Lesson

Time

Engaging the Student (Entry Task)

Developing the Ideas--Lesson

Checking for Understanding (exit ticket)

Student Handout

Teacher/Lesson Notes

Materials

1 class period

Students take the Pre-Assessment

Show the Water Cycle short video

Students will rotate through the stations as directed by the teacher. Students collect their data on the Student Data Collection page

Water Cycle Lesson Plan
Purpose: To engage students in the concepts around water cycling. To understand that there is not one single path in which water cycles.

Learning Objective
Students will learn the complex movement of water through the water cycle through role-playing, and they will identify the states of water and changes in state as it move through the water cycle.
Classroom Activities

Students will engage in a pre-assessment activity to assess their prior knowledge. Open the Water Cycle Pre-assessment document for directions
With a roll of the dice, students can simulate the movement of water within the water cycle. Open the Water Cycle Game Instructions file and carry out this activity with your students.
Students will collect and analyze data after the game Data table and analysis questions are provided in the Student Data Collection for Travel Log document
There is a set of two-sided laminated cards in the equipment box. One side is blank and the other is labeled. Give students the vis-à-vis marker and have them label all of the components of the water cycle that they remember. Have them turn over the card to the labeled side and check their work.

Be certain to have time to conduct a post assessment of this activity following the activity and data collection and analysis. You will find directions for this post assessment in the Water Cycle Game Instructions file on page 4. It is copied here for your review:
Assessment
•Have students identify the various compartments of the water cycle, and the states in which water may be found.
•Have students describe where in the water cycle changes of state occur.
•Have students write an essay describing the water cycle and how water can take different paths through the cycle or they can use their own trackers to write creative story about the places water might visit in its movements. (My favorite!)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

There are masters in the folders Game Cubes and Station Labels There are two movies in the water cycle folder that are very good if you have time.