Teacher Resources
Overview
This is the second of two lessons for students to learn about the water cycle and Maryland's Chesapeake Bay watershed. In this interactive lesson, students will learn about watersheds and be able to explain how they can help protect and preserve them.
Lesson Summary
- Grade Band: 6 - 8
- Focus Standard: Human Impact on Earth Systems
- 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 a watershed.
- Explain how to protect and preserve watersheds.
- Explore the blue crab and other natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Essential Question:
- What actions can humans take to help protect and preserve watersheds?
Procedure
Students will revisit the water cycle. If students did not complete the lesson about the water cycle, instruct them to complete both parts of the interactive. Briefly discuss the three main stages of the water cycle. Instruct students to look at the images and identify what they all have in common. Lead students to understand that all of these are examples of “watersheds.” Ask students if they can think of other watersheds in their community. Then review the objectives with students.
EXPLORE (15 minutes)
Complete the interactive. Discuss the components that make up a watershed. Watch the video and have students identify if the Gunpowder is considered a watershed and discuss student responses.
EXPLAIN (30 minutes)
Have students discuss the importance of watersheds and identify some challenges watersheds may face. Tell students that in order to become a watershed hero they need to identify actions on land that can help make a difference in our waterways. Instruct them to complete the interactive and graphic organizer.
EXTEND (10 minutes)
Have students watch the video clip about the Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab. Discuss ways to protect and preserve the Chesapeake Bay and the blue crab population. Have students monitor their understanding by completing the true/false question.
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.
Extension
Show this Chesapeake Bay Program infographic to your students, and have them identify the states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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 fail 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-ESS3-3: Earth and Human Activity
Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
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
(1) Environmental Issue Investigation & Action
- Environmentally literate students investigate environmental issues in order to develop and implement local actions that protect, sustain, or restore the natural environment.
(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.
Extension
What Is a Watershed? | The Chesapeake Bay Program
Show this Chesapeake Bay Program infographic to your students, and have them identify the states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed along with the rivers that flow through the Bay watershed.
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.
Maryland Farm and Harvest | Maryland Public Television
Join host Joanne Clendining as she explores local Maryland farms. In this episode, students learn about the impact of proper manure management on the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Outdoors Maryland | Maryland Public Television
Explore Maryland's natural resources and introduce students to the people who protect the region's diverse ecosystems.
- In "Blue Ribbon River", students discover the rich beauty and natural diversity of the Gunpowder watershed outside of Baltimore, Maryland.
- In "Blue King of the Chesapeake", students get a close look at how the iconic blue crab population is fairing in Chesapeake Bay.
Welcome to Your Watershed: Lesson 1 | The Water Cycle
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.
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.
