BioEd Online

Water: Resource for Life

The Water unit provides students with a fresh look at water and lets them discover why it is necessary to the well-being of all living creatures. The integrated components of the unit help students understand important science, health and environmental concepts related to water.

The Science of Water Teacher’s Guide provides inquiry-based lessons that entice students to discover concepts in science, mathematics and health through hands-on activities.

Mystery of the Muddled Marsh, the student storybook, presents an engaging mystery adventure (about cousins Riff and Rosie) in an illustrated format that also teaches science and health concepts.

Explorations is colorful magazine full of articles and fun things for children and adults to try in class or at home, including hands-on activities like modeling how water helps things move throughout the body.

The Math Link extends each unit by connecting the story and hands-on science activities to mathematics skill-building and critical thinking exercises, and The Reading Link provides language arts activities related to the story.

Complete Teacher's Guide

Teacher Guide

The Science of Water

Students take a fresh look at water and examine its critical importance to the well-being of all living creatures.

Slide Set

Classroom Slides

Slide set containing information and images from The Science of Water Teacher's Guide, for use in classrooms as needed.

Courses

Short Course

Physical Science of Water

Learn about the chemical structure of water, its special physical properties and behaviors, and what makes it the most important compound on Earth. (3 contact hours)

Individual Lessons

Why Is Water Important? (pre-assessment)

Students take a pre-assessment to gauge their knowledge of the role and importance of water in their daily lives. Can be revisited as part of the post-assessment.

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What Makes Water Special?

Students explore and compare the physical properties of water and oil.

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What Dissolves in Water?

Students investigate whether several common substances are soluble in water.

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What Is the Water Cycle?

In this lesson, students create and investigate a simple model of the water cycle.

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How Do We Use Water?

To raise awareness of the different ways we use water, students keep a personal "Water Use Journal" for one day.

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How Much Water Is in a Fruit?

Students investigate and compare the amount of water in an orange and an apple.

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How Much Water Do Humans Need?

Students learn how much water is used and lost during a variety of common daily activities.

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What Is a One Part Per Million Solution?

Students make a solution of food coloring that has a concentration of one part per million.

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How Can We Find Out What Is in Water?

Students use simple paper chromatography to investigate a mystery liquid.

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Can Nutrients in Water Cause Harm?

Students create pond water cultures and investigate the impacts of adding chemical or natural nutrients.

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Why Is Water So Important? (post-assessment)

Students review points covered in this unit and reach conclusions regarding the importance of water to human health.

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Unit Components

Free, downloadable components from the Water unit to engage your students as they investigate water and its relationship to our health.

Reading

Mystery of the Muddled Marsh

Mr. Slaptail and the cousins, Rosie and Riff, investigate harmful changes occurring in the local creek, pond and marsh.

Grade(s)
K-2

Reading

Explorations Magazine

Students examine uses and properties of water, investigate water pollution, get tips for saving water and keeping the water supply clean, and learn about water in the human body.

Grade(s)
K-2

Worksheets

The Math Link

Math worksheets designed to meet common mathematics objectives. Activities are integrated with the storybook, Mystery of the Muddled Marsh.

Grade(s)
K-2

Worksheets

The Reading Link

Reading and language arts worksheets with activities that are directly related to the book, Mystery of the Muddled March.

Grade(s)
K-2

Worksheets

Make a Paper Boat

Students use a template from the Water unit storybook, Mystery of the Muddled Marsh, to make, and then float, a simple paper boat.

Grade(s)
K-2

Related Video and Slide Presentations

Video

Density

Explore the relative density of solids, liquids, and gases, and learn techniques for measuring the density and volume of common objects.

Describing Solutions

Most scientists use a common language of measurement, called the International System of Units, that is recognized in labs all over the world. David Caprette, PhD, explains this language and its well-established physical quantities or standards.

Video Digital Slide Set

Ecosystems

Overview of the relationships between environmental systems and life on our planet, including common terms and concepts related to ecosystems.

Video Digital Slide Set

Video

Float and Sink

What causes an object to float or sink? Discover how density and shape impact an object's bouyancy, and why these characteristics are important in our daily lives.

Video

Mixtures

What is a mixture, how is a mixture made and separated, and what are some common mixtures? Learn these answers to these and other questions in this engaging video.

Part 1: Solutions and Dilutions

David Caprette, PhD, discusses the types and properties of mixtures prepared and/or encountered in a biological laboratory. He also introduces basic lab equipment, terms and concepts related to formulas, and the concept of the mole.

Video Digital Slide Set

Part 2: Solutions and Dilutions

Many students panic when they must dilute something, but it is relatively easy to work out dilution problems once a solid frame of reference is established. David Caprette, PhD, explains the process, step by step, for you.

Video Digital Slide Set

Physical Science of Water

Water is unique among all liquids. David Caprette, PhD, discusses its remarkable properties and describes experiments to conduct with this common, crucial substance.

Video Digital Slide Set

Science Safety

Good safety habits are critical in any learning environment, especially during inquiry science investigations. This presentation covers key safety concerns and provides tips to help make your science classroom safer.

Video Digital Slide Set

Video

States of Matter

Basic information about the nature of matter, the different forms it can take, and the characteristics of each state of matter. This video also discusses how matter changes from one state to another.

Nature News Stories

Associated Teaching Units

Resources

The Air Unit

The Air unit lets students creatively explore air and the atmosphere, air quality and related issues such as allergens in the places we live, study and work.

Resources

The Food Unit

The Food unit allows students to have fun learning about food sources, healthy eating, food safety, food groups and overall nutrition.

Resources

The Global Change Unit

The Global Change unit gives students an opportunity to investigate a variety of physical and life science concepts related to energy, metabolism and the role of nutrients in the body.

Funding

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH

My Health My World: National Dissemination
Grant Number: 5R25ES009259
The Environment as a Context for Opportunities in Schools
Grant Number: 5R25ES010698, R25ES06932

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