Key Concepts
• Water cycles between the ocean, the atmosphere, and the land, and can
cause physical and chemical changes in the environment, such as the
formation of glaciers, soil erosion, and the acidification of the oceans.
• Much of the water used by individuals, industries, and business becomes
contaminated and must be treated before it is released into the environment.
• Energy and fuels that people use are derived from natural resources, and
their use affects the environment in multiple ways. (NGSS ESS3.A)
• All forms of energy production and other resource extraction have associated
economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical costs and risks as well as
benefits. (NGSS ESS3.A)
• Changes in the global climate have an impact on our water supply and power
resources, and on how people use them.
Standards Connections
Next Generation Science Standards
SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING PRACTICES
SAMPLE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, GRADES 9–12
Asking Questions and
Identify questions about the environmental impacts of water and
power resource development that could be investigated using a
stream table or sloped area on the school grounds. For example:
What area of land is covered by water before and after a stream is
dammed? Where is the best siting for a dam to maximize the amount
of power it produces? Develop a hypothesis based on what you know.
Defining Problems
BIG IDEAS
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Grades 9–12
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SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
81