UNIT OF STUDY:  Earth & Space Science - The Water Cycle 

 
ABSTRACT: The cycling of water in and out of our atmosphere plays an important role in making our weather.  Water evaporates from the earth's surface, (heats and rises), condenses to form clouds (cools), becomes precipitation, (rain, hail, sleet, snow) and finally collects in rivers, lakes, glaciers, and other areas of the earth's surface.

 
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS:  Students will:

• recognize the relationship between the Water Cycle and the Weather
• understand that water on earth moves in a continuous cycle
• be able to name and explain the stages of the water cycle

 
GRADE LEVEL AND CONTEXT:  Grade 2 - Earth & Space Science

 
STANDARDS TO BE ADDRESSED:

Science        Language Arts Mathematics Applied Learning Technology

S1a; S4a,b,c,d; S5a-f; S6a-c; S7a-d; S8a

Assessing Prior Knowledge

1. V/S; L/M - KWHL Chart - (S1c; S5a,f; S6c; E1c; E3b; T1)
     a.  What do we already know about water? 
     b.  How do we use water on a day to day basis?
     c.  What  would our life be like without water?
SCANS Skills - Information:  Student Acquires and Evaluates Information
                                               Student Organizes and Maintains Information

2. V/L; B/K - Introducing Water Cycle Vocabulary:  Students may wish to 'act out' the definitions of these words:

• accumulation (or collection) - the places in which water will collect
• condensation - the process of water vapor in the air turning into liquid water. Water drops on the outside of a cold glass of water are condensed water. Condensation is the opposite process of evaporation.
• evaporation - the process of liquid water becoming water vapor, including vaporization from water surfaces, land surfaces, and snow fields, but not from leaf surfaces. (See transpiration)
• groundwater - water beneath the earth's surface
  
• infiltration - water entering and passing through the ground
  
• precipitation - rain, snow, hail, sleet, dew, and frost.
• transpiration - process by which water that is absorbed by plants, usually through the roots, is evaporated into the atmosphere from the plant surface, such as leaf pores.
  
• saturation - too much water on the ground; flooding
  
• water cycle - water vapor from the Earth evaporates into the atmosphere where it forms clouds,  precipitation, and falls back to Earth running off into streams,  rivers, lakes, and ultimately into the oceans.

SCANS Skills F1- Reading:  Student locates, understands and interprets written information. 

3.  M/R; V/L; Inter - Water Cycle Song - from some students in nearby Natick, MA.
SCANS Skills F1

4.  V/S; V/L; Intra, Na - Precipitation Guided Imagery
SCANS Skills F10 - Students see things in their mind's eye - thinking about what something will be

Introduction to the Properties of Water

1.  V/S; L/M - Creating a Mind Map (S1a,c; S5a,b,c; S5f; S6b,c; S7a,b)
SCANS Skills C6, 8, 10, 15,18 - Students Organize and Maintain Information
                                                    Students help others learn needed knowledge and skills
                                                    Students judge which technology will produce the desired results

2.  Bill Nye the Science Guy - Video, "Water"  (S1c; S5e, Sc)

3.   V/S: L/M - Liquids Take Shape - Students observe what happens when liquids are poured into containers of different shapes.
SCANS Skills C7

4.  L/M; B/K; Intra - Sink or Float? - Students make and test their predictions about sinking and floating.  To classify objects according to whether they sink or float.  Students record their answers on a data sheet. (S1a; S4d) [Science NetLinks activity]
SCANS Skills C7

5.  V/S; B/K; L/M - Freezing and Melting - Experiments with ice cubes placed in various locations throughout the classroom.
    5a). V/S; L/M - Ice is Nice - Place ice cubes in warm water and watch what happens to them.
    5b).  V/S; L/M - Water: Melting & Freezing - Students explore what happens to the amount of different substances as they change from a liquid to a solid.  (S4d) [Science NetLinks activity]
    5c).  V/S; L/M - Water and Ice - Students observe what happens to water as it goes from a solid to a liquid and back again.  They will use their measurement and communication skills to describe the changes. (S4d) [Science NetLinks activity]
    5d). V/S; L/M - Disappearing Water - Students will observe the amount of water in an open container over time, and they will observe the amount of water in a closed container over time. You may also wish to place a paper towel over a container with colored water inside.  Have the students predict if the paper towel will change color.
Students will compare and contrast their findings. (S4d) [Science NetLinks activity]

6.  B/K; M/R - "Rainstorm" - Perform with a very large group of people – 

• Step 1:  Rub hands together slow > fast > louder
• Step 2:  Snap fingers slowly > quickly; Soft > loud
• Step 3:  Slap your knees
• Step 4:  Stomp your feet

SCANS Skills C6, 7; F11, 15

7.  V/S; L/M - Hot and Cold Colors - Students will explore the effect of heating and cooling on the dispersal of food coloring in water. (S4d) [Science NetLinks activity]
SCANS Skills F12 - Reasoning - Student discovers and applies underlying principles

Uses of Water

1.  V/S; B/K; L/M; Na -  Water Filtration Activity (developed by the EPA)
SCANS Skills F9 - Problem Solving: Students recognize a problem and devises/implements a solution

2.  V/S; B/K; L/M - Liquid Layers - Students observe what happens when liquids of different densities are placed into a glass container a (water, oil, corn syrup, rubbing alcohol, cylinder container, 1/4 cup measure, measuring spoon).

