Aral+Sea+Activity

=The Aral Sea: What's Happening to Whom?=

Objectives:

 * 1) Compare satellite images of the Aral Sea at different times
 * 2) Visit websites about the Aral Sea and complete a chart explaining how health, agriculture, fishing, and ecosystems are being affected by the sea's recession
 * 3) Answer questions about how the situation in the Aral Sea region affects the lives of specific individuals
 * 4) Pretend you are experts who have been called in to help solve the problems in the Aral Sea region, and list the things you think will need to be done

Monday October 24th
Visit NASA's website about the "Shrinking Aral Sea" Visit the United Nation's website about "The disappearance of the Aral Sea" Visit the WWF's website for the Living Waters Programme The link will take you to a search result, you will need to click the second link titled "Living Waters" then when prompted click Save and save it to your computer then click Open to __**read**__ the file While __**reading**__ the file, answer the following questions in a Word document:
 * Step 1:** Where in the world is the Aral Sea?? Click HERE to find out!
 * Step 2:** As you visit the following sites consider how the following are affected by changes in the Aral Sea and write your responses in a Word document (title it "Aral Sea Activity" and your name) and save it to your computer because you will compile all your information in one document to be turned in at the end of the week:
 * Human health
 * Agriculture
 * Fishing Industry
 * Ecosystems
 * Step 3:**
 * 1) Describe the projected future for water supplies and the world's population
 * 2) List 4 activities that lead to water waste
 * 3) Which fiber makes up half of the fiber used to make clothes worldwide?
 * 4) How has the urban population growth changed food consupmtion patterns?
 * 5) List 5 of the solutions to the world's water problems that the website lists (not the steps that WWF is taking that are listed at the very end of the website)

Tuesday October 25th

 * Step 4:** Discuss the Living Waters Programme
 * Step 5:** Number the class off by 8s
 * Step 6:** Assume the following roles:
 * 1's: University biologist
 * 2's: Uzbek scientist who is an expert on the Aral Sea
 * 3's: Local fisherman
 * 4's: Local doctor
 * 5's: Local mother/father of two small children
 * 6's: Local cotton farmer
 * 7's: Politician from the town of Muynak, Uzbekistan (Click HERE to see Muynak on a map)
 * 8's: Kazak government official (Click on the link above to see Kazakhstan on a map)

Brainstorm answers to the following questions while assuming your assigned role and write down your responses (responses should be added to the bottom of the Word document you created yesterday to answer questions on the assigned reading):
 * 1) How does the current situation in the Aral Sea region affect your daily life?
 * 2) What power, if any, do you have to improve the conditions in the Aral Sea region?
 * 3) Do you want to improve conditions in the Aral Sea region? Why or why not?

You should take notes on each role, you will use these Wednesday
 * Step 7:** Share answers in class to questions 1-3 for each of the 8 roles (last 15 minutes)

Wednesday October 26th

 * Step 8:** Imagine that you are all experts who have been called in to the Aral Sea region to help find solutions to the problems there. Come up with a list of 3 things that would need to be done here to solve the problems. Your list should take into consideration what each of the characters has said about how the Aral Sea situation is affecting them.
 * Step 9:** Share your solutions with the class

Your assignment for Wednesday is to study the countries of Northern Eurasia, you will have ONE chance to quiz on the countries on Thursday. A list of countries can be found on the server.

Here is a checklist to be sure that you have answered the appropriate questions to be handed in and graded:

 * From Monday: notes on human health, agriculture, fishing industry, and ecosystems from the NASA and United Nations websites. You also should have answers to the 5 questions for the Living Waters Programme reading
 * From Tuesday: 3 questions answered for your assigned role and notes on everyone elses' roles
 * From Wednesday: list of 3 solutions to the Aral Sea solution

Interesting links concerning this activity:
 * How rice is grown
 * How farmers level their field with lasers
 * How much water does it take to grow a hamburger?