In this blog post, I will overview a STEAM project perfect for students ages K-3 to gain a deeper understanding of the water cycle. This multi-disciplinary, project-based activity will guide students to use many skills relevant to 21st century learning while exploring the environment in a fun way!
This is a full STEAM unit on the water cycle, with 7 lessons outlined below. Teachers can choose to work through the lessons in order, pick which ones are suitable for the class, or only do one of the lessons. Some of the lessons may be stretched out over multiple days. It is a versatile and adaptable unit!
DRIVING QUESTION:
How does the water cycle function, and in what ways does it impact humans, plants, and animals?
4 C's of 21st Century Skills
These lessons will guide students to use the following critical skills:
Collaboration and Communication - Some of the projects will be completed individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a class. Students must effectively communicate their ideas amongst groups, actively give and receive feedback, as well as present their ideas to the class and teacher.
Creativity and Critical Thinking - Students will be given guidelines for each lesson, however they will be required to brainstorm together, as well as using their own imagination to design and implement different aspects of each project. The will be asked to think critical to propose and solve problems in the projects, and through real-life examples.
Multi-Disciplinary Learning Objectives
Science - Understand the basic functioning of all stages of the water cycle.
Technology/Engineering - Create a working model of the water cycle.
Art - Produce a drawing or 3D model outlining the entirety of the water cycle.
Language - Display reading comprehension skills and research abilities using books as resources. Write a short story depicting the life of a water droplet.
Humanities - Understand the impact of the water cycle on people, plants, and animals in different environments.
Math - Build a rain gauge and record rainfall in the school yard over a period of time.
Assessment
This section is flexible in terms of the specific learning goals of the teacher. Students can complete self-assessments and peer-assessments at the end of each lesson or unit as required. Teachers can also assess each lesson, or the end of the unit as a whole.
Each lesson description below includes assessment methods.
Lesson 1: Introduction
1. Start by asking questions to facilitate a discussion about the water cycle. By doing this, you can gauge how much your students already know, which can guide you through the remainder of the activities. Record their thoughts and ideas on the whiteboard - let the students draw pictures, etc. as they brainstorm. If they already have adequate background knowledge, you can breeze through lesson 1. If you find your students don't have much prior knowledge going into the project, you can spend more time on this section to build a base of understanding necessary for their success in the upcoming lessons.
Some sample discussion questions could include:
What is the water cycle? Why is it important?
How does the water cycle work? Do you know the steps?
In what ways can we see the water cycle in action daily?
2. Introduce the Water Cycle Poster with corresponding vocabulary. Explain.
3. Next, some informative videos will be helpful for learners with specific needs, such as visual learners and ESL students, to fully grasp the steps of the water cycle.
This video is appropriate for younger students:
This video is appropriate for older students:
4. Finally, access the students' takeaway from the first lesson. Split the students into groups of 3-4, depending on class size. Give each group a water cycle display poster cut & paste activity. Students must collaborate in their groups to paste the vocabulary words in the correct places within the water cycle. When finished, they can display them to the class and correct any errors together as a team.
Lesson 2: Research
1. Ask the students to recall facts about the water cycle from the first lesson. Review the display posters they made in groups.
2. As a class, read the following book about the water cycle. Throughout the book's duration, ask comprehension questions in addition to allowing students to ask questions as they arise.
Here, an emphasis can be placed on the humanities and environmental aspect of the water cycle.
What effect can/does the water cycle have on people daily?
What can we do to protect the water cycle and our environment?
For ESL learners and younger children, an emphasis can be placed on new vocabulary and language.
3. BRAIN BREAK:
4. OPTIONAL: Additional book about the water cycle to read as a class. Alternatively, you can choose to read this book rather than one in step 2.
5. Assess student comprehension of the books' content. Divide students into pairs and assign each group 1-2 pages from either of the books above (you can print from the PDFs before class). Keep in mind your students' reading levels when grouping them - it might be beneficial to pair a high level reader with a lower level reader. You may also give the more difficult pages to students with a better grasp on the subject matter.
Ask the students to review the pages they were given a prepare a 1 minute presentation to summarize the content for the class.
Allow students enough time to prepare, and give each group a chance to present.
It is possible to differentiate the mode of presentation depending on how comfortable the students are feeling. Maybe they want to draw their explanation and display it on the projector, rather than verbally presenting.
Lesson 3: Art
1. Students will use their new knowledge of the water cycle to create a model of how the water cycle works. Students can do this individually, or in small groups depending on ability.
Younger students can draw a 2D diagram to depict the stages of the water cycle:
Older students can choose to build a 3D model demonstrating the cyclical stages of the water cycle:
Assess: Teacher can evaluate and give feedback, or students can peer-review within/across groups.
Lesson 4: Science
Now, students can use everything they learned so far to create their own working water cycle!
Materials:
Ziploc Bag
Permanent markers
Water with blue food colouring
Tape
Process:
Begin by having a discussion about the possibility of creating a small-scale working water cycle in the classroom. Have students do a turn-and-talk to brainstorm with their peers about how this could be done.
Introduce the materials and let the students brainstorm again - see if they can find the necessary steps on their own. Discuss what is needed beyond the supplied materials to make their water cycle function (ie. the sun).
Decide whether this task will be done individually or in pairs. Hand out the materials accordingly and give a brief explanation of the steps involved.
When the children are finished drawing their water cycle on the Ziploc bag, allow them to fill an appropriate amount of water and seal the bag.
Find the sunniest window in the classroom and tape the bags up securely.
