Water Lesson Plans

Keywords: stream, wetland, acidity, alkaline, neutral, filter; Grade Levels: first and second grade; Time Required: 45 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: water Use, wasted water, water-wise ways; Lesson Plan Grade Level: second grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 60 minutes (two days, 30 minutes each day); Setting: classroom

Keywords: watershed, stream, river, ocean, flow; Grade Level: Elementary—grade 2 through 5; Total Time Required: 1 and a half hours (1-2 class periods); Setting: classroom

Keywords: coldwater, cool water, warmwater, brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, golden rainbow trout, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, yellow perch; Lesson Plan Grade Level: third grade and higher; Total Time Required for Lesson: one hour; Setting: classroom

Keywords: pelvic fin, caudal fin, anal fin, dorsal fin, lateral line, gill cover, pectoral fin, adipose fin; Lesson Plan Grade Level: third grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 45 minutes as one continuous time block; Setting: classroom

Keywords: water conservation, water use, data collection; Grade Level: third grade; Total Time for Lesson: 30 minutes each day on two separate days; Setting: classroom instruction with assignment to be done at home

Keywords: gyotaku, fish printing, tempera paint, acrylic paint, permanent markers, dorsal fin, caudal fin, anal fin, lateral line, pectoral fin, pelvic fin, gill, eye, cheek, nostril, mandible; Lesson Plan Grade Level: third grade; Total Time Required for the Lesson: two one-hour class periods on different days; Setting: classroom

Keywords: aquarium, tank, heater, floating thermometer, undergravel filter, plastic air tubing, air pump, gravel, plastic screen, plastic bucket, log book or chart, fish food, nitrate test kit, pH test kit, algae scraper, dissolved oxygen test kit, guppies, swordtails; Lesson Plan Grade Level: third grade and up; Total Time Required for the Lesson: three class periods over a month, plus daily feeding time, daily record keeping, and some time each week for maintenance; Setting: indoor classroom

Keywords: biotic, abiotic, organisms, insects, graph, class, index; Grade Level of Lesson: 3-6 grade; Time Required: 2 hrs. (Can be done in two sessions); Setting: Local stream, classroom

Keywords: ecosystem, watershed, basin, headwaters, source, tributary, mouth; Lesson Plan Grade Level: Grade 4; Total Time Required: Two classes of at least 40 minutes each; Setting: Indoor classroom

Keywords : watershed, wetland, water, lentic and lotic water, plants, insects, fish; Grade Levels : fourth grade; Total Time for Lesson: two sessions, about one hour each; Setting : session one in the classroom, sessions two at a pond or stream

Keywords: dissolve, absorb, transparent, dense, polar, cohesive forces adhesion, watercolor, wash, medium, values; Lesson Plan Grade Level: fourth through sixth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 40 minutes as one continuous time block; Setting: art room classroom

Keywords: watershed, erosion, nonpoint, pollution; Grade Levels: fifth through seventh grade; Total Time: two hours plus field trip option; Setting: outdoors (w/ tables)

Key Words: Pollution, Water Quality, Visible, Invisible; Lesson Plan Level: Designed for Grades K-1; Time Required: 45 minutes; Setting: Inside the Classroom

Keywords: Conservation, Consumption, Storm Water Management, Supply and Demand; Grade Level: Fifth Grade; Total Time Required: Three days, one thirty minute class session each day; Setting: Indoor

Keywords: Nonpoint Source Pollution, Storm water, Storm Drain, Stream Quality; Grades: 4-5; Lesson/activity Time: Three 45 – 60 minute classes

Keywords: rain garden, storm water runoff, pollution, non-point source, conservation, paved areas, natural filter, absorption, downspout, ecosystem, native plants, pollinators; Grade Level: K-5 – activities and vocabulary can be adapted according to age level; Time Required: Two one-hour sessions; Setting: Outside the school and in the classroom

Keywords: rain garden, soil, clay, sand, silt, texture, absorption, drainage; Grade Level: K-5 – activities and vocabulary can be adapted according to age level; Time Required: Two one-hour sessions; Setting: Outside the school and in the classroom

Keywords: watershed, groundwater, runoff, water erosion; Grade Level: 3; Total Time Required: 45 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: water absorption, infiltrometer; Grade Level: Second Grade; Total Time Required: One Hour; Setting: Three investigation sites: forest floor, lawn, and blacktop

