California's Water Problem: STATE OF THIRST!!

This semester you have learned a lot about the water crisis all over the world. You have learned how people in South American, and even India, have worked to develop solutions to their various water problems.

Today you will be learning more specifically about the water problem in CALIFORNIA. You are going to watch the video below. While watching the video, you are going to take notes on the paper you have been given. After you have watched the video and taken notes, you are going to retype those notes into a comment on this blog post.

The areas you are going to take notes on include:

THE PROBLEM:
According to the video, what is the problem with California’s Water Future?

CHALLENGES:
According to the video, what are some of the challenges to solving this problem?

SOLUTIONS:
Based on what you saw in the video, what do you think citizens of California should do about the problem? (List at least three important ideas)

ACTIONS I CAN TAKE:
Based on what you saw in the video, what do you think YOU can do? (list at least three important ideas)


State of Thirst: California's Water Future (VIDEO PODCAST -- COPY AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS INTO YOUR WEB BROWSER)

http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/state-of-thirst-californias-water-future

Getting Ready for Earth Day!

Earth Day is coming and we need to get ready for our Earth Day event! For Today's MASTERS program, I want each of you to explore the following websites. At each site you will find links to projects, crafts, and event ideas related to Earth Day. Last year we started a tradition of hosting an "Ecofair" for our school. Groups of two or three students in the Masters program teamed up to PLAN and HOST a booth with an eco related activity. As you search the following sites, think about which activities might work well in the ecofair setting.

Things you need to consider for choosing the right activity:

(1) visitors should learn something important, or should feel inspired to develop more eco friendly behaviors
(2) people tend to drift in and out, they might not hang around for a long time
(3) activities should be quick and simple
(4) make and take activities should use recycled materials


Please visit the following sites and be prepared to share your TOP THREE activities with the group:

Earth Day Event Ideas

http://earthday.envirolink.org/guide6.html



Earth Day Activities

http://www.picadome.fcps.net/Lab/currl/earth_day/default.htm


http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/earthday/


http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/earth-day/reusing-materials-make-new-crafts.html


http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/earthday.htm

Trashed!!!

Today we watched Part 1 of the movie: Trashed.

“Trashed” is a provocative investigation of one of the fastest growing industries in North America. The garbage business. The film examines a fundamental element of modern American culture…the disposal of what our society defines as “waste.” It is an issue influenced by every American, most of whom never consider the consequences. Nor, it seems, the implications to our biosphere. At times humorous, but deeply poignant, “Trashed” examines the American waste stream fast approaching a half billion tons annually.

The film analyzes the causes and effects of the seemingly innocuous act of “taking out the garbage” while showcasing the individuals, activists,corporate and advocacy groups working to affect change and reform the current model. “Trashed” is an informative and thought-provoking film everyone interested in the future of sustainability should see.

Considering what you've seen so far, consider the following questions and post your reply:

What are the effects all this waste will have on already strained natural resources?

Why is so much of it produced?

While every American creates almost 5 pounds of it every day, who is affected most?

And who wants America to make more?