Water Cycle Game

Introduction:

Locating different ways water is used in the environment and identifying its role is a key process in learning how critical water is in our existence as well as the existence of every other living thing on the planet.  Having students place water vocabulary terms in a model of land and bodies of water shows the variety of places water can be found and used.  Posters for this activity can be easily made and relatively inexpensive.  Obtain two large pieces of poster board from a local store such as K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or Target and craft paints in an assortment of colors needed for your ecosystems.  Tape the the two pieces together so they form a longer sheet.  Paint different terrains, such as mountains, hills, lakes, streams, wetlands, deserts, and oceans.  Different water cycle pictures can be used for guidance.  Definitions can be obtained on www.dictionary.com to piece together your own definition from the many that you are given on this website. Glue the definitions where the terms can be located on the map.  Laminate the large poster and the sheet of terminology.  Cut out the terms and apply adhesive Velcro to the back of the terms and the opposite side to the poster over the ecosystem.  Lamination allows the terms to be handled without a lot of damage.

National Standard Addressed:

The standard Life Science under the category of Populations and Ecosystems and Diversity/Adaptations of Organisms are the standards that are addressed.  Students will understand the diversity needed to sustain life in a healthy ecosystem while also realizing the many different roles water is needed in.  It also covers Physical Science by touching upon Properties and Changes of Properties in Matter.

Objectives and Benchmarks:

This activity will provide the students with the opportunity to place terminology by definitions and see how these properties of water are different in form and function, yet still is vitally important.  Students should be able to identify a given number determined number.

Materials:

Laminated Water Cycle poster

Cards of terms with Velcro backing

Advanced Preparation:

Go over the list of terms to remember which term go where and the properties of each.  Make sure there are extra pieces for each poster. 

Procedure:

After laying down water cycle terms on the poster, students will be able to quiz each other to learn the definitions and characteristics of each.

Things to consider:

Some students may not know what each term is, so have their book or any other handy for quick reference.  Water cycle flashcards can also be made for this activity for reference, students to student quizzes, and review games.  Try to make them look definitions up rather than tell them. 

Possible Integration:

This lesson would be useful in teaching climate differences and the role water plays in those differences, as well as its effect on ecosystems and food webs.

Critical concepts:

Water Cycle                            Rainfall

Ecosystem Diversity             Climate