Keywords: aquatic, macroinvertebrates, streambed, clarity, and data; Grade Level: 2nd Grade (with the help of 5th Grade Science Buddies); Total Time Required: 4 days (approximately 1 hour each day); Setting: South Mountain Creek, classroom

Keywords: Recreation, Environment, Sustainabilty, Management; Grade Level: Fourth; Total Time Required: 43 minutes (1-2 classes); Setting: Classroom

Keywords: acid, alkalinity, basic, predictor, acid rain; Lesson Grade Level: 3rd - 5th grade; Total Time Required: 2 - 45 minute periods; Setting: Classroom

Keywords: transparent, absorb, universal solvent, solvent, dense, polar, adhesion, cohesive forces; Lesson Plan Grade Level: sixth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 50 minutes; Setting: science classroom

Keywords: environment, current issues, newspapers, headlines; Lesson Plan Grade Level: sixth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: five 45-minute class periods; Setting: classroom, outside, and library

Keywords: water cycle, aquifer, buffer strips, ground water, infiltrate, watershed, pollution, erosion; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 5-6; Total Time Required: advance work to prepare stream tables, 2 class periods; Setting: regular classroom, activity may be done outside in good weather

Keywords: water cycle, hydrology, precipitation, surface water, runoff, infiltrate, groundwater, aquifer, transpiration, evaporation, elevation, watershed; Lesson Plan Grade Level: sixth through eighth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: two 40- to 45-minute class periods; Setting: classroom

Keywords: wetlands, water, water quality, wildlife; Grade Levels: sixth through eighth grade; Total Time for Lesson: 45 minutes; Setting: classroom

Keywords: Water quality, water chemistry, pH, hardness; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 6-8; Total Time Require: 1 class period – 45 minutes; Setting: Classroom

Keywords: habitat, spawning, aquatic, predators, carnivore, headwaters; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh grade science class; Total Time Required for Lesson: Playing game is 42 minutes. one class period for modified version, 3 class periods if research time to prepare rummy game is included; Setting: classroom and library (if research is included)

Keywords: water cycle, clouds, precipitation; Grade Level: seventh and eighth grade; Total Time for Lesson: two to three 40-minute class periods; Setting: classroom

Keywords: water quality, water testing, data collection; Grade Level: seventh and eighth grade; Total Time for Lesson: 45 minutes for in-class lab work and 3-4 hours for field activities; Setting: science lab and field

Keywords: infiltration, water, permeability; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh through ninth grade; Total Time Required: two 45-minute periods, not necessarily one time block; Setting: outdoors around school, classroom

Keywords: macroinvertebrates, biotic index, water quality, habitats, stream community; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh through ninth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 90-minute continuous block and another 90-minute block after a 1-2 week interval; Setting: classroom and local stream

Keywords: biodegradable wastes, dissolved oxygen, microbes; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh through ninth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 90-minute continuous blocks; Setting: classroom laboratory

Keywords: freshwater, saltwater, groundwater, glacier water consumption, direct water consumption; Lesson Plan Grade Level: seventh through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 40 minutes; Setting: classroom Laboratory

Keywords: invertebrate, vertebrate, seine net, electroshock, microscopic, metamorphosis, larva, nymph; Lesson Plan Grade Level: eighth grade; Setting: Reed's Gap State Park (Honey Creek)

Keywords: slope, velocity, aeration, erosion, sedimentation; Lesson Plan Grade Level: eighth grade; Setting: Reeds Gap State Park (Honey Creek)

Keywords: watersheds, Pennsylvania watersheds, forest benefits; Grade Level: eighth and ninth grade; Total Time for Lesson: Two 48 minute-class periods; Setting: classroom

keywords:Aerobic ponds, Anaerobic ponds, Facultative pond, Series ponds, Parallel ponds, Microbiological factors, Bacteria, Algae, Protozoa, Rotifers, Crustaceans; Lesson Plan Grade Level: Middle School; Total Time Required: Four periods; Setting: The introduction of the terms and general overview of how a lagoon works will be presented in the regular classroom setting. The following day the class will go to the computer lab to find examples of lagoons on the net and learn more about the microbiological factors that break down waste so that the water from the system can be safe to discharge into a stream or river without adversely affecting the environment. The lesson will conclude with a visit to a local lagoon system to observe how it operates and go over the tests performed on the discharge to ensure it will not negatively impact the environment.

keywords: Compass, Geology, GIS, GPS, Lagoon, MAPS, Plainimetric, Query, Scale, Spatial, Topographic, Watershed, Wetlands; Grade Level: Middle School, Grades 5 – 8; Total Time Required: Five Meetings; Setting: The lesson will require one meeting in the classroom, two days working on site at the small community and two meetings using the computer laboratory.

