Build a Watershed – Teacher’s Guide A Hudson River Plume Activity

Watershed boundaries are difficult for students to comprehend until they see them during this activity. Simply put a watershed is an area in which all the water flows to a common basin (and eventually out to sea). The highest elevation ridges create the boundaries of a watershed. Objective: Student will simulate the flow of water in a watershed and identify the boundaries of watersheds formed. NJ State Standard: 5.8 (Earth Science) All students will gain an understanding of the structure, dynamics, and geophysical systems of the Earth. CPI: 5.8B1 Describe the composition, circulation, and distribution of the world’s oceans, estuaries, and marine environments. Time Required: One 50 minute class period

Classroom Setup It is recommended to limit groups to no more than 3 people.

Teacher Notes The large plastic containers that are used for under-the-bed storage are excellent for building watersheds. Craft or toy stores often have small watering cans to use for simulating rain in the watershed. Most students create several different watersheds within the bin as the high point usually ends up as a mountain structure somewhere near the middle of the bin. As students make their observations, you can discuss the definition of a watershed

and point out the edges of the different watersheds they have created. Students are often surprised to see where the water flows and the different places in the model where it collects. You can have them predict where the water will flow and then compare their predictions with the results. Discuss with them why they think the water flows in the way it does, and what determines the boundaries of the watersheds they simulated. Students can try out different watershed set ups to test their ideas about water flow and boundaries The activity takes approximately 15 minutes to build and 5 minutes to watch the water flow. Depending on your class size, you can have groups demonstrate interesting features of their watershed to the class before leading a class discussion on the characteristics and boundaries of a watershed. If you have extra time, you can pose questions such as: Where in the watershed should a

factory be built? Factories often need to be near water, but they may add chemicals to the water. What impact might they have on the watershed?

If snow created by acid rain melts at the same time in the spring, how might this affect the watershed?

Do people and buildings in neighborhoods affect the watershed? What about oil spills on the roads? What happens to the oil when it rains?

Materials Each group should be provided with: a large plastic container in which to

build the watershed a section of newspaper one kitchen-size (13 gallon) white

garbage bag one pair of scissors one small watering can a beaker of blue colored water (to

simulate rain)

Procedures for Students

1. Roll up or scrunch up newspaper into balls or shapes. These will be the higher areas (mountains).

2. Create a landscape that has at least

one high point and several rolling hills. Try to create a lagoon at the bottom on one side. Be creative.

3. Once you have the newspaper set,

you will place a plastic covering over it allowing the plastic to mold to the newspaper. Cut open a kitchen sized trash bag to create the plastic sheet.

Make sure that none of the plastic extends outside the plastic bin. The edges of the plastic sheet need to be tucked into the bin.

4. You will use the small watering can

to create rain. Fill your watering can

with the blue colored water in the containers at the lab table.

CAUTION: Be careful NOT to SPILL the rain! It stains!

5. The watering can will simulate a rain

cloud that moves over the landscape. Slowly pour the rain as you move the watering can across the bin. Remember to keep the rain in the bin!

As the rain falls on the landscape, pay close attention to where the rainwater goes.

Make it rain several times starting and ending in different places.

Classroom Discussion After students have had a chance to make it rain over their watershed, bring the class together to discuss their results. Be sure to address: What is a watershed? What defines its

boundaries? Has this activity changed your

understanding of what makes a watershed?

What roles do mountains, streams, rivers, and lakes play in a watershed?

Assessment Students can write an essay or journal entry about their experience.

Cut the bag along the thick

lines

Build a Watershed – Student Guide A Hudson River Plume Activity

A watershed is an area of land in which all the water flows down into a common basin. Today you will be building a watershed and simulating rain to observe how the water flows.

Materials To complete this activity your group will need the following items: a large plastic container in which to

build the watershed a section of newspaper one kitchen-size (13 gallon) white

garbage bag one pair of scissors one small watering can a beaker of blue colored water (to

simulate rain)

Procedures 1. Roll up or scrunch up newspaper

into balls or shapes. These will be the higher areas.

2. Create a landscape that has at least

one high point and several rolling hills. Try to create a lagoon at the bottom on one side. Be creative.

3. Once you have the newspaper set,

you will place a plastic covering over it allowing the plastic to mold to the newspaper. Cut open a kitchen sized trash bag to create the plastic sheet.

Make sure that none of the plastic extends outside the plastic bin. The edges of the plastic sheet need to be tucked into the bin.

4. You will use the small watering can

to create rain. Fill your watering can with the blue colored water in the containers at the lab table.

CAUTION: Be careful NOT to SPILL the rain! It stains!

5. The watering can will simulate a rain

cloud that moves over the landscape. Slowly pour the rain as you move the watering can across the bin. Remember to keep the rain in the bin!

As the rain falls on the landscape, pay close attention to where the rainwater goes.

Make it rain several times.

Cut the bag along the thick

lines

Name: Class:

Build a Watershed – Student Worksheet Sketch your watershed from the side. Record your observations about what occurs when rain falls on your model watershed.

Why do you think the water flows in this way?