Most students are surprised to learn they are drinking the same water the dinosaurs drank! Our third graders learn how our Earth recycles water through the water cycle and that water is a nonrenewable resource (actually there’s a little trick to that question.  Old water that is deep within aquifers is considered non renewable in our lifetime, water that cycles or "recycles" through the water cycle and "renews" itself is considered renewable - this is a great dinner table conversation and debate!). Understanding that all living things need clean water to survive, we examine McHenry Count’s water source: groundwater.  Conservation ideas are shared, giving the students ways to make every drop count immediately.

Objectives: To introduce students to the water cycle, understand that McHenry County’s water source is groundwater, and learn that water is a precious  resource.  Students will explore the many ways second graders can conserve and protect our water.

Vocabulary:

Water cycle:  Circulation of water from the atmosphere to the Earth, powered by the sun.

Condensation:  Water vapor cooling to form a liquid

Evaporation:  A liquid changing to form a gas

Groundwater:  Water that is absorbed by the soil and is still flowing downhill

Infiltration:  Water being absorbed by the soil

Precipitation:  Moisture that falls to the Earth in the form of rain, snow, hail, sleet, etc.

Runoff:  Water that has come down as precipitation and is on the Earth’s surface

Surface water:  Any water on the Earth’s surface (lakes, rivers, streams, etc.)

Transpiration:  Evaporation of water from leaves

Storm drains:  Storm drains drain excess rain from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs.  This water goes into streams and rivers.

NGSS standards met by this lesson: 

3-LS4-4  Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live their might change; (availability of water, water pollution solutions)

LS2C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning and Resilience: When the environment changes in ways that affect a place’s physical characteristics, temperature, or availability of resources, some organisms survive and reproduce, others move to new locations, yet others move into the transformed environment, and some die.

Cross Cutting Concepts: Interdependence of Science, Engineering, and Technology.

Connections to Nature and Science:  Scientists and engineers work in teams to keep our drinking water safe and available for use

IL. Learning standards met by this lesson:

1.C.1f, 4.A.1b, 4.A.1c, 4.A.1d, 4.B.1b, 12.B.1b,  12.E.1c, 13.B.1e, 16.E.1, 17.C.1b, 17.C.1c, 22.C.1

Frontload and Support Materials

The first in a series, CoCoRaHS Presents: The Water Cycle
Learn about the water cycle with this fun new video!!!

Water Cycle with CoCoRaHS

Follow-up Activities and Extended Learning

Please visit our Teacher Resources and Lending kits page with an extensive collection of water resource materials.

 Images used during class

Letter to Parents - teachers please share via print, email or web with your students' families after our presentation

2 up on a letter page word document

3rd grade Lesson - letter to parents