Water Cycle

WATER CYCLE

Grades TK-K   |   Length:  2.25 hr

NGSS Alignment: K-ESS2-1

Discover how water cycles around the planet by exploring cause and effect with scientific models. Learn a dance and make a bracelet to model the cycle and identify the water resources that are used for our everyday life.

Bee pollinating a flower

PLANTS & POLLINATORS

Grade 1   |   Length:  2.25 hr

NGSS Alignment: 1-LS3-1

Explore parts of plants and seasonal happenings in the garden including the relationship between plants and pollinators, plant reproduction, and the needs of living things. Collect and interpret data in the garden to explore pollinator behavior.

students-watershed-model

WATERSHED STEWARDS

Grade 2   |   Length:  2.75 hr

NGSS Alignment: 2-ESS2-2

Build a watershed model and investigate where water is found and how it moves through landscapes. Critically analyze human impacts on water quality and availability. Brainstorm potential solutions to community water issues.

Plant Adaptations

PLANT ADAPTATIONS

Grade 3   |   Length:  2.75 hr

NGSS Alignment: 3-LS3-2

Discover how various plants have adapted to be waterwise by obtaining information and communicating about plants in our garden to co-create a scavenger hunt. Explore structure and function of plants with waterwise adaptations.

Natural Resources & People

PEOPLE & PLANTS

Grade 4   |   Length:  2.75 hr

NGSS Alignment: 4-LS1-1

Investigate how different people groups have used natural resources and how we can manage human impact for a sustainable future. Identify medicinal, nutritional, and other benefits of native plants. Students will be able to process plants such as aloe, acorns, and California sagebrush!

Groundwater Guardians

GROUNDWATER GUARDIANS

Grade 5   |   Length:  2.75 hr

NGSS Alignment: 5-ESS3-1; 3-5-ETS1-3

Implement the engineering and design process to create and test filters to purify water. Identify sources of water pollution in our community and brainstorm potential solutions to water issues.

Capture That Rain

CAPTURE THAT RAIN!

Grade 6   |   Length:  2.75 hr

NGSS Alignment: MS-ESS3-3

Engineer and test models in a team competition to capture and store rainwater on a model schoolyard. Discover the relationship between urban development and water availability through a mapping exploration of our community.

Students collecting data

CLIMATE CHANGE: DROUGHT & WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Grades 7-8  |   Length:  2.75 hr

NGSS Alignment: MS-ESS3-1

Students will explore how climate change affects our water resources through interactive activities including dodgeball!

probes

CLIMATE CHANGE: FEELING THE HEAT

Grades 9-12  |   Length:  2.75 hr

NGSS Alignment: HS-ESS2-2

Students will engage with how surface albedo and the heat island effect affect our local community by documenting temperatures around the Waterwise Community Center and creating a social media call-to-action.