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1A. Activity:
Snapshots of change/ A
Historical perspective
This module includes the development of a historical perspective for how land has been used. Students are asked to create three “snapshots” of the chosen watershed and surrounding area from different times.
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority developed several activities which are presented in their curriculum guide entitled Water Watchers, 1987. Two activities are presented from historical perspective; #4, A Wet History of Boston and # 6, Case Study: The Town of Quosset at Four Points in History. While these activities are written with the middle school in mind they serve as models for creating historical “snapshots” for the watershed which your class is studying.
Using historical resources students are asked to create “snapshots” of the watershed including a town or city in close proximity at three points in history. The goals include establishment of connections between historical land uses and types of contaminants created, prediction of the effect of certain land use classes and identification of how contaminants are delivered to the physical environment. (point and non-point sources). Students can then make a connection between what they are testing for and the location which samples are collected.
Historical information should be gathered for the years 1800, 1900 and 2000. Posters are created identifying the general layout of the areas at those times. Particular attention should be given to the rationale for placing industries near water, positioning of roadways and the sources and types of contaminants which were added to the system. Students should also consider the fate of the contaminants, what are mechanisms of purification, do they rely on natural or man-made systems?
Resources:
Historical Society
E.P.A. or D.E.P.
Arial photographs
Museum or Athenaeum
Maps at County seats