Build a Watershed

What Are Kids Learning?

• A watershed is the land area that collects water and delivers it to a specific area like a lake or ocean.
• The shape of the land affects how and where the water flows.
• Water flows very slowly in a lake and quickly in a river.
• Flowing water can transport things.
• Water is vital for life, so it is important to know where it comes from and how to keep it clean.

How Do You Get Ready?

• Read the activity and gather the materials.
• Fill spray bottles with water.
• Place all the materials on a table large enough for the group to gather around.

Spend a few minutes having a conversation with kids about water in their daily lives.

Then explain that today you will be exploring what happens to water when it falls on the land as rain or snow.

Part A What's a Watershed?

Gather the group around the table holding the materials. Define the term watershed and talk about how you might use the materials to make a model of a watershed.

Then build a large watershed model, incorporating student ideas if possible:

1. Stack the containers on the large tray in a pile that's 1 to 2 feet high. Make an irregular mound with peaks, ridges, and valleys by draping a tarp or large plastic sheet over the containers
2. Talk with kids about the model.

Then have kids take turns spraying the landscape with the spray bottle. What happens as they add water to the system? Can they see rivers and lakes forming?

Part B Where Does the Water Go?

Have kids work in pairs to make their own smaller tabletop version of a watershed.

1. Hand out the materials listed under "Small landscape model," with the exception of the cooking oil, food coloring, glitter, spices, cake sprinkles and spray bottles.
2. Have kids build their own landscape of hills, valleys, lakes, and mountains.
3. Ask kids to make predictions about where rainwater will collect in their landscape.
4. Hand out spray bottles, and tell kids to take turns being "sprayers" and "observers."

Circulate as kids spray, asking each pair to explain what the water is doing and show you lakes and rivers in their model.

Part C What's In the Water?

Next, let kids experiment with how "pollutants" might travel through their watersheds. Show them the bottles of cooking oil, food coloring, glitter, and other materials.

Take a "watershed tour" by having each pair present their watershed to the group.

Finally, talk with the kids about the watershed you are a part of. What do kids think this activity has to do with the water you drink? The water you drink comes from a watershed-this is why it is important that we try not to pollute either the water or the land. Anything that pollutes the land will eventually wind up in the water!

Follow the Water

Pour a bucket or two of water on a driveway or along a curb. For as long as you can, follow where it goes.

Where Will the Water Go?

Google Earth is a powerful and fun mapping tool. Find your location by entering the address in the search box, then drag the "street view" icon onto the map. Kids can tour the neighborhood by using the navigation tools. Note the elevation readout at the bottom of the screen. Find the elevation of your location and of other landmarks, such as parks or shopping centers. Use these elevation readings to determine the high and low points in your neighborhood. Can kids predict how water will flow out of their neighborhood when it rains? Are some parts of their neighborhood more likely to flood during heavy rains than others?

Large landscape model

• 1 large tray or shallow tub (e.g., sweater-storage tub, large storage container lid)
• 4 tall containers (e.g., 16-oz. cups or soda bottles, oatmeal container, milk bottle, etc.)
• 1 large sheet of clear or light-colored plastic (e.g., tarp, shower curtain, or cut-open garbage or dry-cleaner bag)
• Spray bottle
• towels for cleaning up spills

Small landscape model (per pair of kids)

• 1 tray (lunch tray, lid of a plastic storage container)
• 2 tall containers (e.g., 12-oz. cups or soda bottles, coffee can, etc.)
• 2 short containers (e.g., soup or soda can, 6-oz. paper cup, yogurt container, etc.)
• 1 sheet of clear or light-colored plastic (e.g., cut-open garbage, dry-cleaner, or shopping bag)
• 1 spray bottle
• 2 bottles of food coloring
• cooking oil
• glitter, dried spices, cake sprinkles, pieces of confetti, or other small objects
• towels for cleaning up spills

Next Generation Science Standards

Disciplinary Core Ideas

• PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
• ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
• ESS3.A: Natural Resources
• ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems

Science and Engineering Practices

• Asking Questions and Defining Problems
• Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
• Analyzing and Interpreting Data
• Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
• Engaging in Argument from Evidence
• Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Crosscutting Concepts

• Patterns
• Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Prediction
• Systems and System Models