Grade 2 - Quinte Conservation

Quinte Conservation Presents The Spring Water Awareness & Dam Safety Program The Spring Water Awareness Program (S.W.A.P.) was developed by the Quinte Conservation Authority to make children aware of the dangers associated with the spring water runoff. As part of the Conservation Authority’s role as the lead flood warning agency and its related interest in public safety, we have created this teacher resource kit to be used in area schools. Let’s make our children aware of the grave dangers that exist at this time of year and through education, let’s prevent a tragedy!

www.quinteconservation.ca

Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Program

Teacher’s Guide & notes

Teacher’s Guide & Notes Tragically, every year children drown in Ontario’s waterways. As part of Quinte Conservation’s role as the lead flood advisory agency and our related interest in public safety, we have created this curriculum based resource kit on spring water safety. This kit includes: • Quinte Conservation water & dam safety video with teachers notes • Spring Water Awareness safety facts and tips • Letter for parents about the dangers of spring waters • Spring Water Awareness poster for the classroom (on CD) • Curriculum Links for Grades K-6 • Activity ideas for the classroom • Fun & educational activity sheets for students We encourage teachers to use this information to warn children of the dangers of fast flowing water and thin ice. Introducing the topic of spring water safety before March break is recommended. Let’s work together and through education, prevent a tragedy! Quinte Conservation is a community based environmental protection agency representing three regions: Moira River watershed region; Prince Edward region; and Napanee region. Quinte Conservation is a locally directed agency that works on watershed conservation concerns such as flood forecasting, reforestation, environmental planning, storm water management, habitat restoration and other water related conservation issues. Throughout the winter, the Authority monitors snow depth and ice build up to provide a forecast of the amount of spring runoff and flood predictions.

Photo copying any of the following material is permitted. If you have any question, comments or concerns about this newly revised (winter of 2010) Spring Water Awareness Program please contact our Quinte Conservation Main Office. Maya Navrot Conservation Education Coordinator Quinte Conservation RR#2, 2061 Old Hwy #2 Belleville, ON K8N 4Z2 Phone: (613) 968-3434 ext 131 Fax: (613) 968-8240 [email protected] www.quinteconservation.ca

A PDF version of this kit can be found on our Quinte Conservation website. Website: www.quinteconservation.ca Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Program


Spring Water Safety: Important Program Notes Stay away from riverbanks and rivers or even creeks in the spring – Don’t challenge cold water! It takes some time for ice to form and even longer for it to become thick enough to venture onto safely. When planning activities on lakes or rivers have an adult check that the ice is smooth and thick enough to venture on to safely. Understand that ice cover is often unpredictable: • Ice formed on moving water such as rivers and creeks varies in thickness. • AVOID walking on ice that is on or near moving water! • In spring weather ice is not safe, even thick ice is not necessarily safe. During the spring melt, lines of impurities in the ice melt very quickly, creating weak spots. • Ice rarely freezes or thaws at an equal rate.

IF IN DOUBT, DON’T GO ON THE ICE!!! On the Ice • Obey all signs posted on or near the ice. • Only play on or near ice when a responsible adult is supervising. • Use the "buddy system" - never walk on ice when alone.

Ice Colour The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength. • Clear blue ice is strongest. • White opaque (difficult to see through) or snow ice is half as strong as blue ice. Opaque ice is formed by wet snow freezing on the ice. • Grey ice is unsafe. The grayness indicates the presence of water.

REMEMBER ice is always unpredictable and thickness will always vary from one location to another.

Check ice thickness before heading out and avoid going out on ice at night. Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Program

Quinte Conservation – Spring Water Awareness Program


Teacher’s Guide & Notes

When is the Ice Safe? There is no sure answer. Ice is tricky, and just because a lake or stream is frozen doesn't mean the ice is safe. To understand the factors involved in the strength of ice, it's necessary to understand how ice forms on lakes and streams and a few of its physical properties. You CANNOT tell the strength of ice just by looking at it! Ice strength is affected by all the factors listed below: •

Daily temperature: Ice moves as temperatures change. If you hear ice "booming" or cracking on cold days or still evenings, it doesn't necessarily mean the ice is dangerous, merely that it's changing shape as the temperature changes.

•

Water currents: fast flowing water in streams, creeks and rivers create thin and weak ice that is not always visible to the recreationalist. Beware of all ice on flowing water bodies.

•

River Ice: Ice formed over flowing water can be dangerous near shore, around inflowing or outflowing streams, or on lakes containing large numbers of springs. River ice is generally weaker than ice on lakes or ponds because of currents!

•

Thickness: Ice seldom freezes or thaws at a uniform rate. The ice can be a very thick and strong in one spot while thin and weak in another!

•

Snow is an Insulator: Whether the ice is or isn't covered with snow (snow acts as an insulator); a layer of snow insulates ice, slowing down the ice forming process. In addition, the weight of snow can decrease the bearing capacity of the ice.

•

Depth of water under the ice: Ice near shore is weaker. The buckling action of the lake or stream over the winter breaks and refreezes ice continually along the shore.

•

Water Chemistry: The rivers and streams in urban areas are used as storm sewers for street runoff. This means not only melted snow from our cities and towns washes into the rivers, but also the salt that was used to melt the snow. The salt affects the ice and makes it weak and unpredictable.

•

Size/type of water body: Straight, smooth flowing stretches are safer than river bends. River mouths are dangerous because the current weakens the ice and creates unsafe pockets.

•

Logs, rocks and docks: Such objects can absorb heat from the sun and weaken the ice.

•

Distribution of the ice: A potential danger spot on lakes is an open portion completely surrounded by ice. Winds will force exposed water beneath the ice and rot it from below.

Quinte Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Conservation–Spring Water Awareness Program Program

Teacher’s Teacher’s GuideGuide & notes &

Notes

•

Dams and bridges: Ice is never safe near dams due to strong currents and changing water levels. Bridges and structures in the water create unsafe conditions.

•

Water level fluctuations: can create thin ice as water levels drop not visible to the recreationalist. Ice can be ‘hanging’ with no support beneath.

•

Actions of birds and fish: schools of carp create thin ice spots or even open water by congregating in one location while circulating the water with their fins; Beavers create channels under the ice to move from one location to another – these channels can result in thin ice above them.

•

And local climatic factors: Fluctuation in weather conditions result in unstable and unpredictable ice.

Be Water Aware Facts: •

Snow insulates ice from the cold air and can prevent it from thickening.

•

.A warm spell or thaw can degrade ice VERY quickly; therefore, ice that was safe one day may be dangerous the next.

•

When snow or ice melts and flows into rivers and streams, waterways can become full with runoff and flooding can result.. Even small ditches and culverts have cold fast flowing water in the spring.

•

In the spring, the ground may be frozen or saturated and so precipitation is not absorbed. This means rain runs off the land into waterways, increasing their flow.

•

During the spring, riverbanks thaw and may collapse when someone walks on them. Snow and ice overhangs also form in these areas and may present an additional danger.

•

It is especially dangerous to fall through the ice of a fast flowing river, because the current can sweep you under the ice.

•

The water in the spring is very cold and its low temperature alone can be a cause of death due to hypothermia.

