Summary
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.
Materials
- Map of Utah (pdf)
- Map of Japan (pdf) - optional
- Map of China (pdf) - optional
- Journal or writing paper
- Narrative story (e.g. The
Drop of Water)
- Use a science journal to
make a six-frame
outline
- Crayons, colored
pencils, or markers
Additional Resources
Reference Books
- The Search for the Water Cycle, available through the Living Planet
Aquarium, 522 S. 400 W. Suite 200, Salt Lake City, UT 84101,
801-320-9951.
- The Comprehensive Water Education Book (1994 edition), available
through Utah State University in Logan, Utah 84322
or 1-800-922-4693.
Children's Literature
- A Drop Around The World, by Barbara Shaw McKinney (1998);
ISBN 1883220726
- The Magic School Bus: At the Waterworks, by Joanna Cole (1988);
ISBN 0590403605
Agency Contacts
- Central Utah Water Conservancy District
355 West University Parkway
Orem, Utah 84058
Phone: 801-226-7100
Background for Teachers
The purpose of this activity is to help students discover the actual
locations that hold water as it passes through the water cycle. The whole
process begins with the sun. It is the sun's heat that causes evaporation
to occur. Water changes from its liquid state, like an ocean, and becomes
an invisible vapor that rises. As the water condenses, we see it as clouds
in the atmosphere. Depending on the temperature, humidity and other
factors, the water can form different types of precipitation such as rain,
snow, or hail. This water then collects in streams, rivers, lakes, and
oceans. Some water also seeps into the ground and collects there. Water
is also found in its solid state in the form of glaciers, near the polar
regions of Earth and in snowpack conditions of high elevations for
portions of the year.
Intended Learning Outcomes
2. Manifest Scientific Attitudes and Interests
4. Communicate Effectively Using Science Language and Reasoning
Instructional Procedures
Invitation to Learn
Ask: Have you ever taken a cold drink of water and wondered where
it came from? Where do you think it came from? How did it get to our
school?
Instructional Procedures
- Read a sample narrative story about a droplet of water
(e.g., The Drop of Water, by Donald R. Daugs in The
Comprehensive Water Education Book).
- Distribute maps of Utah.
- Discuss major lakes, rivers, and mountain ranges found close to
the school.
- Distribute journals or writing paper.
- Have the students write a story about how a drop of water may
have traveled to arrive at the school. The story should include
specific names of mountains, lakes, and rivers it could have
been held in.
- Use their science journal pages to design a six-frame template
for a presentation on the water cycle.
- Assign the students to write in the following titles for each
frame: Title, The Sun, Evaporation, Condensation,
Precipitation, Collection.
- Have the students illustrate each frame. This can be done with
any media available.
Extensions
- Students could do another water story with a setting in another
part of the world, such as Japan or China.
- A water story could be prepared in advance with blanks for
students to fill in the names of the mountains, oceans, rivers, etc.
- Students with computer access could design a multimedia
presentation of the water cycle or their water story.
Family Connections
- Use a digital or 35 mm camera to take pictures of the sun (use
caution when viewing the sun), clouds, mountains, lakes, rivers,
etc. These can be assembled in a water cycle poster or made into
a multimedia presentation.
- Find out ways that you can help conserve water in your
community and at home.
- Take a family fieldtrip to the local water treatment plant or water
storage facilities.
Assessment Plan
- The stories that the students write can be collected and evaluated.
- The six-frame presentation design can be assessed.
Created: 10/15/2004
Updated: 06/03/2022
20407