3.2 My Water’s Been Where: Understanding the Water Cycle
This middle school lesson (MS.NR.3.2, “My Water’s Been Where? Understanding the Water Cycle”) teaches students about the water cycle as part of the Middle School Food and Agricultural Literacy Curriculum. Students illustrate the water cycle and learn the processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation through discussion, a jar demonstration, and an activity sheet. The lesson uses a morning-routine flowchart analogy and includes an assessment to reinforce the vocabulary and importance of the water cycle.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- As a result of this unit the students will explain the role of clean water in sustaining life.
- As a result of this lesson the students will illustrate the water cycle.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 45 minutes.
- Grade level
- Middle School
- Materials
-
- Overhead projector or LCD projector
- Glass or clear plastic jar with lid
- Hot water
- Ice
- MS.NR.3.2.TM.A-C – one per teacher
- MS.NR.3.2.AS.A – one for every two students
- MS.NR.3.2.ASSESS.A – one per student
- Precepts
- I. Professional Growth; I2. Make clear decisions in my professional life.
- Key Terms
- Evaporation, Condensation, Transpiration, Precipitation
- Resources
- Lee, Jasper (2006). Natural Resources (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. — Perlman, H. (2009). Water Quality. Retrieved July 30, 2009, from United States Geological Survey, Water Science for Schools. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterquality.html
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Standards
- NL-ENG.K-12.12Applying Language Skills
- NL-ENG.K-12.4Communication Skills
- NRS.02.06.01.a.Identify biogeochemical cycles.
- NS.5-8.2Physical Science