KEY SAFETY MESSAGES! STAY AWAY from all dams and water control structures. REMEMBER TO always dress warmly in the winter – every time you go outside! IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS be with a friend when you play out side, so that someone can go for help if there is a problem. Always tell an adult where you are playing. CHILDREN SHOULD STAY OFF THE ICE, but if they do go onto the ice, they should have an adult check it first for safety. IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW FALLS THROUGH THE ICE, ONLY AN ADULT should rescue a victim who has fallen through the ice because an adult is stronger. Even a small child can be very heavy when wearing soaked winter clothing. FIND AN ADULT, SEEK MEDICAL HELP, CALL 9-1-1!





SELF RESCUE Self-Rescue Steps 1. Call for help loudly and clearly! 2. Resist the urge to climb back out where you fell in. The ice is weak in this area. 3. Use the air trapped in your clothing to get into a floating position on your stomach and face the shore. 4. Slowly reach forward onto the ice - do not push down on it. 5. Kick your legs to slowly push your torso onto the ice. 6. Crawl on your stomach or roll away from the open area with your arms and legs spread out as far as possible to evenly distribute your body weight. 7. DO NOT stand up! Look for shore and make sure you’re going in the right direction. 8. Get medical help immediately! If you can’t climb onto the ice, float in the water and continue calling for help loudly & clearly.

Quinte Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Conservation–Spring Water Awareness Program Program

Teacher’s Teacher’s GuideGuide & notes &

Notes

RESCUE TIPS Children should never attempt to physically rescue anyone! Rescue attempt should ONLY be done by an adult! A rescue attempt can result in two victims instead of one. Instead of attempting to pull out a victim, help them rescue themselves. • Phone 9-1-1 for help. • Call out the Self-Rescue Steps to the victim. • DON’T GO ON THE ICE! Push or throw something (like a long stick, a branch, a rope or floating aid) to the victim that they themselves can use to get out of the water or to float on until expert help arrives.

STAY LOW, REACH & THROW . . . BUT DON’T GO!!!

HOW TO RESCUE SOMEONE WHO HAS FALLEN THROUGH ICE (use only with students in upper grades as younger children should be discouraged from attempting a rescue)

Rescuing another person from ice can be dangerous. The safest way to perform a rescue is from shore. • Call for help. Consider whether you can quickly get help from trained professionals (police, fire fighters or ambulance) or bystanders. • Check if you can reach the person using a long pole or branch from shore – if so, lie down and extend the pole to the person. • If you go onto ice, wear a PFD and carry a long pole or branch to test the ice in front of you. Bring something to reach or throw to the person (e.g. pole, weighted rope, line or tree branch). • If you must go onto the ice, lie down to distribute your weight and slowly crawl toward the hole. • Remaining low, extend or throw your emergency rescue device (pole, rope, line or branch) to the person. • Have the person kick while you pull them out.

Get the person to a safe position on shore. Signal for help! Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Program




SEEK MEDICAL HELP! Following the rescue, SEEK MEDICAL HELP! If the victim shows stiffness, slurred speech or is unconscious, they could be hypothermic, which mean a loss of body core heat, and it can be fatal. Know how to recognize signs of hypothermia! Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it

HYPOTHERMIA SYMPTOMS & SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA

HOW TO HELP A VICTIM

FIRST SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

1. Get a victim to a warm place 2. Give them warm sweet liquids 3. Huddle close together to help restore body heat 4. CALL 911! Get an adult!

Lack of coordination Absentmindedness Difficulty in speaking Uncontrolled shivering Dazed, confused and careless behaviour Slowed or slurred speech Slow to response to questions Dilated pupils Decreased attention span

AND THE MORE ADVANCED SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

Muscle Stiffening Lack of shivering Irrational Behaviour Slowing of pulse and breathing

Water is an excellent conductor of heat, so a human body will lose heat up to twenty times faster in water than on dry land. Hypothermia is a life threatening condition that must be treated immediately. The victim should be taken out of the cold wind/and/or to a warm place. Medical help should be requested immediately.

WHEN SOMEONE HAS HYPOTHERMIA: Their skin and blood temperature in their arms and legs drops quickly They begin to shiver They may have trouble breathing and be unable to use their hands The temperature of their heart, brain, and other organs drops gradually They may become unconscious, and if in the water, they may drown If their body temperature drops further, they may die of heart failure





Teachers Notes / Video Notes

METROPOLITAN TORONTO POLICE VIDEO: “Child in the Water” Teachers Notes / Video Notes Tragically, every year children drown in Ontario’s waterways. As part of Quinte Conservation’s role as the lead flood advisory agency and our related interest in public safety, we have created a resource kit on spring water safety that may be used with the video. The resource kit contains activity sheets and information for elementary school teachers and students. During spring, our rivers and creeks are filled with melting snow and rain and are in their most dangerous condition. The video “Child in the Water” will help to make students aware of the few essential safety rules that could save their lives. Teachers should watch the instructions at the beginning of the video. The discussion is centered on what the students would do if they fell into a fast moving river or creek. We have found while interviewing children that the same sort of answers keep coming up. Examples: “I would wait for the current to push me to the side of the creek. Then I would climb out.” “I would stand on the bottom and walk to the river bank.” “I am a strong swimmer. I would just swim in the current until I could get to shore.” Keep asking for ideas until you feel the students have covered the points mentioned above. When the video is restarted, Officer Angus explains that the student has little chance of saving himself/herself in cold, swift moving water. He will show the students an experiment using a spoon attached to a piece of paper. When the spoon is placed in a stream of tap water it is trapped there. Officer Angus will show film footage of a policeman in a diving suit, searching in a swift moving river. He cannot keep his footing and is washed 50 yards downstream before he can get out. This graphically shows how difficult it is for a strong 90 kg man to stand up. It would be virtually impossible for a 25 kg child to stand, swim or save themselves in any way. Officer Angus also does an experiment by holding an ice cube in his bare hand over a sink. This is an excellent way of showing the effect of cold water on the human body. When the body begins to get badly chilled, we call it hypothermia. Below is some information about how to recognize and react to hypothermia.

Quinte Conservation – Spring Water Awareness Program Teacher’s Guide & Notesn Spring Water Awareness Program Teacher’s Guide & notes Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Program


VIDEO NOTES continued

WHAT IS HYPOTHERMIA? Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. When this happens, the heart and lungs can no longer work properly. The brain’s ability to think and make rational decisions is also affected.

WHAT CAUSES HYPOTHERMIA? Hypothermia is brought on by cold chilling winds and cold water, or both. It is sped up if the body does not have enough energy producing food acting as fuel for warmth. People most often develop hypothermia because they do not wear proper clothing. It can happen on land as well as in the water. Some of the more common ways to develop hypothermia are: Falling into cold water Excessive use of energy without adequate replacement Exposure to cold, wetness, and wind without adequate protection Becoming unconscious in a cold environment Water is an excellent conductor of heat, so a human body will lose heat up to twenty times faster in water than on dry land. Hypothermia is a life threatening condition that must be treated immediately. The victim should be taken out of the cold wind/and/or to a warm place. Medical help should be requested immediately.

