Standard:
E.FE.02.21: Describe how rain collects on the surface of the Earth and flows downhill into
bodies of water (streams, rivers, lakes, oceans) or into the ground.
Grade Level(s):
2nd grade
Lesson:
The Water Goes Everywhere
Lesson overview:
After completing this lesson the students should be able to:
1. Describe the way water flows downhill
2. Describe how water collects in bodies of water
3. Discuss how water flows into the ground and is filtered through the different elements
Materials:
1. Green Play-dough
2. Blue colored water
3. Small container
Engage:
Start out by engaging the student with a fun video that shows how we get groundwater and how
important groundwater is to us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQRvN6MUajE&feature=related
The students will also watch part of a video that shows runoff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_c0ZzZfC8c&feature=fvw
(Teacher’s Note: Video start/stop 0:20 – 0:46)
Explore:
Ask students specific questions about runoff and groundwater. For example:
 “Where does the water go when it doesn't flow into other bodies of water?”
 “Does the water underground stay there forever?”
 “Where does the rain go if it on top of a hill?”
 “Where does groundwater come from?”
 “How does it get to our house?”
We will break up into groups and move into the activity on water and where it goes. Students will
construct a watershed model and simulate the process of surface runoff. Have the children discuss, in
their groups, the results and the reasoning behind them.
Explain:
Discuss the student’s findings as a class. Describe the process of surface runoff and groundwater into
more detail. Possibly re-watch video on the water cycle, runoff, and ground water.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_c0ZzZfC8c&feature=fvw
Explain the fact that not all the water flows on top of the ground. Some of the water flows into the soil
as groundwater. Discuss the way the water flows through the ground into aquifers. Give and Define the
following vocabulary words:
Groundwater: found beneath the Earth's surface and occupies cracks and pores within rock material.
Aquifer: underground areas that yielding water.
Runoff: rain water that flows off the ground into lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans.
Well: A deep hole or shaft sunk into the earth to obtain water.
Elaborate:
Have the students complete the work sheet “Water Paths” from:
http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/drinkingwater/upload/activity_grades_k-3_activitybook.pdf
Which has students draw a diagram of where water goes when it falls to the surface and label different
parts of the process.
As an additional activity to study the vocabulary words, students can do the “Word Scramble”
worksheet.
Evaluate:
Grade the worksheets given during elaborating. Next class: “Vocabulary Matching” quiz.
References:
1. http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/KIEPERME/
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_c0ZzZfC8c&feature=fvw
3. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-groundwater-aquifer.htm
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQRvN6MUajE&feature=related
5. http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/drinkingwater/upload/activity_grades_k-3_activitybook.pdf
6. http://www.groundwater.org/kc/whatis.html