Modeling and Investigating Watersheds
kit #437
This kit provides students with exclusive Lab-Aids® Watershed models to help them explore the dynamics of watersheds. Despite the significance of watersheds, many students get few opportunities to explore this important aspect of topography and its relationship to the water cycle.
Students apply "rain" over a topographic model and observe the water runoff. From their observations they identify the location of major bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and streams.
This activity not only provides students with first hand experience with watersheds but also provides a knowledge base to better understand issues such as how an abandoned mine may influence water quality far from the mine site or how farming practices in Nebraska may influence the health of organisms in the Gulf of Mexico.
Scientific Concepts:
• As part of the water cycle, water falls to the surface where it collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans
• Students use appropriate tools to analyze and interpret data
To complete this kit requires one ~50-minute class period.
- As part of the water cycle, water falls to the surface where it collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans
- Students use appropriate tools to analyze and interpret data
Content List in Modeling and Investigating Watersheds is as follows:
| Quantity | Description |
|---|---|
| 6 | Lab-Aids® Watershed models |
| 6 | Pipets, 3-mL |
| 12 | Red/blue pencils |
| 1 | Blue food coloring , 15-mL drop controlled bottle |
| 1 | Teacher’s Manual with MSDS |
| 28 | Student Worksheets and Guides |
| 1 | Transparency 1: Map of Major U.S. Rivers |
| 1 | Transparency 2: Sample Map of Water Flow within the Model |
| 1 | Transparency 3: Map of the Mississippi Watershed Sub-Basins |
- Number of students
- 24
- Number of groups
- Maximum 6 groups per period
To complete this kit requires one ~50-minute class period.
Kit #439S Making and Interpreting Topographic Maps (Developed by SEPUP)
Kit #444S Using Remote Sensing to Determine Topography (Developed by SEPUP)
Kit #435 Reading River Sediments: Simulated Mineral Exploration
Kit #446S Engineering & Design: Modeling and Mitigating Stream Processes (Developed by SEPUP)
