My Problem Based LearningPlanning Workbook

By Andrew McKee Date October 9 2012 Problem: Water Pollution

Potential Topic Possible Solutions

A. Water Pollution Clean-ups

B. Bullying Anti-Bullying organizationsMore security in schools

C. Kids Not Getting Proper Food Over the Weekend

Giving kids who are starving food for the weekend

October 9 2012

KWLWhat I Know What I Need to Know Ideas

• It effects marine life• There are many

types of it

• Where does it happen most often?

• What is the main cause(s)?

• How can we help?• Who can I contact for

more information?• What are some other

effects of it?

• Some Water Pollution Organizations

October 9 2012

Problem Solving MapWater

Pollution

Moscow is known as the most

polluted city in this planet

Two of the most

polluted rivers that are near us

are, The Mississippi River and

the Cuyahoga River in Ohio.

Onondaga Lake, NY has been described

as the most

polluted lake in the

United States.

Some of the causes of water pollution are, sewage and wastewater, marine dumping, industrial waste, radioactive waste, oil pollution, underground storage leakages, atmospheric deposition, global warming and eutrophication.

The effect of water pollution usually effect fish, dolphins, whales, sharks, and other animals the live or are in the water for most for their lives.

October 11- 15, 2012

History Of Water PollutionWater pollution has been

around since Medieval Times. It has been there in the World Wars, but it has been getting

worse. Today it is an issue that many people know

about.

What is being done?This problem is pretty much global, so as you

would imagine there are already solutions out there.Cleanups- These can take a while and if waters are chemically infected, workers can get sickAwareness- Many people are trying to make this problem more aware, but sometimes it just seems like the message isn’t getting outDonations/Fundraisers- This out of all is probably doing the most. But it still can’t help all the oceans and animals in them.

Sources of Problematic Situations

In your creek/lak

e

In a river next to a

power plant/

industrial factory.

At the beach

A lot of people have lakes or creeks near their homes, which are usually filled with litter or sewage.

My creek has a lot of litter and trash in it, sometimes when I’m bored I clean some of it up.

My friend has a lake in his backyard and he says that the sewage pipes connect to it, so some of the sewage runs off into it.

Beaches usually have a lot of litter on the land, which at high tide gets pulled into the water, suffocating fish and other marine life.

If a sewage/industrial plant run off into an ocean, their waste can end up in a reef, and do harm to marine life.

Factories’ waste can run off into rivers and move on to lakes, creeks, and oceans.

This run off, and all other sources of water pollution also effect humans

October 15-18, 2012

Problem Map

Indicators

PossibleSolutions

Causes

DoSomething

DoNothing

ProblemWater

Pollution

Many fish and other marine life are dying and spring water is getting infected and affecting humans.

sewage and wastewater, marine dumping, industrial waste, radioactive waste, oil pollution, underground storage leakages, atmospheric deposition, global warming and eutrophication.

We could save thousands, even millions of marine animals, and save ourselves from infected water.

Marine life would die off and go extinct, and many humans would get infected and could possibly die.

October 18-19, 2012

Organize regular clean-ups for places that need them

Pass laws to not be able to dump/litter in bodies of water

Make people aware of the problem

Create safe habitats fro marine animals to live in

Solution Ideas Pros Cons Consequences

Make more people aware of the problem

More people will know

People can help

People might not help

People might get mad at us for asking

We may be able to get enough people to organize a clean-up

Organize regular clean-ups

We can clear out the waters of harmful things

Possibly people could get harmed by the stuff we’re cleaning up

People could get sick, but the waters would be much more safe

Outlaw dumping and littering in bodies of water

People will have to pay consequences for harming marine life, so they will probably eventually stop

People might not listen

Much less people dumping and littering in bodies of water

Create safe habitats for marine life to live in

It’s unlikely people will harm or pollute these waters

People will find a way to somehow do something bad

Marine life will be safe, but drinking water might not be

Decision-Making Matrix October 22 2012

Possible Solution #1

Possible Solution #2What possible consequences could occur?

Get more people aware

of the problem

Solution Create safe habitats for

marine life to live in

What possible consequences could occur?

Positive

Negative

Positive

Negative

I chose solution # 1 as the best for the following reasons:1. #2 may not really be possible yet.2. Although other people do this, the ocean needs all the help it can get3. This is a realistic start, I could do something like #2 later.

People could try to help

People could get more and more people to realize how bad this is

People might not care

People might get annoyed

Marine life could live in the water without the dangers of a lake or ocean

These animals will be safe from humans trying to do harm

Humans will figure out how to harm these animals somehow

They are not in a real habitat so they might not like it

October 23 2012

Develop an Action Plan/Implement the Solution

What is your step by step plan to implement your final solution? (Include specific details..dates, resources/supplies needed)

1. Get the word out. (flyers, websites, ect.) (any time possible)

2. Do fundraisers (TBD)

3. Try to organize clean-ups(TBD)

4. Continue to do things like this (anytime)

October 23- 30 2012-November 6 2012

DO YOU REALLY WANTTO RUIN THIS?

Sourceshttp://www.water-pollution.org.uk/

Reflection