K-5 Watersheds
Our Watershed lessons can meet the Essential Standards for multiple grade levels.
K.P.1 Understand the positions and motion of objects and organisms observed in the environment
K.P.1.2 Give examples of different ways objects and organisms move (to include falling to the ground when dropped):
- Straight
- Zigzag
- Round and round
- Back and forth
- Fast and slow
1.E.2 Understand the physical properties of Earth materials that make them useful in different ways
1.E.2.1 Summarize the physical properties of Earth materials, including rocks, minerals, soils and water that make them useful in different ways.
1.L.1 Understand characteristics of various environments and behaviors of humans that enable plants and animals to survive.
1.L.1.1 Recognize that plants and animals need air, water, light (plants only), space, food and shelter and that these may be found in their environment.
1.L.1.3 Summarize ways that humans protect their environment and/or improve conditions for the growth of plants and animals that live there (e.g., reuse or recycle products to avoid littering).
2.P.2 Understand properties of solids and liquids and the changes they undergo. (in relation to water)
3.E.2.1 Compare Earth’s saltwater and freshwater features (including oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and glaciers).
3.E.2.2 Compare Earth's land features (including volcanoes, mountains, valleys, canyons, caverns, and islands) by using models, pictures, diagrams, and maps.
3.G.1.3 Exemplify how people adapt to, change and protect the environment to meet their needs.
4.L.1.3 Explain how humans can adapt their behavior to live in changing habitats (e.g., recycling wastes, establishing rain gardens, planting trees and shrubs to prevent flooding and erosion).
4.G.1.2 Explain the impact that human activity has on the availability of natural resources in North Carolina.
5.L.2.3 Infer the effects that may result from the interconnected relationship of plants and animals to their ecosystem.
5.G.1.2 Explain the positive and negative effects of human activity on the physical environment of the United States, past and present.
Watershed lessons vary based on grade level appropriateness, but can include a discussion on watersheds and how water moves, experiments, hands-on activities that show how water moves through a watershed. Students can also explore the relationship of contour maps and watersheds and create their own mini topographic maps to see how runoff effects a watershed. The "We all live in a Watershed" activity is a great lead-in to exploring our human relationships in a watershed and participating in our educational contests. Our Enviroscape is a great add-on option for older students to understand human impact within a watershed. Students in grades 3rd-12th are also able to participate in our educational contests each year.
