Science - 4th Grade
Lesson Plans

Standard 1

Students will understand that water changes state as it moves through the water cycle.

Objective 2

Describe the water cycle.

• A Drop in the Bucket - USU Water Cycle
  Through a visual presentation, the students will learn the different sources of freshwater, and the relative ratios of these water sources on the earth.
• A Water Cycle Chamber
  Classroom activity helps students understand the water cycle.
• All Washed Up
  This lesson identifies groundwater as one of the locations that hold water as it passes through the water cycle. Students create a model that effectively filters water as it passes through the ground water system.
• Dino Drool
  In this activity students build a water cycle model and monitor it for a 2-week period helping them to understand that water changes state as it moves through the cycle.
• Miniature Water Cycles
  Students construct a model of the water cycle in action using two-liter pop bottles to build a terrarium.
• Round and Round
  Students create their own water cycle story and storyboard and teach what they've learned to a younger audience.
• TRB 4:1 - Investigation 5 - The Water Cycle Model
  This classroom demonstration will help students understand the water cycle.
• TRB 4:1 - Investigation 6 - Water on the Move
  Students will play a "Water on the Move" game to deepen their understanding of the water cycle.
• Water Cycle
  The teacher demonstrates how much usable fresh water there is available to plants and animals on earth and then demonstrates how the water cycle maintains itself with a water cycle demonstration. Students evaporate water with a hair dryer; observe condensation that forms on a mirror; observe a cloud in a bottle; and cause rain to occur in the lab.
• Water Cycle Celebration
  This mini-science fair project summarizes the unit on the water cycle.
• Water Cycle Drama - USU Water Cycle
  Students will learn the different parts of the water cycle by acting them out. They will play a game similar to charades.
• Water Cycle Relay Race - USU Water Cycle
  Students will review the water cycle through a relay race vocabulary game.
• Water World Story
  Students will write a story about how a drop of water may have traveled to arrive at the school. In addition, they will design a presentation on the water cycle.

---

http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Jennifer Throndsen and see the Science - Elementary website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.