Each learning experience begins with an activity designed to Engage the students through a provocative question, an outdoor experience or a hands-on experience. The Engage activity is designed to prepare the student to connect new material to past experiences. The Engage activity may take anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours (or 1-2 classroom periods).

Once the students are engaged, additional opportunities are provided to Explore the concept with depth. These Explorations will lead the students to construct Explanations.

The Learning Experience continues with opportunities to Elaborate through reading, writing, viewing, problem solving, researching and learning outside of the classroom.

Ideas to further learning through Extensions that feature additional research and problem solving are suggested.

Finally, all performance indicators are aligned with standards and ways to check for understanding.

Watershed Journal
Over the course of each Learning Experience, students are encouraged to keep a personal “Watershed Journal”. This journal can be used for all forms of written and illustrated responses across the Urban Watershed Curriculum. These responses will include recordings of observations, thoughts, and notes over the course of the Urban Watershed study. This journal can be any type of journal and students can be encouraged to personalize it with their own selected images or words related to water. Many teachers have used Foldables as the Watershed Journal.

Classroom Sink
Many of the hands-on activities require water. Access to a classroom sink will be helpful for facilitating activities.