---

TIME NEEDED:These activities will generally take 35 - 45 minutes each for approximately three weeks.

 
METHOD(S) OF ASSESSMENT: Observation of students as they conduct experiments in class. 

 
EXTENDED PIECE: V/L; L/M, Na; Intra -Students will describe how to build a terrarium and how a terrarium works.

 
CULMINATING ACTIVITY:  Na; M/R; B/K; Inter - All classes will invite the grade one students and share their "Drip Drop" books which they created earlier in this unit.  Afterwards all  will gather for a musical/rhythmic; bodily/kinesthetic celebration of  "Rainstorm" and songs about "The Water Cycle."

 
CAREER CONNECTIONS:
Hydraulic Engineering
Plumber
Meteorologist - weather person
US Coast Guard Officer
Water Resources Technician
Water Treatment Plant Operator

SCANS SKILLS ADDRESSED IN THIS UNIT
C-, 5, 6, 7, 8, , 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19;  F1, 11, 12, 15
Many activities within this unit meet the SCANS 2000 Workforce Skills as described in the Workplace Competencies for the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) as chartered by former Secretary Lynn Martin of the United States Department of Labor.  The SCANS standards for each lesson are listed next to each activity.  

Scans skills are evaluated at the end of each unit using the following rubric:
http://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/curriculum/MISmart/scans.html

Scans Competencies
    Resources  C1-4
             C1.  Allocates Time
             C2.  Allocates Money
             C3.  Allocates Material and Facility Resources
             C4.  Allocates Human Resources         
    Information C5-8
             C5.  Acquires and Evaluates Information
             C6.  Organizes and Maintains Information            
             C7.  Interprets and Communicates Information
             C8.  Uses Computers to Process Information
     Interpersonal C9-C14
             C9.  Participates as a member of a Team
           C10.  Teaches Others
           C11.  Serves Clients/ Customers
           C12.  Exercises Leadership
           C13.  Negotiates to Arrive at a Decision
           C14.  Works with Diversity         
     Systems C15-C17
           C15.  Understands Systems  
           C16.  Monitors and Corrects Performance
           C17.  Improves and Designs Systems 
     Technology C18-20
           C18.  Selects Technology
           C19.  Applies Technology
           C20.  Maintains and Troubleshoots Technology
         

         Foundation Skills

            Basic Skills F1-6
                      F1.  Reading
                      F2.  Writing
                      F3.  Arithmetic
                      F4.  Mathematics
                      F5.  Listening
                      F6.  Speaking
            Thinking Skills  F7-12
                     F7.  Creative Thinking
                     F8.  Decision Making
                     F9.  Problem Solving
                    F10. Seeing Things in the Mind's Eye
                    F11. Knowing How to Learn
                    F12. Reasoning                  
             Personal Qualities F13-17
                    F13.  Responsibility
                    F14.  Self-Esteem
                    F15.  Sociability
                    F16.  Self-Management
                    F17.  Integrity/Honesty

Ask-an-Expert Sites

The Ask-an-Expert web sites below will allow you to communicate with experts in a wide range for fields to get answers to your really tough questions.  Most of the sites have indexes of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and it is always a good idea to search the FAQ database before submitting a question to see if your question has already been asked.   

• Ask a Water Expert -- USGS National Water Information Center 
• Ask a Hydrologist -- USGS Florida
• Ask an Environment Expert -- Scientific American 
• Ask an Environment Expert -- University of Hawaii 
• ScienceNet -- Many different topics
• Ask a Mad Scientist -- Many different topics
  

 

 
RESOURCES / MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

Books
Charlestown Library
Flannagan, Alice, K.  2001. Water. Compass Point Books.
Hooper, Meredith. 1998.  The Drop in My Drink.  The Story of Water on Our Planet.  Viking Press.
McKinney, Barbara Shaw.  1998.  "A Drop Around the World".  Dawn Publications: Nevada City, CA.
Ramsay, Helena.  1998.  Step-by-Step Science: Water.  Children' Press.
Reidel, Marlene. 1981. "From Ice to Rain".  Carolrhoda Publishers.  Minneapolis.
Seuling, Barbara.  2000.  "Drip! Drop!:  How Water Gets to Your Tap.  Holiday House Publishers. New York.
Walter Wick's. 1997. A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder

