Rain Gardens Lesson

Students will research water harvesting, looking specifically at rain gardens. Ultimately they will
design a rain garden for somewhere on their campus, and will reach out to Watershed Management to help
them make their design come to life.

Objectives
- Learn about water harvesting; its importance, the difference between passive and
  active
- Learn the importance of rain gardens
- Research the different elements of a rain garden and materials needed
Grades: 9 to 12
Time: 3-6 days
Author: V Bodanyi

Arizona Standards Engaged

Science Standards

HS.E1U3.14: Engage in argument from evidence about the availability of natural
resources, occurrence of natural hazards, changes in climate, and human activity
and how they influence each other.
HS+E.E1U3.9: Construct an explanation, based on evidence, for how the
availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in
climate have influenced human activity.
HS+E.E1U3.11: Develop and use a quantitative model to illustrate the relationship
among Earth systems and the degree to which those relationships are being
modified due to human activity

ELA Standards

W.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas,
concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection,
organization, and analysis of content.
W.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a
question or solve a problem
SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence in an organized,
developed style appropriate to purpose, audience, and task

Science and Engineering Practices