Teacher Resources
Overview
This is the first of two lessons for students to learn about the water cycle and Maryland's Chesapeake Bay watershed. In this interactive lesson, students will develop and use models to understand the movement of water throughout our planet.
Lesson Summary
- Grade Band: 6 - 8
- Focus Standard: The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes
- Topic: Earth Science, Ecology, Environmental Science
- Completion Time: Two to three class periods
- Vocabulary: Visit the Glossary page for definitions of key vocabulary in this module.
This lesson focuses on these main ideas:
- identify and define the water cycle
- explain how water moves throughout our planet
- develop and use models to understand the movement of water
Essential Question:
- How does water move throughout our planet?
Procedure
Instruct students to look at the image and discuss the questions provided. Review the lesson objectives with students. Revisit the three states of matter with students and have students demonstrate their knowledge by completing the image sort interactive.
EXPLORE (15 minutes)
Have students brainstorm where they can find water on our planet. Students should complete the interactive together and answer the assessment questions to monitor their understanding.
EXPLAIN (45 minutes)
Have students discuss what they know about the water cycle. Watch the videos, discuss how the water cycle is continuous, and explain the role of the Sun in the water cycle. Guide students through each phase of the cycle (evaporation, condensation, and precipitation) by:
- previewing an image and taking an educated guess about the stage it applies to
- watching a short video clip about each stage to learn more about it
- reviewing the stage in the animation as part of the larger cycle
- answering a question to monitor understanding
EXTEND (60 minutes)
Have students pick an extension activity to complete. Depending on the activity, it might need to be completed over a few days.
EVALUATE (10 minutes)
Have students apply their newfound knowledge by completing the quiz questions and Summative CER on the lesson using evidence from the lesson as support.
Summative CER
Summative CER Rubric
| Scoring Rubric Components | No Response Score Point 0 |
Not There Yet Score Point 0.5 |
Beginning To Score Point 0.75 |
Yes Score Point 1.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAIM | The claim is missing. | The claim is incorrect or irrelevant. | The claim partially takes a position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt. | The claim takes an appropriate position on the topic or issue addressed within the prompt. |
| EVIDENCE | There is no type of evidence in the response. | The evidence is irrelevant or does not support the claim. | The evidence partially supports the claim and demonstrates some understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources. | The evidence supports the claim and demonstrates a strong understanding of the topic or text, using appropriate sources. |
| REASONING | There is no use of words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence. | Use of words, phrases, and clauses fails to show or explain any relationship between the claim and evidence. | Scientific words, phrases, and clauses used lack cohesion but partially clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence. | Appropriate scientific words, phrases, and clauses are used to create cohesion and to clarify the relationship between the claim and evidence. |
Standards
This interactive lesson is aligned to:
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
- Maryland College and Career Ready (MCCR) Disciplinary Literacy Standards for Reading and Writing in Science and Technical Subjects
- Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards.
Related Standards
Next Generation Science Standard
-
MS-ESS2-4: Earth’s Systems
Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
Maryland College and Career Ready (MCCR) Standards for Disciplinary Literacy
Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects:
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
- MCCR Anchor Standard 7: Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
- RST.6-8.7. Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
Writing Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects:
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
- MCCR Anchor Standard 9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.
- WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards
(2) Human Dependence on Earth Systems and Natural Resources
- Environmentally literate students construct and apply understanding of how Earth’s systems and natural resources support human existence.
(3) Environmental Impact of Human Activity
- Environmentally literate students construct and apply understanding of the environmental impact of human activities on Earth’s systems and resources.
References
Conservation Education | Maryland Department of Agriculture
Find resources to educate students on the benefits of clean water, productive soil and a healthy food supply.
Soil Activity Book | Maryland Department of Agriculture
This student activity book includes hands-on activities and information to help students learn about the importance of soil and ways to keep it healthy.
The Sun and the Water Cycle | NASA
This story about two sisters who investigate water in their surroundings teaches readers about the main stages of the water cycle, how the cycle is continuous, and how it depends on the Sun’s heat energy to keep it going. The story, which includes labeled illustrations, is courtesy of the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Outreach.
The Water Cycle | Steve Trash Science and Alabama Public TV
Steve Trash teaches children ages 6-10 about science with fun and magic. In this video, Steve Trash explores how water found in oceans, rivers, and lakes, in clouds, rain and snow, are connected through a continuous cycle in the natural world.
Water Cycle Project | Rookie Parenting Science
This easy-to-follow STEM activity teaches students the science behind the Earth's water cycle.
Using This Site
This lesson is built for use on classroom computers and tablets. If you have access to a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or an interactive whiteboard in your classroom, you may complete the lesson in your classroom. Otherwise, you will need to schedule time to use your school's computer lab. For technical specifications, see below.
Some activities on this site may include videos and narration, so you may want to have headphones available for students working at individual stations. For best results in viewing the videos and interactives, you should have a high-speed, stable Internet connection.
This lesson may contain PDFs for students to complete. They can print the PDFs and fill them out by hand, or download the files and fill them out on the computer. Please check with your Instructional Technology Specialist for instructions on downloading the PDF.
Technology
This site is an Internet-based activity, and it was built to run on the following computer operating systems and browsers:
- Windows 7 or Newer: IE 8, 9, 10, 11; Current version of Chrome; Current version of Firefox
- Mac OS 10.7 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- iPad2/iOS6 or Newer: Current version of Safari
- Android 4.0 or Newer: Current version of Android browser
- Chromebook: Current version of Chrome
Users running Internet Explorer 8 will not be able to use the highlighter tool. Instead, teachers should consider partnering students for a brief discussion.
Visit the Accessibility page for detailed information on the site's accessibility features.
