Water, Water Everywhere!

A WebQuest for 3rd Grade Science

Niki Siegel

The Water Cycle (or Hydrologic Cycle … that’s the fancy name!)

Just How OLD is Water?

Our next unit in Science will be on the water cycle and we are going to use this activity to find out just how much we can find out about water. Think about the questions below … then see if you can find the answers!

§Did you know that every living being needs water to survive?

Did you know that water makes up 60% of our body and covers more than 75% of our earth?

OR, think about this …when dinosaurs roamed the earth, they drank the same water you do now.

§When the pioneers settled in the United States and drew water from wells, it was still the same water you drink now.

§WHY is that?

Because the earth has a limited supply of water … it just keeps going around, and around, and around, and around, creating The WATER CYCLE!

§Think about this … so could the water you’re drinking now be last night’s bath water?? Yuck! (Really, it’s not that bad!)

But, how does the water cycle work?

The Task to the top

You and a partner are going to travel through the water cycle together. Like world-class travelers, you will stop at all of the most important places along the way! But, keep in mind that the water world might get tricky at times, so if you run into words that you don’t know, use this on-line dictionary: http://www.wordcentral.com/

At the end of this activity, you and your partner will have two choices. You will either write a story about a day in the life of a drop of water (being as creative as you possibly can) OR you will build your own water cycle (I will supply the materials you need).

The Process to the top

Before you can write your story or make your own water cycle, you must learn as much information as you can about what happens in the water cycle.

STEP ONE

BEFORE you read the information on the web page linked below (in step two), label your science journal with today’s date. AND, at the top of the page, write THE STEPS OF THE WATER CYCLE

STEP TWO

First, click on EVAPORATION and read about what happens in the first stage of the water cycle. Follow the arrows up and around to the left, clicking on each link as you go. You and your partner will list each of the steps of the water cycle like this:

Step 1: ____________ During _____________ water is …..

Step 2: __________________ During _____________ ….

Next to each step, you will write a description of what happens during that step.

(Be sure to click on all of the links within each step! There is lots of great, important WATER VOCABULARY!)

CLICK HERE TO FIND THE INFORMATION YOU NEED:

STEP THREE

Once you and your partner are finished listing and describing each of the steps of the water cycle, draw a personalized diagram of the water cycle on the blank piece of paper that I’ve provided for you. Be sure to make each step clear (and make the picture colorful!)

STEP FOUR

To brush up on your water knowledge, complete this WATER WORDSCRAMBLE page. Print one copy and put your name AND your partner’s name at the top of the paper.

STEP FIVE:

At the bottom of the water word scramble is a list of how much water we use while completing normal, daily activities. Read the list.

On the BACK of the word scramble paper, list two ways you would be able to save water while completing those activities.

STEP SIX

A) It’s time for you and your partner to pick your project! Together, you will construct your own water cycle in a jar and complete a written explanation of your creation, using AT LEAST (you CAN use more) 3 vocabulary words from the information page.

B) OR you and your partner will write a story titled “A Day in the Life of a Water Drop.” If you choose to write the story, be as creative as you can (BE SURE TO GIVE YOUR WATER DROP A NAME!) AND use all of the vocabulary words from the information web page as possible. Also, be sure to include a picture!

AS YOU GET TO STEP SIX, PLEASE SEE ME FOR MATERIALS.

I WILL GIVE YOU EITHER STORY PAPER OR THE MATERIALS TO MAKE A JAR.

Evaluation to the top

You and your partner will receive the same grade. You will be expected to work together to the best of your ability and turn in top-notch work!

Beginning

Developing

Accomplished

Exemplary

Score

Students will complete Science Journal

●The steps of the water cycle are not listed nor detailed correctly.

●Complete sentences are not used. The journal is not dated. The work is not done neatly.

●Most of the steps of the waters cycle are listed in the science journal, and are somewhat detailed.

●Complete sentences are used some of the time, the journal is not dated, the work is not done neatly.

●All steps of the water cycle are listed in the science journal, but some of the steps should be more detailed.

●Sentences need to be structured better, the journal is dated and the work is done neatly.

●All steps of the water cycle are listed in the science journal with detailed descriptions of each step

. ●Complete sentences are used, the journal is dated and the work is done neatly.

Students will draw a personalized diagram of the water cycle.

Drawing is complete, but not labeled correctly nor detailed nor colorful. .

Drawing is somewhat colorful, labeled partially correct and needs more details.

Drawing is complete, and colorful and labeled correctly, but not all of the details are present.

Drawing is complete, very detailed, labeled correctly and colorful.

Students will complete a word scramble and list 4 ways in which water can be saved.

Student answered 5 or more word scramble words incorrectly and listed 3 or less good ways in which we can save water..

Student answered 3 or 4 word scramble words incorrectly and listed 3 good ways in which we can save water. .

Student answered 1 or 2 word scramble questions incorrectly, and listed 4 good ways in which we can save water. .

All answers on the word scramble are correct, and the student has listed 4 good ways in which we can save water. .

Students will write a story titled “A Day in the Life of a Drop of Water”

●missing name for drop and more than 2 missing vocabulary words

●sentences are not complete

●illustration is not done neatly.

●missing name for drop or vocabulary word

●complete sentences

●illustration is fairly neat

●water drop is named

●contains all vocabulary words

●complete sentences

●illustration is neat

●water drop is named

●contains all vocabulary words

●complete sentences

●is thoughtful and creative

●illustration is neat

Students will construct their own water cycle in a jar and write a description of their work.

●All of the components are NOT present

●Jar is not neat

●Uses less than three required vocabulary words in explanation.

●All components are present

●Jar is fairly neat

●Uses less than three required vocabulary words in explanation

●All components are present

●Jar is neat

●Uses three required vocabulary words in explanation

●All components are present

●Jar is neat

●Uses more than three required vocabulary words in explanation

Conclusion to the top

Your water journey is now complete! You should know how the water cycle flows … and be able to answer the question from the beginning of the webquest … How OLD is water?

If you want more information on water, visit these fun websites!

WATER Games and On-line Activities

Water Rides

River Rides.

Credits & References to the top

Images used were from the Microsoft clipart website.

Original sources for all links are as follows:

Environmental Education for Kids: “Round and Round It Goes”

Word Central.com (an on-line dictionary)

The EPA’s Website on Water for Kids

Teacher Page to the top

All information for this webquest was taken from the websites listed above. It seems that it would be useful to go over the entire webquest with the class before turning the students “loose” in their groups. A webquest template and other great webquest ideas can be found at: http://sesd.sk.ca/teacherresource/webquests.htm.

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page