TVA Boone Dam PBL
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TVA Boone Dam PBL Created By: Wendy Courtney Topic: Earth and Human Activity and Grade Level: Middle Grades Forces as it Relates to Dam and Embankment Building Science Standards: ● Science and Engineering Practice: Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) Students define design problems, invoking scientific background knowledge to define multiple criteria and constraints for solutions. ● Develop and use models. ● Evaluate design constraints on solutions for maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity. ● Evaluate and interpret that for every force exerted on an object there is an equal force exerted in the opposite direction. ● Interpret data to explain that earth’s groundwater resources are unevenly distributed as a result of geologic processes. Math Standards: ● Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context. ● Using mathematics and computational thinking ELA & Other Content Area Standards: ● Integrate information presented in different media or formats, such as in tables, images, diagrams, and words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue. ● Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify information. Unit Summary: Write a few sentences describing this PBL Multi-Dimensional Question/Driving Question: Think of unit. a relevant problem with multiple solutions that will drive student learning. Background information: In October 2014, a sinkhole was discovered near the base of the embankment at Boone Dam, How can we as civil engineers build a geotechnical wall that and water and sediment was found seeping from the will prevent the seepage of groundwater from causing riverbank below. While sinkhole occurrence in East internal erosion and damaging the existing Boone Dam. Stu Tennessee is common, the locations of the sinkhole and the TSIN PBL Template | www.tsin.org | Page 1 muddy discharge were indicators of potential issues with the safety of the dam. TVA responded by assembling a team of TVA dam safety engineers and external experts to investigate the source of the observed seepage, and to determine whether dam safety may be compromised. The conditions of the embankment dam foundation were found to be favorable to a process termed “internal erosion,” in which voids develop within a dam and/or its foundation because of the action of flowing groundwater. Because internal erosion is one of the leading causes of dam failures worldwide, TVA staff and external experts implemented a number of interim risk reduction measures. TVA’s experienced team of dam engineers and safety experts evaluated a number of methods for repairing the dam. Summary: Students will design and build a model of an innovative geotechnical solution to this problem. As a preparation for their task, the students will conduct research on why we build dams, the Boone Dam, the geographical and geological area, and possible solutions to repair an earthen dam embankment. Students will also engage in other extension activities associated with why we build dams as well as activities involving water usage. By the end of this unit, my students will… Master the following content: Create a solution to the following Develop the following 21st Century ● Interpret and evaluate data to problem: Skills: formulate conclusions. How can we as civil engineers build a Creativity ● Understand the needs for and geotechnical wall that will prevent the Innovation impacts of dams and reservoirs. seepage of groundwater from causing Presentation Collaboration TSIN PBL Template | www.tsin.org | Page 2 ● Describe how the use of internal erosion and damaging the Teamwork technology provides essentials existing Boone Dam. Critical Thinking and luxuries for everyday living. Project Design ● Identify various types of dams. ● Understand the different forces acting on a dam. ● Understand the considerations engineers must make when designing a dam. ● Understand the concept of a force. ● Understand that water acts as a force on a dam and that the dam must respond with an equal force to hold back the water. ● Name four different types of dams ● List some advantages and disadvantages of the different types of dams. ● Explain Pascal's law. ● Know that water pressure increases with depth. ● Calculate volume. ● Discuss why dams do not last forever. ● Name some of the forces acting on dams that cause them to deteriorate. Culminating Event: What final student learning products will show student mastery of the content area standards? Students will design an innovative geotechnical solution to the Boone Dam seepage problem and present their designs/models to the Sullivan County Board of Commissioners, TVA civil engineers and geotechnical designers. TSIN PBL Template | www.tsin.org | Page 3 Hook Event: Develop an introductory Community Partners: List potential What do you need from these activity that will spark student interest business or industry partners that partners (i.e. guest speakers, field and further questions. could add to the learning experience for trips, help facilitate an activity)? students. Include websites or contact The students will watch several info. 1. guest speakers videos/news releases on the Boone 2. facilitate the geotechnical wall Dam Repair project. 