Lesson 4 overview for the Investigate the State Water Quality unit.

1. Investigate the State
What is the Water Like in Our River?
Lesson 4
Exploring Watersheds

2. Learning Set 2 - Lesson 4
Where Is Our River Located?
Focus of the Day:
Exploring Watersheds
In small groups, students create a
watershed model and then make
observations during the testing of it.
Through this an initial understanding
of watersheds and their
characteristics is gained.

3. Learning Objectives and Purpose
• By collaboratively building and testing a
watershed model, students are able to
explain how water flows through a
watershed, and the characteristics of a
watershed.

4. Overview of Activities
• Introduction of the term “watershed” and
the concept of “modeling”.
• Discuss the word watershed and how it may relate
to the Driving Question.
• Facilitate a discussion around examples of models,
the benefits and limitations of model use, and the
types of models that will be used in this activity.
• Building of Watershed
• Student groups follow step-by-step directions.
• Creation of Elevation Map
• Students create maps of their watersheds

5. Overview of Activities (cont.)
• Predicting Water Flow
• Students record predictions that include
explanations.
• Observations and Testing of Models
• Students test their models and make detailed
observation notes to use in explaining the models.

6. Overview of Activities (cont.)
• Relating Models to Real World
• Comparisons are made between parts of student
models and parts of a real river system.
• River System Hydrology
• Students use knowledge gained from the models to
understand runoff, absorption, groundwater, and
water flow based on elevation.

7. Student Actions
• In small groups, students build a
watershed model.
• An elevation map is created by students
to reflect their watershed model.
• Students write predictions about water
flow within their watershed model.
• Testing of models occurs with students
noting detailed observations.
• Students compare their watershed
models to a real river system.

8. Teacher Considerations
• Supplies need to be gathered for the
construction of the watershed models.
• If you haven’t used this type of watershed
model before, it is highly recommended that
you create and test one of the models to
analyze materials and to become comfortable
with how the model works.
• Make copies of Student Worksheets:
• What is a Watershed?
• Elevation/Observation Map
• What Happens to the Water When it Rains?
• What Direction Does the Water Flow?

9. Lesson 4 Assessment
• Students work effectively as members of a
small group to build and test a watershed
model while also completing individual maps,
predictions, observations and explanations.
• Students are able to identify the parts of the
watershed model and relate observations
made during testing to real world structures
and phenomena.
• Students accurately define and describe key
vocabulary and concepts. (runoff, absorption,
groundwater, slope, watershed, water flow)

10. Preparation for Next Lesson:
Where Is My River Located?
• The next lesson deals with analyzing
maps.
• Read through Student Reader/Where is my
River Located? (Learning Set 2, Lesson 5) and
decide when and how you would like the students
to complete it.
• Read through lesson five in the teacher materials
and copy the student worksheets/maps: Major
Watersheds of Michigan and the Great Lakes
Topographic Map.
• If not familiar with topographic maps and their use,
please see the website: www.

11. For More Information
• Review the curriculum guide:
“What is the Water Like in Our River?”
• Visit our web site:
http://www.investigatethestate.org