Secondary studen watershed literacy items

Attachment 12: Secondary Student Watershed Literacy Items 12

Pre/Post Matching Code

Assign students a unique code for matching pre- and post-tests.

Demographics

What grade are you in?

• Grade PreK, 1, 2, or 3

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

• Grade 6

• Grade 7

• Grade 8

• Grade 9, 10, 11, or 12

In science, do you usually get...

• Mostly A's?

• Mostly B's?

• Mostly C's?

• Mostly D's or below?

• Our school does not give this type of grades

• I prefer not to answer

Do you identify as (check all that apply):

• Hispanic or Latino

• American Indian or Alaska Native

• Asian

• Black or African American

• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

• White

• Other

• I prefer not to answer

Do you mostly speak English at home?

• No

• Yes

• I prefer not to answer

Are you ....

• Male

• Female

• I prefer not to answer

Objective 1: Define the term “watershed”

How sure are you that you know what a watershed is?

• Not at all sure

• A little sure

• Very sure

• I'm positive

Which of these is the best definition of a watershed?

• A building at a water treatment plant

• An area of land that drains into a specific body of water

• A significant pollution event

• Another name for a river or stream

• Don't know

How sure are you that you know what groundwater is?

• Not at all sure

• A little sure

• Very Sure

• I'm positive

Watersheds contain groundwater.

• No

• Yes

• Don't know

Look at the picture.  Which of the following is in this river’s watershed?

	No	Yes	Don't know
The red school building
The farm
The city
The small creek on the right

Objective 2: Identify their local watershed(s)

Do you live in a watershed?

• No

• Yes

• Don't know

Objective 3: Identify how watersheds are connected to the ocean via streams, rivers, and human-made structures

Where does most of the water from the land eventually end up?

• Ocean

• River

• Sewer

• Lake

• Don't know

How sure are you that you know what a storm drain is?

• Not at all sure

• A little sure

• Very sure

• I'm positive

Ultimately, where does water end up after it enters a storm drain?

• Wastewater treatment plant

• A local body of water

• In the ground

• City sewer

• Don't know

Objective 4: Identify the functions that occur in a watershed (transport, store, and cycle water)

What are some of the functions that occur within a watershed?

	No	Yes	Don't know
The transport of water
The transport of materials, like soil through rivers
The storage of water in lakes, rivers, groundwater, etc.
The transformation of water from one state to another (liquid, ice, vapor, etc.)

Objective 5: Recognize that both natural processes and human activities affect water flow and water quality in watersheds

Which of these statements is FALSE? Watershed boundaries …

• Hardly ever change; they are nearly permanent

• Can sometimes be changed by the actions of people

• Can sometimes be changed by natural processes

• Are constantly altered by both human activities and natural processes

• Don't know

Which of the following can change how water drains in a watershed?    

	No	Yes	Don't know
A flood
A landslide
A dam
The construction of a storm drain

How sure are you that you know what stormwater is?

• Not at all sure

• A little sure

• Very sure

• I'm positive

Stormwater pipes are similar to streams and creeks because they both:

• Usually have greater water flow when it storms

• Are natural habitats for plants and animals

• Are constructed by people

• Usually receive most of the water from drains and ditches

• Don't know

When trees in a watershed are cut down and replaced with pavement and buildings, …

	No	Yes	Don't know
More water will drain into local rivers and lakes
More water will drain into groundwater
Water will drain into local rivers and lakes faster
There will be a greater chance of flooding and erosion

Vegetated buffers (that is, trees, shrubs, other plants along streams, rivers, and estuaries) …

• Increase flooding along streams and rivers

• Decrease erosion and filter water flowing to streams and rivers

• Increase erosion and filter run-off along streams and rivers

• Increase the nutrients that flow into water

• Don't know

Which human activities might increase water pollution?

	No	Yes	Don't know
Water running off people’s yards and farm fields
Water running off streets and parking lots
Putting chemicals down storm drains
Draining wetlands, such as marshes
Removing trees and other plants

Nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) in a stream, river, lake, or ocean can be a form of pollution.

• No

• Yes

• Don't know

Objective 6: Identify connections between human welfare and water flow and quality

The quality of the water in rivers, lakes, and the ocean can affect the health of people living near them.

• No

• Yes

• Don't know

The water from bodies of water, such as rivers and creeks, is used ...

	No	Yes	Don't know
for drinking after it's cleaned
for farming
by wildlife

If a pollutant is put into the river at Town C, which town(s) (if any) would be directly affected by the pollution?  Check all that apply.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Objective 7: Identify possible point and non-point sources of water pollution

How sure are you that you know what non-point source pollution is?

• Not at all sure

• A little sure

• Very sure

• I'm positive

Which of these is a type of non-point source pollution?

	No	Yes	Don't know
Oil in the water running off of streets and parking lots
Soil in the water running off of farm fields
Fertilizer in the water running off of lawns
Chemicals in the water coming out of a factory pipe

Rivers are the major ways through which non-point source pollution enters the ocean.

• No

• Yes

• Don't know

How sure are you that you know what point source pollution is?

• Not at all sure

• A little sure

• Very sure

• I'm positive

Controlling point source pollution is typically easier than controlling non-point source pollution.

• No

• Yes

• Don't know

Objective 8: Identify actions individuals can engage in to protect/restore water quality in watersheds

Which of the following would help keep water clean?

• Disposing of household chemicals down the drain

• Washing the car on the grass instead of on pavement

• Leaving the water running while brushing teeth

• Cutting down native trees in the woods

• Don't know

People can help protect the water in their local watershed by:   

	No	Yes	Not sure
Conserve water at home or school
Help clean up or take care of a local stream, river, or beach
Participate in a restoration activity such as planting trees or removing invasive plants