BioEd Online

Water

Physical Science, Life Science, Environment and Health

Students take a fresh look at water and examine its critical importance to the well-being of all living creatures. Student pages are provided in English and in Spanish.

The Science of Water Teacher's Guide contains science lessons that enable students to explore water, behavior of molecules, the water cycle, how we use water, that living things are made mostly of water, how water is taken in and released from the body, what a one part per million solution is, separation techniques, and non-point source water pollution. This guide provides the following inquiry-based activities.

1. Why Is Water Important? - Pre-assessment

2. What Makes Water Special? - Water molecules act like tiny magnets.

3. What Dissolves in Water? - Some materials dissolve completely in water. Some do not.

4. What Is the Water Cycle? - Water circulates among three states in the water cycle.

5. How Do We Use Water? - Some uses of water are impotant for health; other uses are non-essential.

6. How Much Water Is in a Fruit? - Living things are made mostly of water.

7. How Much Water Do Humans Need? - Our bodies take in and release water.

8. What Is a One Part Per Million Solution? - Water contains different tiny materials that we cannot see.

9. How Can We Find Out What Is in Water? - Separation techniques detect different materials in water.

10. Can Nutrients in Water Cause Harm? - Non-point source pollution is a threat to water resources.

The guide also is designed to be used with integrated components of the Water unit: Mystery of the Muddled Marsh (storybook), Water: Explorations (student magazine), and two supplements, The Reading Link and The Math Link (language arts and mathematics activities related to the storybook).

Although the activities are most appropriate for use with students in grades 3–5, the lessons are easily adaptable for other grade levels. The guide also is available in print format.

Download: The Science of Water Teacher's Guide