Wonderful Water Curriculum Overview
The Wonderful Water curriculum was originally developed by the Cannon River Watershed Partnership and given to the Science Alliance for further development and implementation.
This curriculum was matched to the current 5th grade science standards, but can be adapted to other age groups. It also incorporates Next Generation Science Standards in the form of engineering and inquiry.
We hope to use this curriculum to educate students about their local environment and to help them develop skills to investigate similar topics in a fun and interactive way!
Watershed
Living so close to the Cannon River, the watershed is part of the local environment. This station helps students understand the environmental implications of living near a watershed. The activity involves building a watershed model, and simulating the pathway that pollution takes while traveling through the watershed.
Earth's Water
There is an immense amount of water on Earth, but how much of it is actually usable as drinking water? This station is used to help students visualize the incredibly small amount of water that we have available for drinking. Through this, they should begin to understand the importance of conserving water and reducing pollution.
Buffer Zones
Buffer zones are important for keeping the river clean. They border the water and work to filter out pollutants. Through this station students will test the effectiveness of natural buffer zones compared with artificial, man-made buffer zones. They will then make observations and record their results.
Erosion
Why does erosion happen more in some areas than in others? Areas with more plant life tend to have less erosion. Students will be able to test this theory and come to conclusions about the best way to reduce erosion. This will help to emphasize the importance of preserving trees and forests in the environment.