Wet Worlds: Explore the World of Water. Marine and Fresh Water Activities for the Elementary Classroom

Abstract

Complete with student worksheets, field trip ideas, illustrations, vocabulary lists, suggested materials, and step-by-step procedures, the document presents a compilation of ideas for teaching elementary school (K-6) students about marine and fresh water. In the first Unit students build miniature monuments and Observe the deterioration of monuments exposed to acid rain. In unit 2 students design filtration methods for cleaning up dirty water. Utit 3 focuses on developing familiarity with marine and/or fresh water environments by promoting field trips to the shore. For those unable to visit a shore, unit 4 describes a possible field trip to a local fish market. In a look at geometric shapes, unit 5 explores the similar shapes of living organisms and mechanical devices that move quickly through water. In units 6 and 7,mathematical skills are employed when students map their schoolyard to predict where puddles will form and when students evaluate water usage at home, at school, and in their town. In unit 8 students prepare an Irish moss seaweed extract to discover the properties of algae. In unit 9 students simulate an oil spill and later assess which clean-up materials work best. The final section gives instructions and patterns for creating an icosahedron mobile to accompany and illustrate the preceeding wet, world activities. (LH)