Watershed Ways
Everybody in the world lives in a watershed. Where does the rain mainly drain where you live? Follow the water all the way to the sea!
1. About 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water, and only about 1% is fresh water. Most of that 1% is found in polar ice. As part of the natural water cycle, precipitation of fresh water comes to the Earth. Most is soaked into the ground (infiltration) or enters surface waters (runoff). Find out more about water usage issues in your area.
2. A watershed is all the land area from which water drains into a particular stream or river. Research the watershed you live in, from the small watershed area that may lead to a local small stream to the larger watershed that may lead to a major river and then on to an ocean.
3. Trace the waterways! Obtain a road map or trail map of your area. Use a Blue Wave Crayola Marker to trace major rivers and smaller streams. Find out which streams flow into which rivers. Where does the water finally reach an ocean?
4. Predict the watersheds! Use Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils to outline and label areas that you think might drain water to a particular stream. Use a different color for each area that drains into each stream. Which watersheds together drain into larger bodies of water?
5. Check out your predictions! Find out about the actual watersheds. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site is a great place to visit. Erase and revise your watershed predictions if you need to. Use Color Wave Markers to label and brightly shade each watershed area. Add arrows to major rivers and streams to show in which direction the water flows. Compare your predictions and findings with those of your classmates.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
- Create topographic maps to demonstrate how and why water flows the way it does over the land in your area. Research the topography. Use crumpled newspaper and masking tape to create a replica of local topography on a map glued to cardboard. Spray water on a second map of the area. Gently press it over the newspaper so hills and valleys match up. Mix equal parts of Crayola School Glue and water. Brush it over the map and air-dry. Use Markers to mark the watershed areas on the topographic map.
- Plan field trips to visit your local watershed areas and the waterways that receive the drainage. Take photographs of each waterway and surrounding land areas. Create a display that identifies some of the features and issues that affect your community.
- Assessment: Ask children to imagine they are raindrops. Tell them where they fall (town, roadway, or a point of latitude and longitude). Ask them to identify in which watersheds they fall. Trace the drainage path from the small stream to large waterway and all the way to the sea on a map.
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