FIRST AID: 1. Get the victim out of the cold wind and/or water and into a warm place. 2. Remove the victim’s wet clothes and replace then with dry ones. 3. Keep the victim warm and dry. Huddle together with the victim in a sleeping bag or blankets. 4. Send for medical help as soon as possible. Near the end of the Video, Office Angus explains what to do if someone does fall through the ice 1. “Don’t go out on the ice yourself” to try to save the person – you could fall in too.” Like the old saying goes “a little knowledge can be dangerous”. If we show someone how to do an ice rescue, there may not be one drowning, but a multiple drowning. 2. “Go for help and tell an adult”: - Sometimes children are slow to go for help, when a playmate has fallen into a river or creek. They are afraid of “getting into trouble”. Explain to them that the faster they get help, the better the chance their friend has of being saved. If the child cannot find an adult, but has access to a phone, explain that this is a time when they should call 911. REMEMBER: accidents are the leading cause of death amount children 5-15 years of age. Many accidents are due lack of education and awareness. A concerted effort on all our parts to teach the dangers of fast moving rivers and creeks will give them the edge they need to play safely and avoid a tragedy this spring.

Quinte Conservation – Spring Water Awareness Program Teacher’s Guide & Notes Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Program


KEY POINTS WHY IS ICE ON OUR RIVERS, LAKES AND CREEKS UNSAFE? 1. Fast moving water (the current) in the rivers and creeks weakens the ice from underneath. The faster the current, the quicker the ice thins. Current can also affect ice on lakes and larger bodies of water. One cannot tell by looking if the ice is safe. 2. Snow acts as an insulator on the ice and prevents the ice from freezing completely. 3. The rivers and streams in urban areas are used as storm sewers for street runoff. This means not only melted snow from our cities and towns washes into the rivers, but also the salt that was used to melt the snow. The salt affects the ice and makes it weak and unpredictable.

DANGER AREAS! STAY AWAY FROM . . . ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾

Cold, fast flowing water Thin ice Slippery banks Eroded banks Dams Bridges Culverts Mounds of ice on the shores of Lake Ontario are ALL DANGER areas!

Remember, accidents are the leading cause of death among children 5-15 years of age. Many accidents are due to lack of education and awareness. A concerted effort on all our parts to teach children the dangers of fast moving rivers and creeks will give them the edge they need to play safely and avoid tragedy this spring.





Moira River, Napanee Region and Prince Edward Region Conservation Authorities

R.R. #2 2061 Old Highway #2 Belleville, Ontario K8N 4Z2

Phone: 613-968-3434 Fax: 613-968-8240 Email: [email protected] Website: www.quinteconservation.ca

Dear Parent or Guardian, Your child has just participated in the Spring Water Awareness & Dam Safety Program. This program has been developed by Quinte Conservation and delivered by your child’s teacher. It is designed to make children aware of the dangers associated with the spring water runoff. Please, this winter and spring season remind your child(ren); ¾ To stay away from fast cold flowing waters including rivers, creeks, streams, ditches and culverts! ¾ To stay off the ice (unless accompanied by an adult). ¾ To never play near dams. ¾ To never play near or on ice without adult supervision. Quinte Conservation, as the lead flood warning agency and its related interest in public safety, created this program in order to make children aware of the grave dangers that exist at this time of year. For more information please visit www.quinteconservation.ca Let’s all work together through education and awareness and prevent a tragedy this spring! Wishing you and your family a safe and enjoyable spring season, Quinte Conservation 613-968-3434 www.quinteconservation.ca



VOCABULARY ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION

A method used to force air into the lungs of a person who has stopped breathing.

BLACK, GRAY OR BLUE ICE

Dark areas of ice that are thin, dangerous, weak spots.

CHANNEL

The area between the banks of a stream where water normally flows.

CONSERVATION

The preservation, wise use and protection of our natural resources for now and in the future.

CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

A community based environmental protection agency; (only in Ontario).

CULVERT

A large pipe or drain that allows water to flow under a road.

CURRENT

The force of moving water.

DISCHARGE

The rate of flow of water.

DISORIENTED

Confused, unable to make sense of one’s surroundings.

EROSION

The movement of soil by wind, water or ice (weathering process).

FLOOD

A flood occurs when a watercourse overtops its banks, spilling onto the flood plain; a flood can result from heavy rain, sudden or spring thaw, or blockage to the stream such as an ice jam.

FLOODPLAIN

The flat land beside a watercourse that periodically becomes covered by water; the river’s living space.

FRAZIL ICE

Slushy ice created in fast flowing water during periods of very cold air temperatures; it’s dangerous because it can stick together and form underwater ice dams, blocking the flow of water.

FRESHET

A great increase in the amount of water in a stream caused by heavy rains or melting snow, usually in the spring.

HAZARD

A source of danger.





HYPERVENTILATE

Uncontrollable very rapid breathing.

HYPOTHERMIA

A life threatening condition in which a person’s deep body temperature is lowered by exposure to cold air or water.

ICE AUGER

A corkscrew-like drill used to cut holes through the ice, commonly used by winter anglers.

IMMERSION

State of being surrounded or engulfed in water.

INLET

Drains used to remove water from the land surface; can also refer to the natural inlet of a lake.

OUTLET

Stormwater outlets release water collected in urban areas back into local waterways (often without any water treatment); can also refer to the natural outlet of a lake.

RAIN GAUGE

An instrument that measures the amount of rain that falls.

RAINFALL

The amount of rain; measured by depth in millimeters.

RUN-OFF

The water from a rainfall event or thaw that does not soak into the ground, but flows over the surface to our local waterways.

SEMI-CONSCIOUS

Not fully conscious or aware.

STORMWATER SEWER

An underground pipe or drain that collects run-off from an area; usually not connected to the water treatment facility.

STREAM GAUGE

An instrument used to record changing water levels on local waterways.

STREAM FLOW

Rate at which water is moving in a river or stream; measured in cubic metres per second.

WATERWAY

Any body of water – rivers, creeks, streams, lakes and even our Bay of Quinte; a waterway flows into another body of water.

WATERSHED

An area of land where all the water drains in one direction; the drainage basin of a river of stream.





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Spring Water Awareness Program (SWAP) Evaluation In order to assist Quinte Conservation in evaluating the Spring Water Awareness Program (SWAP), please fill in an evaluation form and return it by fax, 613-968-8240, or regular mail to: Quinte Conservation RR#2 2061 Old Highway #2 Belleville, Ontario K8N 4Z2

School: Teacher: Grade:

_____________________________________ _____________________________________ ______________

How do you rate the video “Child in the Water”? Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Were there an adequate variety of activities included in the SWAP kit? YES

NO

In what ways could Quinte Conservation improve this package?

Will you use the SWAP kit another year? YES

NO

If no, why?

