Students learn about energy and nutrient flow in various biosphere climates and environments. They learn about herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, food chains and food webs, seeing the interdependence between producers, consumers and decomposers. Students are introduced to the roles of the hydrologic (water), carbon, and nitrogen cycles in sustaining the worlds' ecosystems so living organisms survive. This lesson is part of a series of six lessons in which students use their growing understanding of various environments and the engineering design process, to design and create their own model biodome ecosystems.

View the five processes of the hydrologic cycle in this interactive resource adapted from NASA in which animations illustrate condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and evapotranspiration.

Hands-on group activity in where children go outside to find clouds, document with pictures, and identify them.

Students will investigate evaporation as a cooling process. They will witness that temperature is affected by moisture content and the process of evaporation. Next, they will explore websites related to the processes of evaporation and condensation. Students will apply gained knowledge to real-life situations, and will share their new knowledge with a person outside the classroom.

This course introduces dynamics, a sub-branch of the general field of study known as Mechanics. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: Formulate rectilinear and curvilinear motion in one-dimension; Solve projectile motion problems; Identify and solve problems with normal, tangential, and cylindrical components for curvilinear motion in one-dimension; Formulate relative motion of two particles and relative motion using translating axes for particles in one-dimension; Identify Newton's second law, Identify equations of motion for a system of particles in one-dimension; Identify equations of motion in rectangular, normal, tangential, and cylindrical components in one-dimension; Identify orbital motion and space mechanics; Solve work, energy, power, and efficiency for particles and systems of particles in one-dimension; Identify energy, potential energy, and conservation of energy for particles and systems of particles in one-dimension; Identify impulse, momentum, and conservation of momentum for particles and systems of particles in one-dimension; Identify angular momentum, angular impulse, and impact for particles and systems of particles in one-dimension; Identify translation and rotation of rigid bodies in two-dimensions; Identify absolute and relative motion analysis in two-dimensions; Identify Instantaneous Center of Zero Velocity; Identify acceleration and rotating axes in two-dimensions; Formulate Moment of Inertia for Rigid bodies; Identify planar kinetic equations of motion, translation, rotation, and general plane motion for rigid bodies; Identify work, energy, and kinetic energy for rigid bodies; Compute work done by a force and work done by a couple for rigid bodies; Identify work and energy principles and conservation of energy for rigid bodies; Identify impulse, momentum, and conservation of momentum for a system of particles; Identify impact and eccentric impact for a system of particles; Identify kinematics of rigid bodies in three-dimensions; Identify general motion and relative motion in three-dimension; Identify angular motion and kinetic energy in three-dimension; Identify undamped free and force vibrations; Identify viscous damped free and forced vibrations. (Mechanical Engineering 202)

In a class demonstration, students observe a simple water cycle model to better understand its role in pollutant transport. This activity shows one way in which pollution is affected by the water cycle; it simulates a point source of pollution in a lake and the resulting environmental consequences.

Groundwater is one of the largest sources of drinking water, so environmental engineers need to understand groundwater flow in order to tap into this important resource. Environmental engineers also study groundwater to predict where pollution from the surface may end up. In this lesson, students will learn how water flows through the ground, what an aquifer is and what soil properties are used to predict groundwater flow.

This animation from NASA visualizes the steps of the water cycle, including precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, and condensation.

Ever wonder where the water you're drinking came from? Where were those water molecules last? With the roll of the dice, you can simulate the journey water molecules may take as they travel within the water cycle.

Water is constantly in motion. Sometimes quickly, like in a fast-flowing river, but sometimes it moves quite slowly, as in underground aquifers. Appreciating the complexity of how water moves around, on a watershed scale, helps us understand how either dissolved contaminants, or those attached to particles, are transported throughout a watershed.

Through role-playing as a molecule of water in this game, you can gain a better understanding for the true complexity of the movement of water. Stations are set-up for each of nine different compartments of the water cycle. On each turn, a roll of the dice at each station tells you where to move next. Colored trackers record each person's unique journey through the water cycle to compare to others' journeys later on. You will identify the states of water, and when water changes states as it moves through its cycle. You will also learn where pollutants can enter the water cycle, be transported around, or be left behind.