This lesson builds on students’ prior knowledge of the water cycle. The teacher creates a watershed model to demonstrate runoff. Next, students locate their watershed on Michigan’s Water World poster and determine into which Great Lake their watershed empties. Lastly, they investigate how streamflow characteristics vary between Michigan rivers depending upon watershed size, time of year, and other factors.

Subject/Target Grade

Science and Social Studies/Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Duration

One or two 50-minute class periods –

Classroom & schoolyard setting

Materials

per class

• Diagram of a Watershed (transparency) 

• Aerial View of a Stream (transparency) 

• Stream Channel Profile (transparency) 

• Spray bottle or (8) 5 oz. paper cups, partially filled with blue water

• 5’ x 5’ sheet of white plastic (shower curtain or tablecloth) or tarp

• 5-10 sheets of newspaper

• large tub or children’s swimming pool (optional)

• Watershed Labels (transparency) 

• Michigan Water World poster

• Michigan Water World (answer key) 

• Great Lakes Watershed and Political Boundaries (transparency) 

• Stream Hydrograph (transparency) 

• Stream Hydrograph Data (transparency) 

per small group

• Michigan’s Water World poster (laminated) 

• Michigan highway map 

• Michigan’s Water World (student activity) 

• Watershed Labels (transparency) 

• 5-10 sheets of newspaper wadded up individually (or boxes or rocks)

• aluminum roasting pan, paint pan, dish tub, or other container (approximately 2’ x 2’ x 6”)

• foil

• spray bottle filled with blue-colored water or rain cups

• Watershed Labels (transparency)