You are on page 1of 5

Alisa Potter

Water Cycle Lesson Plan - Prezi Introduction Lesson topic Water Cycle Length of Lesson 50 minutes VA Standards of Learning 3.9 The student will investigate and understand the water cycle and its relationship to life on Earth. Key concepts include b) the energy from the sun drives the water cycle; c) the water cycle involves several processes. Context Earths Patterns, Cycles, and Changes Global Themes All the water on Earth is part of the water cycle and is essential for life on Earth.

Content Objectives Students will: Identify the sun as the origin of energy that drives the water cycle. Describe the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation as they relate to the water cycle. Assessment Aligned to Objectives Formative Questions during instruction: How is the water turned into vapor? What happens after the water is turned to vapor? What is condensation? Etc. Complete a Post-it note KWL chart on the board with students. Summative Students will complete a graphic organizer identifying the three major processes (evaporation, condensation, and precipitation) of the water cycle with a brief description of each. Students will complete a worksheet for homework where they will label a picture identifying the different components and processes of the water cycle and they will write a short passage describing the water cycle. Materials/Technology and Advanced Preparation Jar, saran wrap, water, and a sunny spot or heat lamp. Three different colors of Post-it notes with enough for all students for use at least five of each. Copies of graphic organizer and homework worksheet preferably on blue paper. See attachments. Computer and projector/smart board for Prezi presentation. http://prezi.com/qbi-bkqxmnhr/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy Teaching and Learning Sequence
TIME Introduction/Anticipatory Set TEACHER ACTIONS STUDENT ACTIONS

Alisa Potter

5 mins

5 mins

Fill a jar with a small amount of water and cover tightly with saran wrap, place outside in direct sun if possible but a heat lamp will suffice (in the sun on a warm day it will begin to condensate by the end of the lesson). Gather students on the carpet and ask students to make predictions about what they think will happen, if anything at all. Instruct students to go to their desks. Begin Prezi presentation. Starting from the first frame ask students to write what they know about the water cycle on post it notes then have them stick them to the board. Once every student sticks their notes to the board the teacher should read them aloud. Then have students write any questions they have about the topic on a different color then stick them to another section on the board. The teacher should read these aloud once everyone has finished. Bring attention back the presentation and move onto the second frame about the sun. Explain that the sun is the origin of energy that starts the whole cycle. Ask students how they think the sun does that. Explain that the heat from the sun provides energy to make the water cycle work. Go to the next frame about evaporation and discuss the photo and how all bodies of water (rivers, lakes, even puddles) experience evaporation. Also, explain evapotranspiration. At this point it may be helpful to follow the link in the next frame to discuss evaporation further and see more models of the process. Ask students if they know what happens after to the water vapor next. Go to the next frame for explanation. Then ask what happens when the vapor gets to the atmosphere where it is colder. Follow the arrow to the frame on condensation. Click to zoom into the statement about clouds then again to move to the picture of the earth. Point out that you can see clouds all over the Earth and that the wind and air currents move them around. Ask students if they know what happens next. Move to next frame for the answer then follow the

Make predictions about what will happen to the water in the jar. Go to desks. Write anything they know about the water cycle on post-it notes then go up to the board and stick them up. Write any questions about the water cycle then stick to the board. Answer the teachers questions, make predictions, and participate in discussions.

Lesson Development

8 mins

15 mins

Alisa Potter

5 mins

arrow to the Precipitation frame. Explain that rainfall on land flows downhill as runoff, providing water to lakes, rivers, and the oceans. Then discuss ground water and how water from precipitation can soak into the ground, sometimes very deep. Water from lakes and rivers can also seep into the ground. Water moves underground because of gravity and pressure. Ground water that is close to the surface can get taken up through the roots of plants and evapotranspire, or evaporate, it from their leaves. Move to the next frame with the question about different forms of precipitation (snow and sleet in cloud climates). Explain that snow can melt and becomes runoff, which flows into rivers, the oceans, and into the ground. Follow the link for more information on precipitation. Click to move to arrow, and then click again to move to the evaporation frame once more. Explain that the cycle keeps going. Click to move to the next frame with the video model of the water cycle, discuss the energy from the sun and the processes shown (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and point out the flowing of ground water as well). Click to move back to the first frame then ask students to write 3 things they learned on post-its (third color) and stick them on the board. When all have posted, read them aloud. (The teacher can even rearrange by category). Have students fill out the graphic organizer with a brief description. (They may also draw a picture if there is time.) Take class to check on the jar from the beginning of the lesson. (Condensation should have collected on the saran wrap.) Ask students to think about what they learned today and what they think happened to the water in the jar. How did the water get from the bottom of the jar to the plastic on top? Explain that the heat from the sun/heat lamp heated the water causing some of it to evaporate. When the vapor reached the top it condensed to form the water droplets that they see on the saran wrap. If the saran wrap wasnt there to stop

Write 3 things they learned about the water cycle and stick onto board.

Fill out graphic organizers.

Closure

10 mins

Observe what has happened to the water in the jar and offer explanations.

Alisa Potter

2 mins

it the vapor would have gone up into the atmosphere. What happens after that? Review the water cycle processes one more time. Show students the work sheet to be completed for homework and explain that they are to label all the different parts of the water cycle then write a description below.

Homework : Water Cycle worksheet References "COMMON CORE 5th: Water Cycle Blank ." Livonia High School. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. <http://moodle.livonia.pcpsb.net/mod/resource/view.php?id=2257>. "The Water Cycle for Kids." USGS Georgia Water Science Center - Home page. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. <http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercyclekids.html>. "The Water Cycle: Precipitation, from USGS Water-Science School." USGS Georgia Water Science Center - Home page. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. <http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycleprecipitation.html>. "Water Cycle - NASA Science." NASA Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. <http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/ocean-earthsystem/ocean-water-cycle/>.

Alisa Potter

Lesson Organizer
Prior Knowledge and NEW Instructional Content

Prior Knowledge Students are familiar with basic weather patterns, such as rain and snow, through personal experiences and learning in school. There are many sources of water on Earth. Living things need water to survive. New Content The water cycle is the movement of water from the ground to the air and back to the ground by evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. The energy that drives this cycle comes from the sun. During the water cycle, liquid water is heated and changed to a gas (water vapor). This process is called evaporation. The gas (water vapor) is cooled and changed back to a liquid. This process is called condensation. Water as a liquid or a solid falls to the ground as precipitation.

Instructional Modifications to ASSIST Students

Main Events of Instruction

Instructional Modifications to CHALLENGE Students

The Prezi presentation is full of visuals and videos. The graphic organizer can be filled out with less information of just with drawings. Key words can be written on the board for reference.

The worksheet for homework has a word bank and it can be filled out to the extent of the students knowledge whether that is only a little bit or very extensive.

Prepare jar and place in a sunny spot and make predictions. Do K and W part of KWL chart. Go through Prezi and explain the different processes involved in the water cycle. . Complete KWL chart Students fill out the graphic organizer. Conclude by returning to the jar of water and discuss evaporation. Go over homework.

Worksheets can be completed with greater detail according to students strengths and weaknesses.

You might also like