Suggestions


Quinte Conservation – Spring Water Awareness


Program Evaluation

GRADE 2

Cross-Curriculum Links & Suggested Activities

Health & Physical Education: Healthy Living GR2. Outline safety rules and safe practices. Science & Technology: Properties of Liquids and Solids GR2. Materials that exist as liquids and solids have specific properties. Liquids and solids interact in different ways. Science & Technology: Air & Water in the Environment GR2. Air and water are a major part of the environment Investigate water in the natural environment. Investigate through experimentation characteristics of water. The Arts: Visual Arts GR2. Produce two – and three- dimensional works of art that communicate ideas (thought, feelings, experiences) for specific purposes. The Arts: Drama and Dance GR2. Solve problems in everyday situations through role playing and movement in drama and dance. Language: Writing GR2. Generate, gather, and organize ideas and information to write for an intended purpose & audience. Language: Media Literacy GR2. Create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using appropriate forms, conventions, and techniques. Mathematics: Measurement GR2. Estimate, measure, and record length, perimeter, area, mass, capacity, time, and temperature using non-standard units and standard unit; Describe how changes in temperature affect everyday experiences; use a standard thermometer to determine whether temperature is rising. Mathematics: Data Management and Probability GR2. Collect and organize categorical primary data and display the data using concrete graphs and pictographs; read and describe primary data presented in concrete graphs and pictographs.

SUGGESTED CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES Understanding Flooding Hazards in Your Community

Discuss and list safety risks and safe practices around water. Watch the Child in the Water video. ¾ Design a poster that makes people aware of those danger spots and promotes the importance of being flood wise. ¾ Use the schools public address system to give a daily spring water safety message. ¾ Compose a story that will make others aware of the dangers of flooding.

River Watch in Your Community See CLASSROOM EXCERCISE #1 Caught in the Current Experiment

See CLASSROOM EXCERCISE #2

How Cold is Cold Experiment See CLASSROOM EXCERCISE # 3

Grade 2 Quinte Conservation – Spring Water Awareness Program

Curriculum Links & Suggested Classroom Activities

What Happens When Winter Turns to Spring?

CLASSROOM EXCERCISE #4

Talk about the freezing and warming cycles. “The melting snow and ice in the Spring are part of the changing seasons. When snow and ice are melting, creeks, rivers and lakes become full of ice and cold water, making them very unsafe. Ice that was safe enough to walk on yesterday may not be today.” ¾ Have students identify those areas in their community that are of most concern, streams, rivers, creeks. Have a discussion around unsafe practices. Have students identify these areas on a map. ¾ Have the class look at temperatures in the morning, noon and evening at various times throughout the year. ¾ Have student plot temperature data from the winter and spring seasons and have them identify when rivers are of greatest danger and why. ¾ Have the children post their weather observations on a calendar in the classroom or in their journals. ¾ Compose a series of poems that will make others aware of the dangers of spring water runoff. ¾ Have students graph the weather data from the previous year and increasing and decreasing trends.

Weather in Your Own Words

Ask the students to describe weather in their own words. How cold is it? Do they need mitts and hats today? Is it raining? Will they go out for recess? Is it warm enough to put away winter boots and bring out rubber boots? Is winter over? Is spring on its way? ¾ Create a large calendar to post on the wall in the classroom and have the children create weather symbols/picture to reflect current weather condition. ¾ Have students collect real weather data. This could be recorded on the calendar or in a journal.

Getting to Know Your Area and Identifying Unsafe Situations Have a classroom discussion around whether there are any unsafe places to play in their neighbourhood or near the school? What about open water, thin ice, cold fast flowing water, ditches and culverts, dams and bridges. It is never safe to go out on ice after dark. ¾ Map their community. Mark on the map any areas that are susceptible to flooding and spring flood danger areas. ¾ Have the students create a school spring water awareness school announcement about the dangers of ice over waterways (example of announcement can be found on the Quinte Conservation Spring Water Awareness Webpage). ¾ Have students create a news article about the dangers of spring waters. ¾ Have children record sunrise and sunset times to observe a pattern. Local newspapers publish sunrise and sunset times. Children should always let an adult know where they will be playing. Children should never play on the ice unless an adult has checked first to see if it is safe and even then, children should always be accompanied by an adult when they are on the ice. Children should know that if their buddy falls in or is in trouble that they should seek help from an adult. Children this young should not attempt a rescue by themselves. ¾ Johnny Thinks SWAP is a Joke Play – See CLASSROOM EXERCISE # 5 ¾ How Cold is Cold Experiment – See CLASSROOM EXERCISE # 3

Grade 2 Quinte Conservation – Spring Water Awareness Program

Curriculum Links & Suggested Classroom Activities

CLASSROOM EXERCISE #1 River Watch in your Community Curriculum Subject Fit: Language Arts, Science & Technology

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: You can set up a river watch in your school. 1. Draw a large map of the area around your school, identifying creeks, ditches, culverts and bridges. In another colour note the streets used by most of the students on their way to and from school. Do any of these two areas intersect? Identify possible danger areas. 2. Have the class look at weather maps in the newspapers and record temperatures at morning, noon and afternoon dismissal. a. Is the temperature likely to rise overnight and make ice conditions dangerous by morning? b. Is rain expected? c. When will the stream flows increase and be dangerous? 3. Use the school’s public address system to give a daily spring water safety message. 4. Watch the newspaper for new items about floods in Ontario and elsewhere, or tragic reports of people who did not pay attention to poor ice conditions. a. Does your school have a good safety record?

River Watch in your Community All winter long across Ontario, the snow cover has been checked in many places. People working for Conservation Authorities measure the depth and weight of snow every two weeks. The weight of the snow tells us how much water is in the snow, or its water content. This information is used to predict stream flows. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Why would more than one location have to be monitored? Why is it necessary to determine the water content of the snow? Why is spring runoff so important? Why would a government agency be concerned about floods? How much damage could a flood do? What factors affect the level of spring runoff? What can you check to determine when the flood will start and when it will reach its peak? Why are floods dangerous? What can we do to protect roads from flood damage? Is the construction of dams an easy solution to flood problems?


Classroom Exercise #1 River Watch in Your Community

Answers 1. Why would more than one location have to be monitored? a. The topography of the province is diverse b. Weather patterns change, some areas receive more precipitation c. Even within a watershed, the topography changes affecting the potential for flooding 2. Why is it necessary to determine the water content of snow? a. We need to know how much water will run off when the snow melts. b. We need to make accurate predictions 3. Why is spring runoff so important? a. potential danger to people and their property b. water storage for the summer months c. potential for erosion problems 4. Why would a government agency be concerned about floods? a. concern for potential loss of life b. government may need to fund disaster relief efforts c. loss of agricultural land d. damage to communications infrastructure: roads, bridges, phone lines, power lines

5. How much damage could a flood do? a. loss of life, loss of property b. erosion, loss of agricultural land c. damage to communications infrastructure d. examine newspapers, historical accounts – houses washed away etc. 6. What factors affect the level of spring runoff? a. accumulated snow fall and its water content b. rate of thaw c. ground frost, is the ground still impermeable? d. expected precipitation and temperatures e. ice thickness and ice jamming



7. What can you check to determine when the flood will start and when it will reach its peak? a. weather forecasts, including expected precipitation and temperature b. snow pack, is the water content very high? c. historical stream flow data d. stream gradient or how quickly the stream falls over a given distance e. the latest information on the water levels in tributary streams 8. Why are floods dangerous? a. could cause loss of life and property b. speed of water and the strength of the current c. damage to natural and man made structures d. havoc caused by ice jams 9. What can we do to protect roads from flood damage? a. make sure that culverts and bridges are large enough to allow peak water flows to pass 10. What can we do to protect homes from flood damage? a. enforce regulations and by-laws that restrict development in the floodplain b. improve stream and creek channels by removal of debris that inhibits flow c. flood proof existing homes where required 11. Is the construction of dams an easy solution to flood problems? a. No, dams may fail and dams are expensive to build and maintain b. the installation of a dam often affects the area immediately upstream in some areas, where there is already extensive development in the floodplain, the construction of a dam may be a logical choice



