Sponsored by the Bell Museum of Natural History

Welcome to the Bell LIVE!'s
Online Eco-Games!

http://www.bellmuseum.org/ecogames.html

Directions:

1) Type in the website

2) Click “Let’s Go” – you don’t have to enter a name

3) Click on “Novice Level”

4) Answer the questions below as you proceed through the game and have fun!

Questions:

1. What is a watershed?

2. Are you drinking the same water as the dinosaurs? Explain.

3. How does everything we eat and drink depend on water?

4. Why do we need to keep the rivers, lakes, and streams as clean as possible?

5. What does a limnologist study? Why is their work important?

6. Why do we need to protect the rivers and streams around our homes?

7. What are some things you would do to help reduce a lot of that pollution?

8. Where does blue-green algae get a lot of its nutrients? What type of nutrients does it

use?

9. How do the methods described in this problem prevent erosion?

10. Do the cows present a danger for the stream? How?

11. What is the role of a National Park?

Watershed Scenarios

http://www.bellmuseum.org/ecogames.html

1. At the home web page, click on “Watersheds”

2. Choose any of the scenarios to the left of the screen to explore.

3. Read the background information. You can click on “fast connection” to see a panoramic view of the area.

4. To get started, click: “Let’s find out!” and answer the questions.

5. When you finish, print your answers. You will need them to write your summary (page 1 only).

National Park

Problem #1: You are the park planner. You recently received several complaints about the run-down hiking trails.

What is the best way to protect the park and fix the trails?

Problem #2: There was a large storm recently which knocked over many trees in your local park. Some of the

trees fell into the river and some onto the hiking trails. If you wanted to clean up the hiking trails

without hurting the river, what is the best solution?

Problem #3: A fire just wiped out a large part of a national forest. What should you do?

Problem #4: The picnic area in your park connects to a very scenic stream. Visitors want to hike to the stream,

but you are worried that they will walk on the native plants. What is the best way to ensure that

the plants and the stream remain healthy?

Problem #5: A developer wants to build a resort on the edge of your national park, on the shores of a chain of

lakes. What can you do to minimize the impact of the resort on the national park and its waters?

Neighborhood

Problem #1: Your neighborhood is growing, so the city council is debating whether to allow a large housing

development to be built. The new houses would bring lots of money into the city, but all the houses

would be near the river. What is the best way to save money and keep the river safe?

Problem #2: Your local zoo has eight rare horses each worth thousands of dollars. They are beautiful animals and

everyone enjoys having them in the zoo. Unfortunately, they produce a lot of manure, which can

pollute the nearby river. What should be done?

Problem #3: Your neighborhood park is being renovated to better serve its residents. Some residents want more

parking and paved trails. Others want less parking and more natural areas. It is up to you to decide.

What will you do?

Problem #4: It's the middle of the summer and the mosquitoes are out for blood. The mosquitoes aren't

dangerous, but some of your neighbors are fed up and want to kill all the mosquitoes with a new type

of pesticide. You are worried that the new pesticide might hurt your lake. What should you do?

Problem #5: You are planting a garden by the river flowing near your yard. What measures do you take to protect

the river bank and the water?

Assignment:

Restate the problems in your scenario. Explain why each problem creates a harmful situation for our rivers, streams, and watershed. Summarize your answers and the consequences that resulted from your decisions. Discuss other options, if any, that would have helped solve the problem.