Demonstrate and explain ground water movement and how it can be a source of drinking water.
Between 70 and 75% of the Earth's surface is covered with water and there exists still more water in the atmosphere and underground in aquifers. In this lesson, students learn about water bodies on the planet Earth and their various uses and qualities. They will learn about several ways that engineers are working to maintain and conserve water sources. They will also think about their role in water conservation.
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.
The Water Sourcebooks contain 324 activities for grades K-12 divided into four sections: K-2, 3-5, 5-8, and 9-12. Each section is divided into five chapters: Introduction to Water, Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment, Surface Water Resources, Ground Water Resources, and Wetlands and Coastal Waters. This environmental education program explains the water management cycle using a balanced approach showing how it affects all aspects of the environment. All activities contain hands-on investigations, fact sheets, reference materials, and a glossary of terms. Activities are organized by objectives, materials needed, background information, advance preparation, procedures, and resources.
This site features Flash animations and QuickTime movies about watersheds and their associated waterways. Topics include watershed delineation, the hydrologic cycle, and the course of a river from its source to the sea. These resources may be suitable for integration into lectures, labs, or other activities.