REGIONAL NEWS ARTICLES (download individual articles online) OTTAWA MAN FEARED DEAD AFTER TRYING TO SAVE DOG

RESIDENTS OF QUEBEC TOWN FORCED FROM HOMES BY SPRING FLOODING

A 46-year-old man is missing and presumed drowned after he was swept away in the icy Ottawa River while trying to rescue his dog. Peter Borodchuk and his wife Olivia were walking their black Labrador retriever in a conservation area in West Carleton at lunchtime Tuesday when the dog went into the water. Borodchuk walked onto the ice to try to rescue the animal, but the ice broke beneath him. The man then tried to swim to the dog, but was carried away by the strong current. The dog managed to swim to the shore on its own. Borodchuk's wife last saw her husband clinging to an ice floe before she ran to get help. It took her more than 30 minutes to locate someone. When rescue workers arrived on the scene, they couldn't find any sign of her husband. Rescue teams scoured the river late into the evening using rubber dinghies as a police airplane scanned the shoreline. They planned to continue searching the river Wednesday morning.

BEAUCEVILLE, Que. - Spring flooding has forced dozens of residents of the Quebec town of Beauceville from their homes. More than 60 residents left their homes Saturday night after an ice jam caused the Chaudiere river to break its banks. News reports show a kayak navigating the streets of the town south of Quebec City on Sunday as cars sit buried in water up to the windows. But the water levels are going down and many residents have returned to their homes. Crews are working to break up an ice jam that caused the flooding but Beauceville Mayor Jean-Guy Bolduc sys work has been slow. The area floods nearly every spring but some residents say this is the worst in several years. (BN)

RESIDENTS EVACUATED AS OTONABEE RIVER FLOODS NEAR PETERBOROUGH

CAR DRIVING ON LAKE SIMCOE PLUNGES THROUGH ICE

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. _ Firefighters evacuated people from homes surrounded by icy flood water Wednesday along the Otonabee River south of Peterborough. The Otonabee Region Conservation Authority upgraded a flood advisory for the river to a flood warning as colder weather aggravated rising water levels. Gordon Earle, natural hazards technician with Otonabee Conservation, says flooding is ``imminent'' in the area. And Earle says he doesn't expect conditions to change for the next five days. The Peterborough County-City Health Unit is advising residents not to drink water from submerged wells unless treated accordingly. It is also recommending residents use septic and waste water systems as little as possible. ``Water levels have risen to 30 centimetres on access roads to numerous small communities along the river,'' Earle said. ``That's the critical point for emergency services, having access to residents in distress.''

York Region police were warning people to stay away from rivers and lakes after a man trying to drive across the frozen Lake Simcoe plunged through thin ice. The man broke through the ice near Virginia Beach. Luckily, he was able to climb out of the vehicle and was not injured, police say. There are fishing huts set up on the lake, but police say all should have been removed by the deadline late Thursday night. Police say there are now areas of open water along Lake Simcoe's shore. They warn that the recent bout of warm weather has thinned the ice on lakes, rivers and streams throughout the area, even though it feels like winter again with Friday's frigid temperatures. Parents were also being asked to keep their children away from lakeshores, riverbanks, creeks or ponds because melting ice is causing rising water levels and fast-moving waters.

CBC.CA News Thu 30 Mar 2006 Section: Canada Byline: Source: Time: Wed March 29

Broadcast News

Sun 02 Apr 2006 Section: General and national news

© 2006 CBC. All Rights Reserved.

Wed 23 Jan 2008 Section: Quebec-Ontario Regional General News

(Peterborough Examiner)Copyright © 2008 The Canadian Press

CBC.CA News Mon 19 Mar 2007 Fri March 16 Network: CBC



Regional News Articles

WARM AIR, HIGH WATER; COPS WARN OF SPRING DANGER The Toronto Sun Wed 14 Mar 2007

AS SNOW, ICE THAW, QUINTE CONSERVATION ISSUES WATERWAY WARNING Belleville Intelligencer (ON)

The weather may be unseasonably warm, but the water in Toronto's streams and rivers remains ice cold. That's why the city's police marine unit is warning Toronto residents not to go anywhere near rising streams and rivers. "The problem is the temperature because as it becomes more mild, the snow and ice starts to melt and rivers and streams start to flood," Const. Gary Gibson said. "The water is still a very cold temperature and that poses a big problem. It can cause hypothermia." As tempting as it is for kids to approach the water, this is also the most risky time. Gibson said the marine unit received several calls from residents in the past two days worried about kids playing near waterways. "I think people point out to their kids the dangers of busy streets but they tend to forget streams and rivers pose just as much of a threat and can be more dangerous," he said. "If you go in the water, the current can catch you and knock you down." Areas near the Don and Humber rivers are being monitored hourly by the marine unit. Officers are checking water levels to determine if warnings need to be issued. "The Don starts up in Stouffville and comes all the way down," Gibson said. "It's got a lot of time to build up water." The York Regional marine unit issued a warning yesterday about deteriorating ice on Lake Simcoe Fish huts must be removed off Lake Simcoe by midnight tomorrow. © 2007 Sun Media Corporation. All rights reserved.

Wed 14 Mar 2007 Byline: Samantha Craggs

As temperatures creep upward, local conservation authorities hope the snow melts slowly. The slower the leftover winter snow disappears, the more it can be absorbed into the ground rather than flooding into rivers. The ideal for this is warm days and cold nights, said Lucille Fragomeni, spokeswoman for Quinte Conservation. "It is the time of the year when we want there to be some melt, but we don't want it all at once," she said. "It's very good if it freezes at night. If it freezes at night, that's when it happens more gradually. When it doesn't, that's when there's an issue on the river system." Water levels are currently below normal for this time of the year, but will increase over the next few days because of ice and snow melt, she said. Staff continue to monitor water levels, particularly to watch for jamming as the ice melts. Lower Trent Conservation Authority issued a water bulletin Tuesday saying flows could be higher with a forecast of 20 millimetres of rain over the next two days. "There are no water level concerns anticipated along the Trent River, although flows may increase slightly as a result of snow melt and rainfall," the bulletin said. Lower Trent includes most of Stirling-Rawdon Township and parts of Centre Hastings, as well as the City of Quinte West starting just west of Walbridge-Loyalist Road. Quinte Conservation's watershed includes the Moira, Salmon and Napanee rivers, and all of Prince Edward County. Fragomeni's bulletin includes a warning for children on March break to not be lured by the melting snow and fastflowing water. With more daylight and warmer temperatures, more kids will probably be playing outdoors, she said. Parents and care givers should keep children away from the river, she said. Stream and river banks are slippery, and dams and other water control structures should be avoided. "Kids are just naturally attracted to flowing water, and it's not a good place to play," she said. Lower Trent also warned of possible ice jamming on small watercourses and urged caution. Local water conditions bulletins can be found at www.quinteconservation.ca.

© 2007 Osprey Media Group Inc. All rights reserved.



