Grades:
7-12
Objective:
Learn about the role of land use and the water cycle in keeping watersheds active.
Method:
Students will read about watersheds and draw on their knowledge of the water cycle to analyze and interpret a map of the watershed that supplies the power at the Hanford Mills Museum.
Materials:
- Diagram of the Water Cycle .
- Copies of the map of the watershed that supplies Hanford Mills Museum for each student.
- Access to the internet, or an overview of the contents on the websites referenced, including the name of your local watershed, which can be found on the internet at: Science in Your Watershed – http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/.
Time:
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Class Time: 30 minutes
Procedure:
- Review the water cycle with your class using the water cycle diagram.
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- Using the websites provided, define and discuss watersheds with the class. You may choose to use this as an on-line research opportunity, or you may choose to have a discussion about it in the class.
- Information about the water cycle and its various stages and their explanations from the USGS website What is the water cycle?: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclesummary.html
- Science in Your Watershed: Student can try to find Hanford Mills Museum’s watershed using this website or you may use the map included with this activity.
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- Questions to ask:
- What is a watershed?
- From where does the water in a watershed come?
- How does the water cycle contribute to watersheds?
- What watershed is your community part of?
Assessment:
- Participation in class discussion (listening and speaking)
NYS Learning Standards:
- ELA Standard 1
- Math, Science and Tech. Standard 4
- Social Studies Standard 3
Vocabulary & Spelling Words:
Water cycle – n. a continuous cycle where water evaporates, travels into the air and becomes part of a cloud, falls to earth as precipitation, and then evaporates again.
Watershed – n. the region or area drained by a river, stream, etc.; drainage area.