Water in Milwaukee

  1. In the Classroom
  2. Milwaukee: A City Built on Water
  3. Water in Milwaukee

Why Milwaukee?

Great Lakes Principle: 
Principle 1: The Great Lakes, bodies of fresh water with many features, are connected to each other and to the world ocean.

Content learning targets
Earth and Space Science (NGSS): HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Earth and Space Science (NGSS): Environmental Science: Natural Resources: Resource availability has guided the development of human society and use of natural resources has associated costs, risks, and benefits.

Energy and Matter
The total amount of energy and matter in closed systems is conserved. (HS-ESS2-6) Energy drives the cycling of matter within and between systems. (HS-ESS2-3)

Geography
A.12.8 Identify the world’s major ecosystems and analyze how different economic, social, political, religious, and cultural systems have adapted to them

Ideas for activities around:

  • Great Lakes/Lake Michigan
  • Port of Milwaukee
  • The Milwaukee River
  • Menomonee River
  • KK River
  • Watersheds
  • Water quality parameters
  • Sewershed
  • Water use: drinking and waste
  • Issue analysis – Waukesha drinking water
  • Milwaukee Urban Water trail – sense of place

Water-Based Recreation

Great Lakes Principle: 
Principle 6: The Great Lakes and humans in their watersheds are inextricably interconnected

Content learning targets
Earth and Space Science (NGSS): HS-ESS3-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.

Models (e.g., physical, mathematical, computer models) can be used to simulate systems and interactions— including energy, matter, and information flows— within and between systems at different scales. HS-ETS1-4)

Geography
A.12.4 Analyze the short-term and long-term effects that major changes in population in various parts of the world have had or might have on the environment

Ideas for activities around:

  • Historical
  • Ice skating
  • Swimming 
  • Milwaukee Urban Water trail – sense of place
  • North Avenue and Estabrook Dams

Resources