Objectives for the unit are designed to incorporate standards from the New Haven Public Schools’ Social Studies Curriculum and the Connecticut Social Studies Content and Performance Standards (including CAPT, Connecticut Assessment and Performance Test). The performance standards of the New Haven Public Schools Social Studies Curriculum Grades 9-12 are included as Figure 2. The specific objectives for this unit
are listed below as objectives A,B,C,D.
A. Students will demonstrate understanding both orally and in writing that clean water scarcity can be attributed to natural and manmade causes. Students will be able to name three natural causes of water contamination and scarcity.
B. Students will demonstrate understanding both orally and in writing of the principle sources of man-made contamination of water sources
C. Students will analyze international initiatives that preserve water quality, reverse previous damage, and/or create infrastructure to better manage and encourage sustainable development of water resources.
D. Students will select an international water rights conflict, describe the conflict orally and in writing, and evaluate steps being planned and taken to resolve it.
Objectives A and B are multifaceted objectives that are crucial to understanding the dynamics of water contamination and scarcity. Causes of scarcity and contamination have scientific, geographical, economic, political, and social dimensions. Any of these dimensions can be emphasized in adapting the subject matter to classroom use. They could be easily be modified to be the basis of interdisciplinary study as part of the earth science or chemistry curriculum. For instance, biological and chemical contaminants in water such as parasites and mercury can be presented in terms of their adverse effects on the body. In addition, these objectives can also be adapted to the geography curriculum as phenomena that can be investigated and plotted on regional maps. In either case, these objectives fit into the city performance standard number eleven from Figure 2: Describe relationships between historical subject matter and other subjects they study, current issues, and personal concerns. [SS 12:4e]
Objectives C and D link to a number of performance standards. Incorporating essential questions to these objectives reinforces this link. In analyzing the effectiveness of international initiatives such as the United Nation’s World Water Assessment Program (WWAP) through reading WWAP documents and secondary sources, students will be able to meet performance standards three, five, six, and seven. Students will gather analyze and reconcile historical information, including contradictory data, from primary and secondary sources to support or reject hypotheses. Students will also describe, explain, and analyze political, economic and social consequences that came about as the resolution of a conflict. Students will evaluate data within the historical, social, political and economic context in which it was created. They will also be explaining relationships among the events and trends studied in national and world history.
Figure 2. Performance Standards of the New Haven Public Schools Social Studies Curriculum Grades 9-12
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways that cultural encounters and the interaction of people of different cultures in pre-modern as well as modern times have shaped new identities and ways of life. [SS12:3c]
2. Analyze using historical and contemporary examples, the meaning and significance of the ideal of equal protection under the law for all persons. [SS12:5d]
3. Gather, Analyze, and reconcile historical information, including contradictory data, from primary and secondary sources to support or reject hypotheses. [SS12:1b]
4. Demonstrate an understanding of major events and trends in world history, United States history from all historical periods and from all regions of the world. [SS12:2a]
5. Describe, explain, and analyze political, economic and social consequences that came about as the resolution of a conflict. [12:3e]
6. Evaluate data within the historical, social, political and economic context in which it was created testing its credibility and evaluating its bias. [SS12:1d]
7. Explain relationships among the events and trends studied in national and world history. [SS12:2c]
8. Students will be able to describe and analyze, using historical data and understandings, the options which are available to parties involved in contemporary conflicts or decision making. [SS12:4b]
9. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways race, gender, ethnicity, and class issues have affected individuals and societies of the past. [SS12:3f]
10. Explain the multiple forces and developments (cultural, political, economic, and scientific) that have helped to connect peoples of the world. [SS12;3j]
11. Describe relationships between historical subject matter and other subjects they study, current issues, and personal concerns. [SS 12:4e]
12. Analyze historical and contemporary conflicts through the respective roles of state and national governments. [SS 12:5b]
