In this lesson, students learn how climate change and deforestation are linked to the water cycle.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students view an Indigenous perspective on deforestation and learn how climate change can lead to deforested areas.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students complete a hands-on activity to investigate the effects of deforestation on erosion and watch a video on deforestation and climate change.

Positives

• Students participate in multiple interactive and hands-on learning activities to engage in kinesthetic, auditory, and visual learning.

• Students continue to better their understanding of how Earth’s natural systems are interconnected and dependent on each other.

Additional Prerequisites

• This is lesson 3 of 4 in our 6th-8th grade Water Cycle, Deforestation, and Climate Change unit.

• Materials required for the erosion model activity include the following:

• Scissors or sharp knife

• Clean, empty one-gallon container with a lid (such as a plastic milk jug)

• Water

• Two aluminum bread pans

• Dirt

• Two aluminum, 9-by-13-inch cake pans

• 12 to 14 plastic forks

• Two blocks, shallow plastic containers, or other items of the same height to prop up the aluminum bread pans

• Outdoor test area with a flat, level surface where it is easy to clean spilled water and soil

Differentiation

• The erosion activity may be completed as a hands-on activity in lab groups or as a demonstration by the teacher.

• Lab groups may be in mixed abilities to aid in understanding.

• Teachers can prepare examples of diagrams for students to reference during the Inspire section.

This lesson provides students with a background on the relationship between deforestation, water cycle, erosion, and climate change. It establishes the fact that deforestation poses stress on the forest ecosystem and services, including impacting the water cycle and speeding up erosion and climate change. These issues could be addressed with well-informed adaptive strategies and action to restore the forest and biodiversity. All materials have been verified thoroughly, and this lesson has passed the science credibility process.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

Supporting Standards

• English Language Arts
  • Writing (K-12)
    • W.6.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
    • W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
    • W.7.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
    • W.7.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
    • W.8.1 Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
    • W.8.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
• Science
  • ESS2: Earth's Systems
    • MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.