2 BOYS FALL THROUGH ICE; 11-YEAR-OLD DIES LATER IN HOSPITAL; HIS FRIEND CLINGS TO LIFE AFTER MISADVENTURE The Toronto Sun Mon 11 Dec 2006 Byline: BY ALAN CAIRNS, TORONTO SUN

A heroic 11-year-old boy who bravely tried to pull a teenage pal from the icy drainage pond died last night in hospital. Brunthan Muraledaran, a Grade 6 student at Thomas L. Wells public school, had walked onto the pond's thin ice after it had broken under the weight of his 15-year-old pal, Kishoban Alakeswaran. Brunthan was on his knees and held Kishoban's hand in his own when the ice broke again. Both boys slipped under the water as their friends and then four cops crashed through the ice and had to swim for their own lives after they and a civilian had made a gallant yet vain attempt to save them. Kishoban, a Grade 10 student at Woburn Collegiate, and Brunthan were located beneath the murky waters of the Morningside and Finch Ave. pond some time later by firefighters using life jackets and inflatable dinghies. Some onlookers estimate up to 45 minutes passed before the younger boy was found. The stricken boys were rushed to Sick Kids hospital by ambulance and helicopter last night. Brunthan was pronounced dead last night. Kishoban is in critical condition. The four cops who fell through the ice were taken to hospital and treated for hypothermia. An ambulance official was treated for hypothermia at the scene. Shocked locals looked on in horror from arena-like perches yesterday as four cops crashed through the ice and had to swim for their lives during a desperate bid to reach 11-year-old Brunthan Muraledaran and his 15-year-old pal Kishoban Alaekeswaran. "It was really tragic. I felt helpless," said Imraan Sherman, an 18-year-old University of Toronto student who watched the drama unfold through binoculars from the balcony of his home, which backs onto the pond. Sherman said at one point he looked for a safety ring which had sat atop a sign that warns locals water levels can fluctuate in the pond, there is "thin ice" and "skating and swimming are prohibited." "But it was gone. Somebody had apparently stolen it, or the wind had blown it off." Among those who watched the boys sink under the water was Kishoban's younger brother, Vigithan, 13. The brothers and three friends were on their way to play soccer at a nearby field just before tragedy struck. Vigithan told reporters outside the family's semi-detached home last night the boys had been throwing rocks on the ice-covered south end of the pond. The ice did not break so Kishoban thought it was safe to walk on. "He was not, like, scared of really anything ... he's really fearless," Vigithan said. "Even if he went in there, he thought it wasn't that deep and he could swim out easily," Vigithan said. Their cousin, Sinthiyan Balasulramaniam, 14, said everyone begged Kishoban not to go out on the ice. "We told him not to ... he said, 'Don't worry, nothing will happen,' " Sinthiyan said. Then the ice began cracking around Kishoban. As Kishoban turned around to come back to the shore, the ice broke beneath him and he fell into the icy water. His brother, Vigithan, said it was "just a tragedy ... it was just like unexpected ... he was just like, walking, and all of a sudden he fell." "First he was joking. He thought he could come out ... but then he started getting serious. He started crying. His face started turning red and stuff," Sinthiyan said. "When he first fell in, I said, 'Can I go call my uncle,' and he said, 'No, I'm all right.' And he was laughing. And I thought he was okay. He was going to come ...and suddenly he started sinking," Sinthiyan said. Brunthan then stepped out on the ice and walked towards the struggling teen, scolding him as went down on his knees and held out a hand. "We told Brunthan not to go out ... we can just go and call our uncles. Brunthan didn't listen to us ... when he went in, he was like, 'Why did you come in here? Didn't I tell you not to come in here? He started yelling at Kishoban."



As the two pals clasped hands, more ice broke away and they were both in water. Sinthiyan ran off to get help. A woman gave him her cellphone and he called 911. Out of nowhere, a truck sped to the scene and a man with a rope appeared. "He handed me the rope, he wanted me to go out myself. I felt if I go out I'll be a victim too," Vigithan said. Vigithan said he plucked up enough courage to walk out on the ice and try to throw the rope to Brunthan. He walked out to halfway between the shore and where his friend was struggling. "My brother was under ... I couldn't see him," Vigithan said. "Brunthan was gasping (to) breathe. (The rope) was right there beside him, like an inch away. He was trying to get on top of the ice and have some deep breaths ... he wasn't thinking about the rope." "Brunthan was, like, save me, save me. I can't really breathe," he said. The man in the truck then came out onto the ice and lay down to spread out his weight. He, too, tried to get the rope into Brunthan's hand, the boys said. After sobbing a few times, Brunthan tried to float and then slipped under the water. © 2006 Sun Media Corporation. All rights reserved.

QUEBEC RESIDENTS CLEAN UP AFTER FLOODING FORCES 300 FROM HOMES CBC.CA News

Wed 25 Oct 2006 Network: CBC

People in Quebec's Beauce region, southeast of the capital, continued to return to their homes Monday as officials clean up damage caused by flooding that overwhelmed several municipalities on the weekend. About 300 people were forced to abandon their homes when a heavy downpour overnight Friday dumped as much as 70 millimetres of rain in some areas and caused water levels to rise on the Chaudière River. The river spilled its banks and inundated buildings in the municipalities of Beauceville, Saint-Joseph, Sainte-Marie, Saint-Georges and Notre-Dame-des-Pins. The communities of Disraéli, Cookshire-Eaton and Weedon, in the Eastern Townships, were also affected. The flooding shut down rural roads and highways 204 and 276 for about 36 hours, said officials with Quebec's Transport department. Residents forced out of their homes went to houses on higher ground or emergency shelters set up by public security officials. More than 100 people were allowed to return home on Sunday, while others had to wait until Monday, when water levels receded to normal levels after a sunny day. Premier Jean Charest said on the weekend that his government will help flood victims, but the province has not yet estimated the damages. Public security officials say they'll keep a close eye on the river because of rain and snow forecasts for this week. People in Beauceville often have to contend with an overflowing Chaudière River during the spring thaw. Some of the worst such flooding was reported last April, when an ice jam caused the river to burst its banks, forcing more than 60 residents out of their homes. With files from the Canadian Press © 2006 CBC. All Rights Reserved.