1. civil engineers - Patrick Kiser, challenge Veronica Barredo 3. possible field trip to Boone TVA Boone Dam news update 2. geologists Dam 3. safety engineers 4. Resources and supplies for the TVA Boone Dam Fix 4. TVA - activities https://www.tva.gov/Newsroom/Boon Boone Dam Project e-Dam-Project 5. STREAMWORKS Education TSIN PBL Template | www.tsin.org | Page 4 Daily Activities: What activities will students complete to answer the driving Resources/Materials Needed: question (that reinforces content from the standards)? graph paper Daily Activities: water, 2 gallons per group 1. Water Resources: Why Do We Build Dams? 1 large waterproof bin, to catch any Summary: Students are introduced to the concept of a dam and its potential spilled water benefits, which include water supply, electricity generation, flood control, 4 small disposable plastic containers recreation and irrigation. This lesson begins an ongoing classroom scenario in scissors and/or hacksaw, for cutting which student engineering teams are working for an engineering firm that designs plastic containers and repairs dams in Sullivan County. Embankment dam materials for Engineering Connection: Man-made dams are important in our modern life. Civil each group: engineers and city planners compare the benefits, cost and environmental impacts course sand, 1 cup (play sand works, to determine whether a community could benefit from a dam. but tube sand or sand for concrete works best) Learning Objectives: Students should be able to: plastic wrap, 1 x 12 in (2.5 x 30 cm) ● Interpret and evaluate data to formulate conclusions. strip, for waterproofing; foil or paper ● Understand the needs for and impacts of dams and reservoirs. also work ● Describe how the use of technology provides essentials and luxuries for 1 tsp (5 ml) modeling clay, for the everyday living. spillway Gravity dam materials for each Introduction: Where does your water come from? mountains, rivers, reservoirs? group: What is a reservoir? A reservoir is a man-made lake created by building a dam. 10-15 small dominoes, wood or metal Why do we need dams? When you turn on a faucet at home, where does that blocks (blocks should be close to water come from? Why is there always water coming out? There is always a domino size) supply of water because we hold water in reservoirs. To do this, we must build 1 tsp (5 ml) modeling clay, for the dams. Why else do we build dams? (Take suggestions; write answers on the spillway, to secure blocks, and as grout board.) Dams are important because they provide water for domestic, industry between blocks; can substitute tape and irrigation purposes. Dams often also provide hydroelectric power production and plastic wrap for clay and river navigation. Domestic use includes everyday activities such as water for Arch dam materials for each group: drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, and lawn and garden watering. Dams and modeling clay, one large handful their reservoirs provide recreation areas for fishing and boating. They help people Buttress dam materials for each by reducing or preventing floods. Students can learn more about why dams are group: TSIN PBL Template | www.tsin.org | Page 5 built with the associated activity “How Much Water Do You Use?” During times of modeling clay, half a handful excess water flow, dams store water in the reservoir; then they release water 5 small (1-3 in, or 2.5-7.6 cm) dowel during times of low flow, when natural flows are inadequate to meet water pieces (or straws or popsicle sticks), demand. When engineers design and maintain dams, they consider all these for dam support purposes. Items for alternate Dam Building Activity: Introduction: Dams can be useful for a variety of reasons. What are some Clear plastic shoe boxes (1-2 per purposes for which we create dams? (Answers: To supply water for irrigation, group) municipal water, flood control, hydroelectric power generation, river navigation.) Play sand What might be negative effects from a dam? (Answers: Upstream flooding that Potting soil destroys animals, plants, ecosystems and private property; downstream alteration Pea gravel of terrain, ecosystems, plants and wildlife; impeding fish migration, killing fish River pebbles that pass through turbines, etc.) Modeling clay or Play Dough In the case of the Boone Dam, why should TVA repair the dam? (Answers: To help Sticks and/or popsicle sticks control flash floods, to continue to produce electricity without air pollution, for a Tootsie Roll pops (may tape twigs at recreational area, etc.) stick ends to represent trees) Cardboard or plastic strips of varying widths, with some as wide as Vocabulary/Definitions: shoeboxes and some with ~1” overlap adaptive management: The operation of dams and reservoirs to benefit not only on each side. human needs, but also the needs of the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems Small bucket of water (1 per group) impacted by the dam.