Keywords: groundwater, water cycle, aquifer; Grade Level: ninth grade; Total Time for Lesson: two 55-minute periods; Setting: classroom

Keywords: watershed, ground water, surface water, buffer strip; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: one class period; Setting: introductory lesson

Keywords: water cycle, water pollution, sources of water pollution; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through eleventh grade; Total Time Required: two 45-minute periods, not necessarily continuous; Setting: classroom, library/computer lab

Keywords: chemical principles, acid precipitation, social and economic issues; Settings: classroom and school grounds; Total Time for Lesson: four standard (40- to 45-minute) class periods; Grade Levels: ninth through twelfth grade

Keywords: transparent, absorb, universal solvent, solvent, dense, polar, adhesion, cohesive forces; Lesson Plan Grade Level: sixth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: 50 minutes; Setting: science classroom

Keywords: water plants, wetlands, hydrology; Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Time Required: 85-minute period (not including follow-up activities)

Keywords: fishery, habitat, biota; Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade, ecology/natural resource management class; Total Time Required for Lesson: 70-minute block (can be modified to fit different times); Setting: classroom with a whiteboard/chalkboard and/or an overhead projector

Keywords: fishery, habitat, biota, sustainability, values; Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade, ecology/natural resource management class; Total Time Required for Lesson: 70-minute block (can be modified to fit different times); Setting: classroom with a whiteboard/chalkboard and/or an overhead projector

Keywords: fishery, habitat, biota, sustainability, values, research; Lesson Plan Grade Level: 10-12 Ecology/Natural Resource Management Class; Total Time Required for Lesson: 70-minute block (can be modified to fit different times); Setting: computer lab with Internet access and a library

Keywords: Watershed, Groundwater, Water Table, Topographical Map; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required: 1 hour in classroom and 45 minutes to 1 hour outside; Setting: introduction and project in classroom, walking over our watershed (outside)

Keywords: watersheds, Pennsylvania watersheds, groundwater, map reading, physical properties of water, water cycle, surface water; Grade Level: ninth through twelfth grade; Total Time for Lesson: four standard class periods; Setting: classroom and computer lab

Keywords: water quality, alkalinity, nitrate, pH, and biotic index; Lesson Plan Grade Level: ninth through twelfth; Total Time Required: one half-day at streams and two class periods; Setting: classroom and a local stream that passes through possible pollution areas such as cow pastures and other agricultural areas (along fields), or sewage treatment plant or urban area

Keywords: pH, acid rain; Setting: classroom; Grade Level: tenth grade; Total Time for Lesson: 48 minutes

Keywords: watershed, topographic map; Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade, ecology/natural resource management class; Total Time Required for Lesson: part of a 70-minute block (can be modified to fit different times); Setting: classroom

Keywords: watershed, stream order, pH, D.O., nitrate, sulfates, phosphorus, iron, alkalinity, gradient, aquatic, riparian; Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade; Total Time Required for Lesson: visual surveys should take about 20-30 minutes per site including the collection of water samples. samples will take about 60 minutes per site to test, but groups can divide this work up; Setting: six sampling sites on Blockhouse Creek

Keywords: watershed, water cycle, riparian zone, pollution; Lesson Plan Grade Level: tenth through twelfth grade, ecology/natural resource management class; Total Time Required for Lesson: 70-minute block (can be modified to fit different times); Setting: classroom

Keywords: water quality, field research, human impact; Total Time Required: two classes in the field/three classes in the classroom; Grade Level: eleventh and twelfth grades

Keywords: Science Inquiry, Theory, Natural Resources; Grade Level: 9-12; Total Time Required: 1-2 Instructional Periods; Setting: Classroom

Keywords: Management, Advocacy, Ecosystems; Grade Level: 9-12; Total Time Required: 1-2 instructional periods; Setting: indoor classroom