2 RAFTERS FEARED DEAD AFTER GOING OVER BOW RIVER WEIR Wed 13 Jun 2007

Time: Tue June 12 Network: CBC

Calgary emergency crews searched the Bow River Monday for two missing rafters who are feared dead after their rafts went over a weir known as "the drowning machine." The missing men were among a group of nine friends who were floating down the river Sunday when they ran into trouble. Three rafts holding five people went over the weir. Of those five, emergency crews were able to pull three to safety, but two others vanished. None of the rafters was wearing a life-jacket. Claudie Tremblay, one of five friends on the trip who had recently moved to Calgary from Quebec, said the group had been on the river about two hours when they suddenly came upon the small dam. When asked by CBC News what he was thinking, he said: "I don't know ... I am going to die." One of the other rafters, Carl Langlais, said he'd been down the river before but this time he couldn't get to shore. "We can't exit the river because the river is so high," he told CBC News. Safety boom broken Langlais said he was surprised to see that the boom -a gate that normally crosses the Bow River before the weir - was broken. Jeff Budai of the Calgary fire department said a safety boom is usually in place to prevent anyone on the river from entering the dangerous area, but the boom was washed away last week during localized flooding. The river is still too high to put the boom back in place. "They do call this the drowning machine," Budai said of the weir. "We urge our citizens to stay away from the water. We are having record-high water flow right now. With that safety boom being washed away, you have no way out." The last time the other rafters saw their two missing friends, they were waving their arms for help and couldn't break free from the powerful churning of the weir. Calgary fire Capt. Dave Clark says he can't believe anyone survived. "Nobody really gets out of there alive at all and these people were lucky they did get out - lucky with how the water affected them and how they got pushed out," he said. Budai said rescuers' greatest fear is that the rafters were pinned under the weir. While there's a chance they found their way to the river bank, if they've been in the river all night "things are looking pretty grim," he said. The fire department's aquatic team was dispatched to take a closer look Sunday but couldn't find anything. The search was called off at sunset and was to resume Monday. The weir - or low head dam - was built slightly downstream of the Calgary Zoo in 1904 to divert water from the Bow River into an irrigation canal. It creates an impassable, recirculating wave for canoeists and kayakers. A dozen people have died at the weir over the past 30 years. The Parks Foundation Calgary wants to raise the water level over the weir so it's no longer a problem. Kayakers and canoeists would then be able to travel safely along that section of the river, where rocks will be placed to create navigable rapids and calm pools. Work on the $6.4-million project will start later this year and should be complete in a year or two,depending on river conditions. The cost is being covered by the province, the city and the Calgary With files from the Canadian Press




GLOBAL NEWS ARTICLES FLOODWATERS RISE IN CENTRAL EUROPE

THAI DAM BREAK WORSENS MALAYSIA'S FLOODS - REPORT

Czech Republic officials declared a state of emergency in seven flood-hit regions while rivers continued to rise in neighbouring European countries yesterday, leading to evacuations in some areas.

Floods in Malaysia's northeastern Kelantan state worsened after a dam burst in southern Thailand as the nationwide death toll rose to 23, reports said Monday.

The Toronto Sun Tue 04 Apr 2006 Page: 23

The northern city of Hrensko, on the border with Germany, was immersed in water and sealed off by police as the Elbe River continued to rise. Officials expected it to peak at nine metres above the usual level by nightfall. EVACUATION Czech officials were deciding whether to remove about 1,000 people from Novosedly, 200 km southeast of Prague, as the Dyje and Jevisovka rivers continued to swell, authorities said. The flooding, which started last week, was caused by quickly melting snow in the Czech mountains and rain in most of the country. In 2002, floods devastated a large part of the country, killed at least 16 people and caused more than $3 billion in damage.

Mon 17 Dec 2007

Deputy prime minister Najib Razak said water levels at the Golok river, which marks the boundary between Malaysia and Thailand, rose above the danger level of nine meters (29.53 feet) to 10.51 meters. 'I was told the broken dam has caused a higher volume of water to enter Golok river and move towards Rantau Panjang and other adjacent areas,' Najib was quoted saying on The Star newspaper's website. The official Bernama news agency reported that the number of flood evacuees in Kelantan rose sharply to 6,039 on Monday from 3,772 the previous day, while in central Pahang state 21,699 were being housed in relief centres. Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

More than 1,000 people along the Elbe in Germany have had to leave their homes, including several hundred in the historic city of Dresden. In Austria, a river dam burst yesterday, forcing the partial evacuation of the village of Duernkrut northeast of Vienna. The state of emergency, affecting seven of 14 regions, is intended to speed decision-making. The government has already released about $16 million in emergency funding to assist the flood-affected areas. © 2006 Sun Media Corporation. All rights reserved.


Global News Articles

THOUSANDS REMAIN STRANDED BY MEXICO FLOODWATERS

FLOODING LEAVES TENS OF THOUSANDS HOMELESS IN INDONESIA

Severe floods in the southern Mexican state of Tabasco were continuing to cause havoc and devastation on Saturday.

At least 20 people have been killed and 340,000 forced from their homes in the Indonesian capital Jakarta after rivers swollen by four days of torrential rain broke through barriers and inundated the city.

Mon 05 Nov 2007 Network: CBC

Officials estimate as many as 800,000 people are homeless after a week of heavy rain swamped the Gulf Coast state. Rivers burst their banks late Thursday, submerging about 70 per cent of the low-lying state and 80 per cent of the capital, Villahermosa. Thousands of people remained stranded on rooftops Saturday, awaiting rescue by army boats and helicopters, officials said. At least one death was reported on Friday and nearly all services, including drinking water and public transportation, were shut down after the state's worst flooding in 50 years. The flood has affected almost half of the roughly two million people who live in Tabasco, their homes flooded, damaged or cut off by high water. "We had floods before but less big than this one. This is super big, enormous, we lost everything, everything," said one woman in Villahermosa, home to 750,000 people. Thousands have fled to the neighboring states of Chiapas and Veracruz seeking refuge, but many others have stayed in their neighbourhoods to prevent looting.

CBC.CA News Mon 05 Feb 2007 Section: World Network: CBC

Parts of Jakarta are under three metres of water in the worst flooding the city has seen in five years, and more than 670,000 people have been left without electricity. Many residents have taken refuge in five-star hotels, schools and mosques, according to the BBC. Hospital staff have moved patients to upper floors and television footage shows people being rescued from the rooftops of their homes. The government, concerned about an outbreak of dengue fever, has dispatched medical teams on rubber rafts into the worst-hit districts. Many residents have refused to leave their flooded homes or aren't able to do so and continue to live in squalid conditions made worse by the heavily polluted flood waters. "Jakarta is now on the highest alert level," said Sihar Simanjuntak, an official monitoring the water levels of the many rivers that crisscross the city of 12 million people. Officials are bracing for more of the same next week, as the downpour is predicted to continue for the next several days, according to the Associated Press. With files from the Associated Press © 2007 CBC. All Rights Reserved.

On Saturday, some people received what they thought was the best news in days as waters in the overflowing rivers finally began to recede a bit for the first time. However, although the water levels have dropped, forecasters have predicted more rain in the coming days. With files from the Associated Press © 2007 CBC. All Rights Reserved.


Global News Articles

CLASSROOM EXERCISE #2 Caught in the Current Experiment Curriculum Subject Fit: Mathematics, Science & Technology, Health & Safety

Purpose:

The purpose is to demonstrate that an object tends to stay in the centre of the current in a fast moving stream of water.

Equipment: Tap with running water Plastic spoon Ribbon Tape

Method: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Tape a 20 cm piece of ribbon to a spoon Turn the tap on to provide a steady stream of water Place a plastic spoon in the stream of water and hold onto the ribbon. Observe how the plastic spoon remains in the centre of the current. Pull on the ribbon to show how much force is necessary to pull the spoon free.

Discussion:

Relate this experiment to a situation in which a child falls into a river and how hard it will be to swim free of the current.

Extension:

Take the class to a stream or river and perform the experiment again with something larger to again demonstrate the effect.

