What You Need

• Large drawing or construction paper
• Drawing materials
• Stapler or other means of binding booklets
• Tape, glue, or paste
• Encyclopedias and other reference materials

What to Do

1. Explain to students that having a reliable source of water is not only necessary to human, animal, and plant life, it is also often very important to businesses and industries. Ask students to suggest examples of occupations that depend on water. Write their answers on the chalkboard or a chart. Examples might include the following:

   Agriculture, including irrigation canal or other commercial waterway
   Car wash
   Fire department
   Fishing industry (including fish farming)
   Hydroelectric plant
   Hydroponics
   Port with international shipping
   Resort with boating and swimming
   Swimming pool
   Water bottling company

    

    

2. Have students working independently (or with a partner) choose one business or industry to research and report on. The report, in the form of a six- or eight-page booklet, should contain information and drawings that demonstrate (1) why water is vital to that industry, and (2) how the water is used.

    

3. Students prepare their booklets by folding large drawing or construction paper in half and making a front cover with a title and the writers' names. Have students write their text and make their drawings on separate pieces of paper, and then attach their final copies to the booklet pages. Bind the booklets and add them to the library table.

Teaching Options

• Some students might report to the class how a dam affects the surrounding region both positively and negatively. The class can debate the consequences of changing water flow by building dams.
• If your community has a municipal water system, invite a local official to explain how the water is made pure enough to drink. In other areas, ask a well-digger to explain the process of locating and tapping artesian and other wells.
• Explore the bottled-water market by taking a tour of a local supermarket. Have students note the many different kinds of water, read labels for content (for example, salt or other minerals), and calculate the relative cost of different brands of the same type. Encourage students to consider the effects of packaging and advertising claims on sales.