Water Cycle Lesson Plans

Some years ago, I took a group of students to a water treatment facility. We had been to a hydroelectric dam and a lake, and we had been enjoying our study of water overall. As we toured the pungent plant, one of the workers reminded the kids that the water we drank  that day was the same water the dinosaurs drank. He got excited about the idea that our bottles of Ozarka were basically just treated dinosaur urine.

The kids were subdued. They had clearly never thought of it that way. They wouldn’t drink water for the rest of the afternoon.

The water cycle is pretty impressive. Usually, we make a model to show condensation and precipitation (there are links to this project below, if it’s not already in your repertoire), draw some diagrams, and celebrate the neat  arrangement. Unfortunately, water contamination and climate change are creating problems with the water cycle. As “Ask a Scientist” puts it, “The problem with fresh water is not that there is less of it, but that more people need it and they are unevenly distributed on the earth. ” Some background information on this topic for you and your older students:

• NRDC offers a clear PDF file with current information on water safety issues around the world.
• A simple essay explaining how climate change affects human water supplies would be suitable for middle school students. I’d have students read the essay and then do research to confirm or disconfirm the claims made.

Do some geography review by comparing the places that have access to safe drinking water and those that largely do not.

You can examine these ecological and geographical issues as part of the introduction to a study of the water cycle, especially with older students who may need motivation to study this subject in greater depth. This is also a good time to review states of matter.

Here are some links to both the classic lesson plans, and some that take into account the new concerns:

• Kidzone has a cute explanation of the water cycle with printable worksheets.
• Make a Water Cycle Wheel with patterns and a brad. I’d have students design their own using paper plates rather than printing these out and coloring; I think the information would stick with the kids longer if they design their own.
• Or start with a ready-made chart and have students come up with their own ways to convey the information in an art project.
• A classic water cycle lesson plan includes “The Water Cycle Boogie” and several hands-on activities.
• A very thorough water cycle unit for K-6 covers all the basics.
• Science Court makes condensation a little snazzier with a courtroom drama.
• National Geographic brings water contamination into the equation.
• Baylor’s BioEd online lesson plan on the water cycle and global warming reviews states of matter and the importance of water to life, covers the water cycle, and then brings in the effects of climate change on these topics. While the lesson is designed for grades 8-12, you could divide up the activities and use some at lower grade levels. This lesson is designed to use Power Point.
• A Think Quest on The Nitrogen Cycle explains eutrophication, a result of water contamination which has far-reaching effects on the water cycle.

There are also several good picture books on the subject:

• A Drop Around the World follows a drop of water. This isn’t great literature, but it is a clear statement in an interesting form.
• The Water Hole is a beautiful book by Australian artist Graeme Base. It’s a thought-provoking book with sophisticated illustrations that all ages will enjoy.
• Water Dance by Thomas Locker combines moody paintings with accurate scientific data.

Finish up by having students use what they’ve learned about the water cycle and about human water needs and access to prepare a debate on whether people should drink bottled water.