Observe - Have the children take notes about what they see happening throughout the day and into the following days if needed.
Here is a brief video demonstration:
Assess: Teacher can evaluate and give feedback, or students can peer-review within/across groups.
Lesson 5: Math
This one is a long-term commitment, since help is needed from the real water cycle - RAIN! Students can work together in groups to make a DIY Rain Gauge for the school garden.
Before beginning, give students a piece of paper and ask them to design their own contraption to catch and measure rainfall in the school yard. Here is an example template from www.twinkl.com, but a blank piece of paper works just as well:
Now, for the real deal!
Materials:
2L plastic bottle
Rocks
Tape
Ruler
Permanent marker
Scissors or box-cutter (ask an adult to cut)
Process:
Discuss the ways that people, plants, and animals need rain to survive. Brainstorm uses of rain water in the place you live and make a list on the whiteboard.
Ask students to estimate how much rain your city gets in one week, one month, and one year on average. Make a chart to record their estimates.
Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students. Each group will be responsible for the making and monitoring of one rain gauge.
Hand out the materials to each group. Depending on the age of the students, the teacher should pre-cut the plastic bottle for them.
Students should use the ruler to create a measurement scale on the side of the bottle.
Fill the bottom of the bottle with about 1 inch of rocks. Ask the children why the rocks are needed (to stop the bottle from blowing over on a windy day). They should fill water up to just cover the top of the rocks, and start the measurement scale from there.
Invert the top of the bottle like a funnel to catch the rain water and tape it in place.
Now, let the children discuss the best place for the bottle outdoors, and wait for rain!
Recording:
Guide students to create a chart to track rainfall in the school yard over a designated period of time. You can choose to monitor daily, weekly, monthly, etc. depending on your goals.
Here are some examples from www.twinkl.com:
Assess: Teacher can check student record sheets daily, weekly, or monthly and give feedback.
Lesson 6: Quiz Style Assessment
This quiz can be used to assess students' level of understanding of the water cycle unit, as a competition between classmates to review the concepts, or just for fun! Students can try individually or as a team, depending on the teacher's goals.
Lesson 7: Writing Assessment
This can also be done for fun or as a type of assessment, depending on the needs of the teacher. Students can use their creativity to write a short story about the journey of a water droplet through the water cycle.
1. Read the following book together as an example:
2. Give students this writing prompt and sufficient time to complete it:
3. Assess - Teacher can choose to collect the worksheets and give individual feedback, have the children present them to the class, or laminate and make them into a book that can be kept in the class library
REFERENCES
Art Studio TSK. (2020, December 27). Easy Water Cycle Drawing [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iOarozb9E4
Backyard Biologist. (n.d.). DIY Weather Station Part 1- The Rain Gauge. Nantucket Land Council. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.nantucketlandcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/DIY-Rain-Gauge.pdf
Cull, B. (n.d.). The Story of a Raindrop. Smart Approved Watermark.
Free School. (2015, April 19). All About the Water Cycle for Kids: Introduction to the Water Cycle for Children - FreeSchool [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO9tT186mZw
GoNoodle, Get Moving. (2017, May 20). Water Cycle | Songs For Kids | Sing Along | GoNoodle [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM-59ljA4Bs
Hutmacher, K. (2012). Wonderful Water Cycle (My Science Library). Rourke Educational Media.
Knight, R. N. (n.d.). The Water Cycle. Science A-Z.
nmcn PLC. (2021, February 16). Water Cycle STEM Activity Video [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6hZaF1K3FA
Peekaboo Kidz. (2015, March 11). The Water Cycle | The Dr. Binocs Show | Learn Videos For Kids [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncORPosDrjI
pi-top. (2019). Planning Your STEAM Project-Based Learning. Pi-Top.Com. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4368942/PBL%20for%20STEAM/PT_STEAM_Learning_Resource_Templates_US_AWK.pdf?__hstc=225167877.1b1b95fb6b0923ace9d242581e15fc8b.1567772035752.1574335480733.1574347401230.138&__hssc=225167877.1.1574364948891&__hsfp=748729882&hsCtaTracking=5260337a-f80c-45c1-ab18-4f5af7209a57%7C099f2de8-cf18-4da4-97a8-3517c8888c93
The Discovery Apple. (n.d.). Water Cycle Task Cards Freebie (Colored & Black and White) + Recording Sheet. Teachers Pay Teachers. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Water-Cycle-Task-Cards-Freebie-Colored-Black-and-White-Recording-Sheet-2573526?st=6167042f11a038c96cd5ed198224eeed
The4Pillars. (2020, April 7). Water Cycle Model | water cycle project | water cycle model 3d | science exhibition model [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzdqqT_pi3o
Twinkl. (n.d.-a). My Weather Record Sheet. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.twinkl.com.tw/resource/roi-t-25943-my-weather-record-activity-sheet
Twinkl. (n.d.-b). The Water Cycle Cut & Paste [Illustration]. Twinkl. https://www.twinkl.com.tw/resource/t2-s-1186-the-water-cycle-large-display-labeling-activity
Twinkl. (n.d.-c). The Water Cycle Poster [Illustration]. Twinkl. https://www.twinkl.com.tw/resource/t-t-2842-the-water-cycle-display-posters
Twinkl. (n.d.-d). The Water Cycle Writing Worksheet [Worksheet]. Twinkl. https://www.twinkl.com.tw/resource/ca-sc-14-water-cycle-free-writing-activity-sheet
The Water Cycle. (2019, September 18). Teaching Ideas. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.teachingideas.co.uk/water/the-water-cycle
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