Water Cycle Lesson: Climate Change
Lesson Plan
2 hoursGrades6, 7, 8Earth and Space Sciences
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Written by Mallory Swafford
About this lesson
In this lesson, students learn about the water cycle and how climate change impacts its patterns.
Inquire: Students contemplate their relationship with water and observe a demonstration to determine if climate change affects the water cycle.
Investigate: Students explore an interactive diagram about the water cycle.
Inspire: Students watch a video and complete a series of questions in their student journals.
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Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- The Investigate and Inspire sections can be completed on consecutive days or class periods.
- Students share diverse perspectives and ideas using the journal prompts which encourage action.
- Students build on their unit journal with each additional lesson in the unit.
- Students participate in multiple interactive and hands-on learning activities to engage in kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 1 of 4 in our 6th-8th grade Water Cycle Unit
- Prior set-up is necessary for the Inquire section.
- Materials required for the demonstration include the following:
- 4 heat lamps (on a hot sunny day you can use the sun along with a way to amplify the sun's rays)
- 3 bowls
- 3 mugs or cups
- plastic wrap
- A recommended heat lamp can be purchased here.
- Previous student knowledge of the water cycle and climate change will be beneficial in this unit. This interactive game can help students learn about the water cycle.
Differentiation
- Students may use the Emotions Board for vocabulary support as they watch the video in the Inquire section.
- The demonstration may be completed in lab groups with each group experimenting with a different system (control, drought, global warming).
- Students may be placed in mixed-ability lab groups to aid in understanding.
- Interactive diagrams can be differentiated based on ability.
- Journal prompts can be used for whole group discussions.
From the scientist review
This lesson introduces students to water cycle, water scarcity, and issues related to water conservation and climate change, including the global water crisis. Water scarcity and pollution are also discussed, and students are required to test hypotheses to determine if there is a relationship between climate change and the water cycle. All the data sources are properly cited, and this lesson has passed our science credibility process.
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About the teacher writer
Mallory Swafford
Teacher
I graduated in 2014 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale with a zoology degree. I worked in the field of zoology until 2018 when I decided to make the switch to education. I now am certified to teach first through sixth grades in general education. I am endorsed in middle grades science and I expect to finish my master's in high school biology this year. I love teaching science and am excited to work with the Subject to Climate team!
