Watershed Motion Lesson

In this lesson, students build a model of a watershed and write questions they can test with their model. This lesson provides a concrete example of what a scientific model is and may help students understand more complex conceptual models. 

• Objective
  • Students will be able to build a physical model of a local watershed and test questions regarding how water moves through it.   
• Grades: 9 to 12, adaptable to middle school  
• Time: 9 milestones (2 to 4 weeks)
• Author: Toby Kochenderfer  

Arizona Standards Engaged

HS.P2U1.5: Construct an explanation for a field’s strength and influence on an object (electric, gravitational, magnetic). 

HS.P3U1.6: Collect, analyze, and interpret data regarding the change in motion of an object or system in one dimension, to construct an explanation using Newton’s Laws. 

HS.E1U1.12: Develop and use models of the Earth that explains the role of energy and matter in Earth’s constantly changing internal and external systems (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere).