifer. 2004. Personal communication.Smith, Jennifer. 2004. Personal communication.
