These lessons are designed for the elementary grade band 3-5. They provide an opportunity for you to connect your students to one of the most fundamental elements in all living things — WATER! They will grow to love and value water — this shared (and finite) resource upon which all life depends.
Students will explore larger concepts related to water using their local context . Each day’s lessons are aligned with the Pennsylvania Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Standards (3.4) of STEELS and are both hands-on and inquiry-based. Everything leads up to student-centered informed action and civic engagement
1: The Value of Water
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF WATER ? Water is essential to our lives and all life on Earth– so it is important to take care of our water resources and we have an important role to play.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF OUR FRESHWATER RESOURCE? All water on Earth could be regarded as a renewable resource if it is replenished by nature. Freshwater is in much more limited supply and it is the only water we can live on. How can we protect it?
WHO DEPENDS ON WATER? Water is essential to our lives and all life on Earth — so it is important to take care of our water resources, especially freshwater, and we have an important role to play.
CAN WE MAKE NEW WATER? Water is essential to all living organisms. Freshwater is a limited resource. You may be surprised to learn the source freshwater and how much we have on the planet when compared proportionally to saltwater. If freshwater is a finite resource, how can we protect what we have?
HOW DOES WATER MOVE THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD? How the shape of land, gravity, and the natural water cycle interact is one key to unlocking the definition of a watershed.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DEFINE “WHAT IS A WATERSHED”? How the shape of land, gravity, and the natural water cycle interact is one key to unlocking the definition of a watershed.
HOW DOES WATER SHAPE OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT ? How did natural waterways shape early settlement in Philadelphia.