Water All Around: Science Lesson
Lesson Plan
1 hour 10 minutesGradesK, 1, 2Biology
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Written by Emily Townsend
About this lesson
This lesson features a read-aloud to activate background knowledge and connect to all types of water around the world. After learning about freshwater and saltwater, students take a deep dive into estuaries through yoga and role-play.
Inquire: Students listen to a read aloud of the book Wet by Carey Sookocheff and write about their own interactions with water.
Investigate: Students view graphics and obtain background knowledge about the types and locations of water in the world.
Inspire: Students engage in a series of yoga poses to learn more about estuaries and make connections between estuaries and the concepts they learned in the Investigate section.
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Suggestions
- This lesson builds an understanding of the importance of water in our lives.
- This lesson features kinesthetic learning as students move their bodies into yoga poses.
- Students develop an understanding of different types of water.
- This lesson can be split into two periods. Teach the ‘Inquire’ and ‘Investigate’ sections on Day 1 and the ‘Inspire’ section on Day 2.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 1 of 3 in our K-2nd grade Water and Plant Survival unit.
- You will need a copy of Wet by Carey Sookocheff or a similarly themed book for this lesson.
- You will need a large open area for students to complete the yoga exercises. This could be in the classroom or outside.
Differentiation
- The Shared Reading Guide in the Teacher Document includes several discussion questions. Choose the ones that are best for your students’ interests and experiences with the topic.
- Sentence frames in the Inquire section are differentiated for student proficiency: Circle = basic; Triangle = target; Square = challenge.
- There are multiple graphic organizers to choose from in the Investigate section. Use the option menu in the Teacher Slideshow to choose the one that best suits your classroom and students.
- Students with mobility restrictions can participate in mindful breathing and enjoy as many yoga poses as are comfortable for their bodies. Suggestions for modifications are listed in the speaker notes of the Teacher Slideshow.
- If specific directions for yoga poses prove difficult, read the prompts and play the videos. Instruct students to move their bodies naturally mimicking what they see.
- The Student Document includes several options for writing templates. Provide students with scaffolding as appropriate to their reading and writing level.
- Possible extension: Look at the map to find an estuary near your school.
From the scientist review
The lesson discusses water, where it is located, spatial extent on Earth, the different forms of water, including estuaries, and how humans can connect with it for abstractive and non-abstractive purposes without altercation. It also provides clear insights for students to understand water resources and the interactions within the marine ecosystem. The images, videos, and accompanying materials in the lesson are well-sourced, and this lesson is recommended for classroom use.
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About the teacher writer
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Emily Townsend
K-8 ELL Teacher
Emily Townsend is an educator with 15 years of teaching experience as both a general education teacher and an English Language Learner (ELL) specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Drake University and a Master of Arts in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency from the University of Iowa.
