As the teams go about their work, the teacher can be seen moving from group to group. She provides feedback and assistance and keeps track of noted problems and progress. Liz read somewhere that the amount of water on Earth hasn't changed since the Earth was formed, almost 5 billion years ago. There is not always enough clean, fresh water for drinking, growing food, making things and having fun. The next day, water samples are brought in to the science classroom.
Appropriate technology is used to collect and analyze water data.
Telecommunications is used to gather data and for collaborative research with experts and other students. One group of students is working with experts from the Illinois Water Survey and the Geological Survey via electronic mail. Other students are using ClarisWorks spreadsheet to collect and analyze data on the large quantites of water used routinely in a home. Some students have decided that they need to talk to Greg Cargill at the Metropolitan Sanitary District to find out what happens with our waste water. So they call him.