The Water Cycle and Water Pollution
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Provided by: Hot Mess|Published on: April 27, 2021
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video from Hot Mess explores the impact of human activity on the water cycle.
- Students will learn about topics including the hydrologic cycle, watersheds, water pollution, keystone species, impermeable surfaces, overfishing, and the tragedy of the commons.
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Hot Mess, PBS
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video starts off with simpler concepts like the water cycle and water vapor but ends with more complex issues like dead zones and the tragedy of the commons.
- It includes successful examples of progress with the Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the recovery of Atlantic Cod fisheries.
Prerequisites
- Although the video explains basic water science concepts, students should still have an understanding of water vapor and the water cycle.
Differentiation & Implementation
- The video is broken into timestamped chapters, so teachers can skip around depending on the subjects being covered.
- Social studies and civics classes can use parts of this video for lessons about how to govern or protect freshwater and ocean ecosystems and resources for the good of all.
- Other resources on this topic include The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes, Droughts, Floods, and Water Vapor - Oh My!, and Coloring Page: The Water Cycle.
This resource is an 18-minute video that presents an overview of the water cycle and the impacts of humans on water quality and water resource availability. After presenting some of the basics of water resource science, this resource presents examples of human-caused pollution and other ways in which humans have altered the natural water cycle. This resource does not shy away from jargon but does an excellent job explaining terminology and making the topic approachable. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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