Flooding

Introduction

Living in Louisiana, we experience a variety of weather related natural disasters. During this quest explore the different ways we can prevent flooding in our home state. As you read, keep your graphic organizer handy and be sure to fill it out as you go. When you get to the activates make sure to write down the steps you take to create a solution to flooding.

Task

As you explore with your partner, be sure to fill out the hand out and graphic organizer. Filling these out will help you have a better understanding of flooding and how to prevent it from happening. Having this understanding will help you successfully complete the activity at the end of the lesson. 

The activity will require you to prevent a city from flooding. You will need to make a claim as to what prevention method works the best. As you read, make sure to take note of where these examples are located and how they keep the water from destroying an area. 

Watch the following video to gain some background knowledge on what exactly floods are. As you watch think about the different ways the video mentions the floods could have been prevented. When you are finished watching, talk with your shoulder partner about what you saw.

https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/00000144-0a2c-d3cb-a96c-7b2d90f30000 

Process

What is flooding?

Flooding is when a massive amount of water is moved from one area to a new area that is normally dry or has little to no water. This is caused by rain, wind, or earthquakes causing the water levels to rise or move quickly to lower areas. 

How can we prevent flooding?

Swale

Image result for swale

A swale is a ditch like structure that allows the water to be moved to a new location using lower land. Here in the lower areas, the ground water is collected and absorbed back into the earth. Once absorbed, the water can be used by the surrounding plants or soaked into the existing aquifer under the swale.

Canal

Image result for flooding control channel

A canal is used to redirect water, in a controlled way, back into a river. Canals can be man made with concrete and stone, or dug into the earth. They can also be called "flood control channels".

Wetlands

Image result for wetlands

The wetlands are areas where water can be drained into. Wetlands are known for their below water level land and abundance of water. The land is always mushy or soft land that is able to absorb and hand extreme amounts of water. The land and the ecosystem thrive off the high amounts of water. 

Stormwater Inlet

Image result for stormwater inlet

These inlets are a way for the water to move to a lower area and redirected to a new location. Using stormwater inlets, water is able to be moved off roads and other areas that may hold water. Water is collected under the ground and removed from the land where it was originally being collected.

Levee

Image result for levees

Levees are raised walls made from concrete/ stone or with dirt to keep rising river water from filling surrounding areas. It is important for levees to be sturdy and effective to keep areas from being rushed with water when water levels rise. 

Pervious Paved Roads

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These roads are different than a normal road. These allow for water to be absorbed through the road, into the ground, and redirected into a new area. This is a great way to incorporate drainage in cities or towns by creating lots of areas for ground water to be drained.

Seawall

Image result for seawall

A seawall is created on the coast to keep large waves from the sea or ocean from flooding the nearby city. Many times cities on the coast will be heavily effected by large waves cause by wind or earthquakes, these walls help lower the impact by creating a barrier for the water.

Houses with Stilts

Image result for houses on stilts

Some homes in areas with frequent flooding have stilts on the bottom of their homes. This keeps the water from rushing into the home by raising the house high above the ground. When the house is this high, the house is able to stay dry and safe from the rising waters. Many times these homes can be found on the coast.

Barrier Islands

Image result for barrier islands

Barrier islands are islands off the coast that keep waves caused by strong winds and earthquakes from crashing on the land. The islands are able to slow the speed of the waves. The barrier islands are also a great habitat for plants and animals.

Evaluation

Now that you are experts on preventing flooding, you and your partner will go to the following link to test your knowledge. Use what you know about floods and how to prevent flooding to help create a city that does not flood. As you work be sure to fill out your handout and to document the different tactics you try.

When you click on the link, listen to the introduction and follow along. Once you finish the intro you will be asked to choose a city. Choose a city you and your partner agree on and write it in. each time you try a different strategy fill in the hand out to show what you tried. 

https://pbskids.org/designsquad/games/dont_flood/

When you are finished, fill out the questions at the end of your handout. 

  • What is a flood?
  • What are four ways we can prevent flooding?
  • A _____ is a ditch like structure that redirects water to a new area where the water is used by the surrounding plants and absorbed into the earth to refill existing aquifers.
  • Houses will add ______ to the bottom to raise them high enough to make sure they are out of harms way when the water rises.
  • What are three things that can cause a flood?
  • True or False: Barrier islands are for moving water to a new area to help create a new ecosystem.
  • True or False: Pervious roads allow for water to be absorbed into the ground where it is redirected to a new area.
  • Compare and contrast between a canal and a swell.
  • In your opinion what is the best way to prevent a flood?
  • Create a new way (not used in the activity or the quest) to prevent a flood. Be descriptive and include a drawing to show your solution to flooding.
Conclusion

Living in Louisiana, flooding is a frequently occurring natural disaster. Many times efforts to prevent flooding fail due to human error or other natural events. The best way we are able to learn is through past events, trial and error, and research on new ways to keep water from destroying our cities and homes. Conducting research is the best way to stay on top of preventing these floods and keeping our homes safe.

Credits

“Don't Flood the Fidgits Game . DESIGN SQUAD GLOBAL: PBS KIDS.” Don't Flood the Fidgits Game . DESIGN SQUAD GLOBAL | PBS KIDS, pbskids.org/designsquad/games/dont_flood/.

“Floods 101.” Video, video.nationalgeographic.com/video/00000144-0a2c-d3cb-a96c-7b2d90f30000.

“Journal of Environmental Engineering.” Winter Effluent Quality from Partial-Infiltration Permeable Pavement Systems | Journal of Environmental Engineering | Vol 140, No 11, ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/%28ASCE%29EE.1943-7870.0000854.

“North Bluff Seawall and Boardwalk.” NETCO, netcomanage.com/town-of-oak-bluffs-north-bluff-seawall-and-boardwalk/.

“Stilt House.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stilt_house.

Stock, Stephen, et al. “Will California's Levees Hold up in an Earthquake?” NBC Bay Area, NBC Bay Area, 4 Feb. 2015, www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/series/bay-area-readiness/Will-Califo….

“Swales 101.” Daily Acts, 7 Dec. 2016, dailyacts.org/faq-items/swales-101/.

Swegles, Fred. “Prepping for the 100-Year Storm.” Orange County Register, Orange County Register, 16 Aug. 2013, www.ocregister.com/2013/08/16/prepping-for-the-100-year-storm/.

“Types of Drain Inlets for Stormwater Collection Available in DREN-URBA.” HidraSoftware, www.hidrasoftware.com/en/types-of-drain-inlets-for-stormwater-collectio….

“Why Should We Preserve Our Wetlands?” Facing the Future, www.facingthefuture.org/blogs/news/why-should-we-preserve-our-wetlands.

Teacher Page

Science standard: 3-ESS3-1

Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impact of a weather-related hazard. A variety of natural hazards result from natural process. Humans cannot eliminate natural hazards but can take steps to reduce their impacts. Research on a problem should be carried out before beginning to design a solution. Testing a solution involves investigating how well it performs under a range of conditions. Students will engage in argument from evidence with their partner to talk about different ways floods can be prevented. The student will make a claim by creating a solution to solve a problem.

This web quest allows for 3rd grade students to explore through and learn about flooding through watching a video and reading. Students will interact with a game at the end of the lesson that will have them create a city that can withstand an abundance of water caused by flooding. As the students work on the activity the game will prompt them with different tactics and reasoning of why their plan did not work. Students can also interact with numerous ways to prevent flooding that are not included in the quest. In the end students will answer ten questions that are among a broad range of levels from recall to creating.