California's Water Problems

For grades 9-14, California’s Water Problems is a series of four role-playing scenarios designed to give students first-hand experience at working out a solution to a real-life problem involving the management of California’s water. The cooperative learning exercises give students the opportunity to improve research techniques, practice group interaction skills, and sharpen their reasoning abilities. The unit is ideal for a social science class studying management of natural resources or a science class studying the interaction of humans and the environment. Included in the program is a 56-page lesson plan book with student worksheets and evaluation devices, the Layperson’s Guides to the Delta, Colorado River, Agricultural Drainage and Groundwater; the California Water Map; and the California Water System Poster.