The Water Cycle

 

 

Sunshine State Standards
Lesson Plan
Technology Requirements
Assessments
Webquest

 

 

Name: Lynn Montgomery
email address: lynn_montgomery@placesmail.pinellas.k12.fl.us
School: Brooker Creek Elementary

 

 

Sunshine State Standards:
Science.
SC.H.1.1.3 - Knows that in doing science, it is often helpful to work with a team and to share findings with others.
SC.B.1.1.3 - Describes a model energy system.
SC.A.1.1.2 - Recognizes that the same material can exist in different states.
SC.D.1.1.3 - Recognizes patterns in weather.

Language Arts
LA.A.2.1.1. - Determines main idea or essential message: Determines the main idea or essential message from text and identifies supporting information.
LA.1.1.4 - Comprehends literary and information text: Increase comprehension by rereading, retelling, and discussion.

Net Standards and Benchmarks
T.1.1.1.1 - Basic operations and concepts 1. Use input devices (eg. mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (eg. monitor, printer) to successfully operate computers, VCR's, audio tapes, and other devices.
T.1.1.4.1.- Basic operations and concepts 4. Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources.
T.3.1.8.3. - Technology productivity tools 8. Create appropriate multimedia products with support from teachers, family members, or student partners.

 

Technology Resource Requirements: Computer with Internet connection, Inspiration software, Kid Pix software

Grade Level: First - Second Grade

Subject Area(s): Science, Language Arts, Art

Description: The Students will learn about the water cycle and its importance to each of us.

Approximate Time Required: one week

 

Lesson Plan

Gain Attention: Brainstorm with the students why they think it rains and what causes rain. This activity could be done with the software Inspiration.

1) View the PowerPoint Presentation.

2) Song:
The Water Cycle Song
( sung to the tune of: She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain)

Water travels in a cycle, yes it does (pointer finger draws a circle in the air)
Water travels in a cycle, yes it does
It goes up as evaporation (raise arms at side with palms up)
Forms clouds as condensation (bring hands together above head forming a cloud shape with arms)
Then falls down as precipitation, yes it does (slowly lower arms to side with palms down with fingers wiggling as rain)

The Mailbox Magazine April/May 2000 issue

3) Flowchart the steps of the Water cycle on Inspiration.

4) Make a water cycle bracelet
You will need yellow, clear, white, and blue beads for each student and 6 inch piece of leather for the bracelet.
Yellow is for the sun, clear is for evaporation, white is for the clouds(condensation) and blue is for precipitation

5) Have each child draw a picture of the water cycle and Label each step and draw arrows to each step.

6) Read: The Rain Puddle by Addled Holl (Heath Reading Series, My Best Bear Hug) or What Makes It Rain? The Story of a Raindrop by Keith Brandt. Give each student a yellow construction paper umbrella and several raindrops. Have the students write a story about a raindrop on the and glue it onto the umbrella.

7) Make a water cycle wheel and discuss each step of the cycle.

8) Have the students create a slideshow using Kid Pix or a class book about their favorite thing to do on a rainy day.

9) Read: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett. Have the students write their own version of the story.
The Day It Rained............(frogs, orange juice, jellybeans,etc.) The students can draw a picture and glue food (cereal, pasta, candy,etc.) on it and create their own food storm.

10) Experiments:

Evaporation
You will need: one pan and water
Directions: 1) put a pan of water outside in the sun 2) observe it throughout the day.
JUNIOR Weathermen will learn that the water slowly evaporates and that the sun also evaporates the water from the lakes, ponds,and all the water on the earth just like it evaporated out of the dish.

Condensation
You will need: a jar with a lid, water and ice cubes
Directions: 1) Have the class observe that the jar is dry. 2) Add the ice cubes and water to the jar and put the lid on tightly. 3) Have the students feel the outside of the jar. It's cold but dry. 3) Water droplets will soon begin to form on the outside of the jar. 4) Infer: where did the water come from.
JUNIOR Weathermen will learn that water is always in the air. The water vapor collected on the outside of the jar because it was cold. Then the water vapor condensed in the side of the jar. The water drops are called condensation.

How Clouds Form
You will need: a jar with a lid, very warm water and ice cubes
Directions: 1) Pour the very warm water into the jar. Let the jar become warm. 2) Pour out almost all of the water. 3) Put the lid upside down on top of the jar. Put the ice on the lid and watch the clouds form. While you are waiting.....infer what will happen.
JUNIOR Weathermen will learn that the glass is like the earth and the warm water is water warmed by the sun and it evaporates and goes up into the sky (the lid) where it cools off and condenses and becomes clouds.

Water Cycle
You will need: a clear liter soda bottle with lid, dirt, and a plant(s).
Directions: 1) cut the bottle apart about two thirds of the way down from the top. 2) Put the dirt in it and the plant(s).
3) Water the plants. 4) Put the top of the soda bottle back on partially over the bottom of the bottle.(You may want to tape or glue it on). It will take several days for the water cycle to start.
JUNIOR Weathermen will observe a miniature water cycle. They will realize that this is how the water cycle works on the earth.

11) Assessment (complete the webQuest before the final assessment)
Write precipitation, condensation, and evaporation on the board. Each student will draw a picture of the water cycle process and correctly label the parts.

12) WebQuest

 

 

 

The Water Cycle
Webquest

 

 

Introduction

You are a junior weatherman. You have observed that the large puddle outside has disappeared. Where did it go? You also observed that the puddle reappeared after a rain storm but it disappeared again. Your job is to find out what is happening to the puddle.

The Task

Your job is to use the Internet to help you solve the mysterious disappearance of the puddle. You will discover why the puddle disappears and why it reappears after it rains.

When you have completed this WebQuest, you should be able to answer these questions:

1) What is a Water Cycle ?
2) Name the parts of a Water Cycle ?
3) Give the definition of the parts of the water cycle.
4) Where did the puddle go and why does it reappear ?

The Process

You will be assigned to a small group. Each group will go the Water Cycle Website. First, your team will answer the questions on the quiz. Second, you will watch the movie. Write down the steps of the water cycle. You can play the movie as many times as you want. Third, Click on the gray dinosaur (activity page). Print the activity page and complete it. Color the picture correctly and match the words to their definition. Fourth, click on the mouse (experiment). Complete the experiment together.

Evaluation

You will be scored on your quest by the following rubric
5 points - E
4/3 points - S
2/1/0 points - N

___ Questions are answered correctly.
___ The activity sheet is colored correctly.
___ The activity sheet is colored neatly.
___ The words are correctly matched to their definition.
___ The experiment was completed.

Conclusion

When you have finished your quest, you will understand the water cycle process. I hope you had fun watching the movie, coloring the activity sheet and doing the experiment.