LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Defining drought

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=437

A lesson plan for Grades 9–12 Earth/Environmental Science and Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

About this resource

Appropriate grades
9–12
Subjects
science (environmental science), thinking skills (critical literacy, higher order thinking, information literacy)
Provider
American Association for the Advancement of Science

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In this lesson, students examine the hydrologic impacts of drought and will look at drought from a variety of perspectives. The lesson focuses first on the scientific definition of drought, including weather patterns, water cycles, water requirements by plants and animals, and physiological responses by plants and animals to drought. The lesson also focuses on the current and historic social and economic impacts of drought. The activities encourage students to practice gathering information, understanding the accuracy of the information, and using that information to better understand the potential risks of societal and personal decisions. After an initial discussion about personal experiences with drought, students work together to create a definition of drought. Then, using online resources, students define and discuss the scientific definitions of drought. Finally, students use other web resources to explore the impacts of drought on humans and wildlife. They explain how drought compares to other natural hazards such as floods and hurricanes. Science NetLinks provides student handouts, resources on background information for teachers, and detailed directions for completing the lesson. The lesson also contains a link to the Delaware River Basin Commission website which connects droughts, floods, and urban sprawl.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grades 9–12 — Advanced Placement Earth and Environmental Science

  • Goal 7: The learner will build an understanding of environmental decision making.
    • Objective 7.03: Recognize significance of major environmental laws and regulations: regional, national and international.
      • Clean Air Act.
      • Clean Water Act.
      • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act.
      • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
      • Endangered Species Act.
      • Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Control Act.
      • Kyoto Protocol.
      • Lacey Act.
      • Mining Act.
      • Montreal Protocol.
      • National Environmental Policy Act.
      • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
      • Wilderness Act.
    • Objective 7.04: Develop an awareness of environmental options.
      • Conservation.
      • Preservation.
      • Restoration.
      • Remediation.
      • Mitigation.

Grades 9–12 — Earth/Environmental Science

  • Goal 4: The learner will build an understanding of the hydrosphere and its interactions and influences on the lithosphere, the atmosphere, and environmental quality.
    • Objective 4.04: Evaluate water resources:
      • Storage and movement of groundwater.
      • Ecological services provided by the ocean
      • Environmental impacts of a growing human population.
      • Causes of natural and manmade contamination.