Classroom Exercise #2 Quinte Conservation – Spring Water Awareness Program

Caught in the Current Experiment

CLASSROOM EXERCISE # 3 How Cold is Cold Experiment Curriculum Subject Fit: Mathematics, Science & Technology, Health & Safety

MATERIALS: 1. A large plastic bowl 2. Ice chunk with snow

METHOD: 1. Allow cold tap water to run for 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, break up the ice to fit into the bowl. 2. Fill the remaining space of the bowl with cold water

DATA: STEP 1: Estimate how long you think you can hold one hand under the water and ice.

_____________ minutes

_______________ seconds

STEP 2:

Now, to complete the experiment, place on hand in the ice water while timing it with a wrist-watch. When you can’t hold your hand in the bowl any longer, Take your hand out and write down the ACTUAL TIME you held your hand in the water.

_____________ minutes

_______________ seconds

How close were the two times? _______________________________________ Now – imagine your entire body in that experimental bowl. The ice water in this experiment is no different than spring melt waters in our rivers, lakes, ponds, creeks and streams.


How Cold is Cold Experiment

CLASSROOM EXERCISE #4 What Happens When Winter Turns to Spring? Curriculum Subject Fit: Language Arts, Health & Safety

Children should play with a buddy and never go near thin ice, cold fast flowing water, and slippery slopes of streams. Children should let an adult know where they will be playing at all times. Activity Extensions: 1. Have the children complete the following activity sheets. Use one or all of the illustrations of outdoor activities to have the children express what is wrong or right with the pictures. 2. Have the students identify those areas in their community that are of most concern. Streams, rivers, creeks. Have a discussion around unsafe practices they may have seen occur. Topographic maps and/or aerial photos can be used. Students can locate where they are on the map. For older class it’s a good time to also talk about land features, slopes, watersheds, etc. Where does all the snowmelt go in the winter? This is a great opportunity to talk about how watersheds work as it often becomes quite visible on a map/aerial photos how the contours of the land work and how the little waterways all run into the one big waterway. 3. Have the student create awareness posters to be put up around the classroom and/or in their community to make others aware of the dangers of spring ice

Write a story about the children in this picture. Write in the empty space under the picture if you wish you may colour the picture.


What Happens When Winter Turns to Spring





CLASSROOM EXERCISE #5 Johnny Thinks SWAP is a Joke

Curriculum Subject Fit: The Arts, Language Arts, Health & Safety

Cast of Characters Victim – Johnny Reporter 1 Reporter 2 Reporter 3 Teacher Police Officer Ambulance Attendant Friend 1 Friend 2 Friend 3 Friend 4 Camera Person Script Card Holder (Act 1) Script Card Holder (Act 2)

PROPS -

Sign saying “Thin Ice” Hockey Sticks for friends Microphone for reporters Yard stick or pointer for teacher Mat and pillow for Johnny’s bedroom Sign saying Act 1 and Act 2 Video camera


Classroom Exercise #5 Johnny Thinks SWAP is a Joke

Johnny Thinks SWAP Is A Joke ACT 1 Opening – Johnny is walking along care-free, whistling, hands in pocket, walking towards the “DANGER THIN ICE” sign. END OF ACT 1 ACT 2 (Enter reporter. Reporter wears a floppy hat with a press card, moustache if desired, and perhaps a trench coat. Reporter is reporting that a student at a particular school in their town had fallen through the ice.) REPORTER – This is reporter’s name, reporting from Town, where earlier today, it was reported that a student of school, fell through the ice at river/lake. It has also been brought to my attention that this particular student had previously taken part in the Spring Water Awareness Program supplied by the local conservation authority, Quinte Conservation. With me now, are a group of the victim’s friends who witnessed the incident. Tell me in your own words what happened here today. (Friends all have the appearance of being excited. They all want to talk first and explain what happened.) FRIEND 1 – Well we were playing hockey over there (point) when we saw Johnny walking over there, (point in opposite direction). I yelled to Johnny that it wasn’t safe out there, but he kept on walking… FRIEND 2 – So we went back to playing our hockey game and when we looked over again, he had fallen through… FRIEND 3 – I saw him fall in, I was watching him the whole time. He was out there walking on the ice and he was acting really cool, like there was no way he would fall through and then he was gone… FRIEND 4 – I don’t understand why he would even be walking out there. Just a few days ago, we were all taught about Spring Water Awareness and thin ice was one of the dangers that Quinte Conservation told us to stay away from. But Johnny has always been like that, he never listens to anything anybody says. REPORTER – reporter’s name, our channel 10 field correspondent is standing by live at school. Over to you reporter 2’s name. REPORTER 2 – I’m talking with teacher’s name, who is Johnny’s teacher here at school. Would you expect this to happen to Johnny especially after just having gone through a Spring Water Awareness Program?



TEACHER – (dressed as old school matron, very high pitched voice, very old). Heh…? (Reporter repeats question a little louder.) TEACHER – You don’t have to yell, Sonny! It’s like I’ve said to my students for the last 50 years, if you don’t listen, you don’t learn. Now Johnny if you’re listening (points her finger at the camera and her voice rises), don’t try to use this little incident to get out of tomorrow’s test because it won’t work, do you hear me… REPORTER 2 – I don’t think he would try to use this to get out of the test teacher’s name TEACHER – If you don’t want a detention, you’ll learn to mind your own business Sonny… REPORTER 2 - … Thank you very much teacher’s name, that’s all the time we have. We now have to break for this important station break and commercial, when we return we’ll be going back live to the scene where our roving reporter is talking to the Police Officer who is investigating the incident. BREAK TO COMMERCIAL REPORTER – As I understand it, you were the first person on the scene besides Johnny’s friends, is that correct Officer? OFFICER – (Detective, very somber), just the facts ma’am, (officer removes his little notebook from a pocket.) That is correct, I arrived at precisely 09:45 hours, (confirms it with his notebook) and when I arrived Johnny was thrashing around like a caged dolphin. At first, I thought it was a fish, but then I saw his hair, fish don’t have hair, you know?… REPORTER – Yes Detective, I’m aware of that… OFFICER – Anyway, at exactly 09:52, (again checks his notebook to confirm) we got the boy out of the water, and he was really cold. It’s really hard to think and move in water that cold and he was really scared. I’m sure this little episode shook him up quite a bit. Anyway, I think he’s okay now. The ambulance was here and they were looking after him. I think they are still here… Yes, there they are (points to ambulance attendant). REPORTER – I’m talking to the ambulance attendant that looked after Johnny. How is he doing now?



AMBULANCE ATTENDANT – Well, he’s still pretty cold, but I think he’s feeling a lot better. I must say that he was very lucky to survive, that water is really cold and it doesn’t take long before something bad could’ve happened. I guess the best thing to do is stay way from these areas in the spring. REPORTER – Well, we’re just about out of time, but our roving reporter is live at Johnny’s house. Over to you reporter 3’s name . REPORTER 3 – Well, you’ve had quite a day today, haven’t you? Do you have anything you’d like to say? JOHNNY – The only thing I want to say is, I’d like to turn back the clock and wish I had remembered what they taught me in Spring Water Awareness so that this never happens again, plus I would have gotten a much better mark on my test! REPORTER – Well as always, you heard it first on Channel 10. To sum up our top story of the day, stay away from danger areas and play safe and have a safe and happy spring!

