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Uses of Water

Uses of Water

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to gather evidence of how rocks, soil, and water help to make useful products.


Essential Understanding

The student knows that the natural world includes rocks, soil, and water that can be observed in cycles, patterns, and systems.

Science Background

Water Science for Schools: US Geological Survey (website) - information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, a glossary and maps.

Water Science for Schools
US Geological Survey, www.usgs.gov

Water Resources: US Geological Survey (website) - Interactive information about the nation's water resources, including water data, publications and maps.

Water Resources
US Geological Survey, www.usgs.gov

Three States of Water: BioEd Online (video) - In the water cycle, individual water molecules travel as liquid water in the ocean, water vapor in the atmosphere, and liquid water and ice on land and underground. Learn more about the properties of water as you watch this video.

Three States of Water
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Signature Lesson

How Do We Use Water? BioEd Online (website and video): Students gather evidence about uses of water. Conduct this activity in class with students or have students collect information at home with the assistance of a family member.

How Do We Use Water? - View and download the Lesson
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

How Do We Use Water? - Watch the Related Video
K8 Science, www.k8science.org

Supporting Lessons

We Need Water: BioEd Online (website) - Make lemonade, a fun example of water use, and discover that not all the water we need everyday comes from drinking water.

We Need Water
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Explore Bubble Science: Education.com (website) - Use water as the main ingredient to make big, strong long-lasting bubbles.

Explore Bubble Science
Education.com

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Grow Your Own Avocado Plant: Education.com (website) - Discuss how important water is to the life cycle of a plant, and observe an avocado seed sprouting in water and eventually growing into a plant.

Grow Your Own Avocado Plant
by Cynthia Kozak, Education.com

Natural Earth Materials - Rocks, Soil and Water: Baylor College of Medicine (PDF) - Students will be observe and record examples of ways earth materials are useful.

Natural Earth Materials - Rocks, Soil and Water
Baylor College of Medicine

Assessment Ideas

Have students make a list of five things that can be made using water, such as lemonade, tea, bubble solution, fish aquarium, etc.

Literature Connections

We Need Water. Frost, Helen (ISBN: 0736848789)

Water, Water Everywhere. Overbeck Bix, Cynthia (ISBN: 0871563835)

Related Science TEKS

(1.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to recognize and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(1.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to recognize the importance of safe practices to keep self and others safe and healthy.

(1.1C) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and learn how to use natural resources and materials, including conservation and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metals.

(1.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world.

(1.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations such as ways objects move.

(1.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data and make observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, and non-standard measurement tools.

(1.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data and observations using pictures, numbers, and words.

(1.2E) Communicate Observations
The student is expected to communicate observations with others about simple descriptive investigations.

(1.3A) Identify, Explain and Propose a Solution to a Problem
The student is expected to identify and explain a problem such as finding a home for a classroom pet and propose a solution in his/her own words.

(1.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

(1.3C) Explore Scientists
The student is expected to describe what scientists do.

(1.4A) Tools for Collecting Information
The student is expected to collect information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, primary balances, cups, bowls, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; timing devices, including clocks and timers; non-standard measuring items such as paper clips and clothespins; weather instruments such as demonstration thermometers and wind socks; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(1.4B) Non-Standard Measurement Units
The student is expected to measure organisms and objects and parts of organisms and objects, using non-standard units.

Related Math TEKS

1.9A    The student is expected to collect and sort data.

1.11B   The student is expected to solve problems with guidance that incorporates the processes of understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution for reasonableness.

1.11C   The student is expected to select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, or acting it out in order to solve a problem.

1.11D  The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

1.12A  The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

1.13A  The student is expected to justify his or her thinking using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Discoveries at Willow Creek: The GLOBE Program (website) - Follow Simon, Anita and Dennis as they join Hannah, a local scientist, in making new water-related discoveries at Willow Creek. This module contains a storybook and learning activities.

Discoveries at Willow Creek
The GLOBE Program, globe.gov

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