What Goes Around - Grade 8 Lesson Plan

Grade: 8

Course: Science

Topic: Earth and Space Systems- Water Systems

Development Date: May 3, 2002

Unit Description:

This area of science focuses on the earth's water systems and the important role they play in global ecosystems.

Expectations

Overall Expectations:

- demonstrate an understanding of how the earth's water systems were formed, the similarities and differences among them, and how they influence the climate and weather of the region in which they are located

- investigate the major features of the earth's water resources (e.g., oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, ice-caps, snowfall, clouds) and the effects of large bodies of water on global climate and ecosystems

- examine how humans use resources from the earth's different water systems and identify the factors involved in managing these resources for sustainability

Specific Expectations:

- identify the various states of water on the earth's surface and the conditions under which they exist (e.g., glaciers, snow on mountains, and polar ice-caps and solid states of water; oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater are liquid states of water; the atmosphere contains water in its gaseous states)

- describe the distribution and circulation of water on the earth (e.g., oceans glaciers, rivers, ground water, the atmosphere)

- compare the formation of geological features on the ocean floor (e.g., sea mounts, continental shelves, trenches) and the formation of lakes and rivers

-compare the physical characteristics of salt water with those of fresh water (e.g., movement, density, buoyancy of objects in water)

- explain how salinity differs in bodies of fresh and salt water

- describe wave formation and the effects of waves on coastal features (e.g., bays, rocky headlands, beaches)

- explain, using simulations or models, how certain geological features affect the height of tides (e.g., Bay of Fundy tides)

- describe, for their geological area, the direction of water flow and its relationship to the Continental Divide (the watershed boundary for North America)

-investigate, through observation, the effects of changes in temperature on convection currents in water

- investigate how large bodies of water affect the weather and climate of an area (e.g., lakes affect snow precipitation)

- describe factors that affect glaciers and polar ice-caps, and describe the effects of glaciers and polar ice-caps on the environment (e.g., annual precipitation, temperature)

- investigate, using simulations or models, the movement of ocean currents and their impact on regional climates (e.g., Gulf Stream, Labrador Current, Alaska Current)

Unit Planning Notes:

Student will play the game to re-familiarize themselves with the water cycle. Through further lesson, activities, and discussions, they will learn about the earth's water systems, weather, and global ecosystems.

Prior Knowledge Required:

Students should have an understanding of the water cycle and all of its elements. Students will also need basic computer skills such as how to operate a mouse, use a keyboard, and gain access to the Internet to play the online game.

Teaching/Learning Strategies:

As a refresher lesson to the water cycle, have the students read the Introduction and Background pages of this game. The information covered in these pages should be familiar to the students because of science classes in previous grades. The students should also play What Goes Around Comes Around. This should take between 1 and 2 minutes. They can also take the Check Your Knowledge test, which should take 15 - 20 minutes.

To further expand the student's knowledge of the importance of water on the earth, have the students participate in follow up lessons and discussions. These could include salt water versus fresh water, tides, water currents, climates, and other issues covered in the Specific Expectations of this lesson plan.

Resources:

The Ontario Curriculum - Grade 8 - Science and Technology

Unit Developer: Keri Oosterhof

Elementary Lesson Plan - Grade 2

Save our Planet

Barnyard Business

Water Woes

What Goes Around Comes Around

Walk in the Woods

Athens District High School
HTML by Robin Connell and Dan Ferguson
Text by Keri Oosterhof
Photo by Shawna Perkins