From 2011 to 2016, extraordinary drought conditions developed in California, the southern and southern mid-western states and New England areas of the United States. Drought can be partially attributed to climatic changes such as decreased rain and snow which certainly affect human populations. Are there also human activities that could be contributing to drought conditions? Are solutions to extreme drought possible that both help human populations and limit the impact on the environment?
In this inquiry lesson, students work in cooperative learning groups to investigate the California drought. Beginning with Landsat satellite imagery, students measure the size of reservoirs, examine the relationship between ground water and surface water, and investigate the impact of wells on the limited amount of freshwater available on Earth for human use. Students design possible environmentally-friendly drought solutions and present these in poster sessions.
| Relevant Disciplines: | Life Science, Earth & Space Science, other sciences |
| Grade Level: | 6-12 |
| Adaptable to Other Grades: | No |
| Time Required (class periods): | 2 class periods |
| Prerequisites: | Basic computer and mouse skills |
| Additional Resources Available: | Yes |
Next Generation Science Standards addressed in this lesson:
MS-LS2-4
MS-ESS3-3
HS-LS2-7
HS-ESS3-1
| Lesson Resources for Drought - Looking for Solutions to the California Drought | |
| File Type/Link | Description |
| Image-JPG | Lake Oroville-1995, Landsat 5 image, "natural color," 6.1MB |
| Image-JPG | Lake Oroville-2015, Landsat 8 image, "natural color," 5.7MB |
| Image-JPG | Lake Shasta-1985, Landsat 5 image, "natural color," 6.21MB |
| Image-JPG | Lake Shasta-2015, Landsat 8 image, "natural color," 6.3MB |
| Image-JPG | Lake Mead-1985, Landsat 5 image, "natural color," 1.0MB |
| Image-JPG | Lake Mead-2015, Landsat 8 image, "natural color," 4.7MB |