Activity: What is life without water?, by Debra Jensen

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Overview

An appreciation for water begins with understanding the many forms of water and its variety of uses. Water is what sustains life on Earth, but water also has a variety of other uses. What is the difference between use and misuse?

Purpose and learning goals

Discuss the many forms of water and its uses - and the difference between our water needs and water wants. For example, we need to drink water to live, whereas we want to play in water at water parks. What are the ways that people waste water and what can each of us do to conserve water?

Terms used: ponds, lakes, oceans, rivers, streams, ice, snow, storm clouds, mist, frost, dew, rain, and rainbows.

Intended grade level

K - 2

Time involved

45 minutes for class activity

Alignment to standards (for entire unit)

Colorado State Standards (CDE):

• Standard 3.1: Students know and understand the characteristics of living things, the diversity of life and how living things interact with each other and with their environment.
• Standard 5: Students know and understand interrelationships among science, technology, and human activity and how they can affect the world.

NSES: K-4: F – Science in personal/social perspectives

National geography standards: Environment and society

Materials

1. Drop of Water by Walter Wick
2. I Am Water by Judith Moffatt and Jean Marzollo
3. Chart paper
4. Marker

Procedure

• Read Drop of Water by Walter Wick and I Am Water by Judith Moffatt and Jean Marzollo.
• Have a class discussion of the various forms of water and its uses and misuses.
• Discuss the difference between our water needs and water wants. For example, we need to drink water to live, whereas we want to play in water at water parks. What are the ways that people waste water and what can each of us do to conserve water?
• Teacher writes the responses on chart paper in two columns under the headings “water needs” and “water wants” as a shared writing activity.

Reflecting on the activity/ideas for assessment

Teacher observes each individual's participation in class discussion.

Key questions that may be asked with 'Look fors'

Where does water come from? Why is water important? What do you use water for?

Extensions and applications

Students can make illustrations of the many different ways that they use water and write if the use is a “need” or a “want.”

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