Hope Valley
Adam, Jon.  2000. The Water Cycle.  Harcourt Science. (2Mei)
Brandt, Keith.  1982. What Makes it Rain? The Story of a Raindrop. Troll Associates. (2R)
Costain, Meredith. 2000. Clean Air . Sundance Books. (2R)
Davis, Beth.  Matter: A Hands-on, minds Approach Using the National Science Educational Standards.  Inquiry Science - Instructional Fair. Grand Rapids. MI. (2Mei)
dePaola, Tomie. 1975. The Cloud Book. Scholastic, Inc. (2R)
Medearis, Michael. Heat Changes Things.  Harcourt Science. (2Mei)
Silver Burdett & Ginn. 1987. Science. Chapters 4, 7, 9 (2R)
Sloan, Peter & Sheryl. 1999.  Water for You. Sundance Books (2R)
Spier's, Peter.  Rain.  A Reading Rainbow Book. Trumpet Club. (2R)
Walker, Colin.  1990. Rain, Rivers, and Rain Again.  Sunset Books. (2R)
Wilsdon, Christina.  2002.  Weathering and Erosion. Zaner-Bloser, Inc. (2R)
Zoehfeld, Kathleen.  1998.  What is the World Made Of?  All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases. HarperTrophy (2R)

Periodicals

CD ROM's

Materials
acrylic container for terrarium
balance scale
magnifying glasses
microscope
plastic cups
plastic film canisters
paper towels measuring cups
paper filters
Pyrex measuring cup
salt
Zip-lock bags

Music
Science Songs CD: "Ice is a Solid"
Walker, Nick - "I'm the Weather Dude"
"The Water Cycle Song" (Mrs. C.P.)
"The Water Cycle Song"  (Mrs. Phillips)
"Water Cycle Song" - Tom Snyder Publications
    http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/productextras/SCISCI/waterlyrics.html

Videos
Bill Nye the Science Guy: "Water Cycle"  (HV) (Mrs. C.P.) 
Aims Media.  1992.  "Learning About Water" (CHA)

WEB SITES

BrainPop - The Water Cycle  ***
http://www.brainpop.com/science/ecology/watercycle/index.weml?&tried_cookie=true

Crossword Puzzle on The Water Cycle
http://www.educate.org.uk/science/sc_water_cloud_crossword.pdf

Droplet and the Water Cycle (NASA) Download this game on the Water Cycle (PC & Mac)*****
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/droplet.html

"Dropletta":  The story of one drop of water traveling through the water cycle.
http://www.educate.org.uk/teacher_zone/classroom/science/5d_book/main.htm

Down the Drain - By collecting data on water usage from people around the world you will be able to see how your water use compares to others and determine what you might do to use less water.
http://k12science.ati.stevens-tech.edu/curriculum/drainproj/index.html

EPA - Drinking Water for Kids
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/
     Games and Online Activities
    http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/games.html

Ferguson Foundation: *****

Water Cycle Stages - Puzzle
http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/watercycle/watercycle_puzzle.html

Water Cycle Puzzle
http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/watercycle/watercycle_puzzle2.html

Water Cycle on the Move - Media Clip (uses Flash) *****
http://www.fergusonfoundation.org/watercycle/flash.html

Growing Minds:  The Water Cycle
http://www.arboretum.fullerton.edu/grow/primer/water.asp

How to Make a Terrarium - from CanTeach
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/life5.html

KidsZone - The Water Cycle
http://www.kidzone.ws/water/

Mid Kent Water Company - England - Color Animation of Water Cycle  ***
http://www.midkentwater.co.uk/educational/cycle.htm

National Wildlife Foundation: Water Cycle Animation *****
Wonderful beginning point for grade two students
http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek/games/watercyc_swf.html

Oceans Alive! - Looking at the Sea:  The Water Cycle
http://www.mos.org/oceans/planet/cycle.html

Reader's Theater:  The Water Cycle ***
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/rt/weather/watercycle.shtml

Readers Theater:  Another Water Cycle Play
http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts//400.html

The Water Cycle - Online Search-A-Word Game
http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/fun/wordsearch/hydrocycle_search/hydrocycle_search.html

Online CrossWord Puzzle
http://www.newman.ac.uk/students/~e.e.hayward/quiz.html

The Water Cycle - The University of Washington - Dept. of Education
http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/pilot/water_cycle/grabber2.html

The Water Cycle - Patty Handley, Richmond School
http://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/ric/phandley/watrcycl.htm

The Water Cycle:  by the Evergreen Project ***
http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/cycle/index.htm

The Water Cycle - Class Web site from Natick Massachusetts
http://www.natick.k12.ma.us/schools/johnson/watercycle/water.html
   Hear their Water Cycle Song:
   http://www.natick.k12.ma.us/schools/johnson/watercycle/song.html

The Water Cycle Movie - PowerPoint-like presentation *****
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/water_cycle_version2.html

USGS - The Water Cycle:  Follow a drip through the water cycle
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html
    A Second Grader's View of the Water Cycle
    http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle2ndgrade.html

Water - a Never Ending Story - (red with student online) *****
http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/pilot/water_cycle/index.html

Water Cycle Role Play
http://www.pwd.org/education/lessons/water%20cycle%20role%20play.htm

Water: Information and Activities (Good Resource for Teachers)
http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Biomes/waterweb.html

Willy's Water Cycle Match Game - Online game to learn about the parts of the Water Cycle ****
http://www.lpsnrd.org/docs/Games/games/MemoryMatch.htm

Water Filtration:  Safe Drinking Water Lesson (EPA)
http://www.deq.state.la.us/assistance/educate/h2ofiltr.htm