Earn Your Jellyfish Badge
In the last lesson you learned that the first step to protecting the ocean is being a good caretaker of the watershed right in your own backyard. Let's dive a bit deeper to see how a watershed works, locate our own watershed, and make some observations.
The next time it rains, see if you can find examples of things being carried away by water. Where do you think it will end up if no one collects it and disposes of it properly?
LET'S FIND OUT...
WHERE'S THAT WATER GOING?
How does water travel? Where does it go when it rains or the snow melts? What happens when the traveling water brings something along with it? Watch this video to see how water travels in a watershed.
HOW'S MY WATER?
Where do you think the water in your area goes? If you floated down river where would you end up? Visit the EPA’s How’s My Waterway page and enter your zip code to find out which watershed you call home. While you're there you can check the health of your local watershed. Ask your grown-up for help if you need it. *The site is sometimes slow to load.
OBSERVATION
Observation is a very important part of science because it helps us make a plan of action. As you observe your watershed you can take note of anything that doesn't belong there. You can also observe the trash you throw away each week.
SCIENTIST NOTEBOOK
Now that you know what a watershed is, how it works, and how trash is carried, it's time to record some new data! Make a list of trash items you saw as you observed your local watershed. Then, anytime you see an item in that category place a tally mark beside it. Later we'll look back at our data to see which trash item is found most often in our watershed.
Record these words and their definitions in your scientist notebook
STORMWATER
POLLUTANTS
OBSERVATION
YOU DID IT!
You successfully completed level two by following that water! Don't forget to add your newly earned badge to your achievement chart before getting started on the next level.
KEEP GOING!
Now that you know where the water is going and how trash travels, let's dive a bit deeper and earn your next badge.
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