Exploring Your Environment

How does a dam change the river it is built on? What is necessary to get the electricity from the dam to you? How does that change the environment? Who Can Build The Best Dam? Divide into teams. Each team constructs a dam in a plastic tub. Build it from recycled or natural materials such as wood chips, sticks, paper, sand, dirt, metal or plastic. Test each dam to see how long it can hold back two liters of water. PEOPLE ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT In some areas, the power of falling water is used to produce electricity. In places where dams cannot be built, we get energy from fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Beavers change the environment so they can survive. People do, too. We change the environment in many ways. For example, we use energy and build dams. Electricity is sent through wires to factories, stores, schools, and homes. NEW RIVER LEVEL EXCESS WATER SPILL SHAFT WATER FLOW TURBINE GENERATOR WATER EXIT SHAFT RIVER BOT- TOM WATER PRESSURE SHAFT OLD RIVER LEVEL 5