Lab-Aids: Modeling and Investigating Watersheds Kit
This kit provides students with exclusive LAB-AIDS‚® Watershed models to help them explore the dynamics of watersheds. Despite the significance of watersheds, many students get few opportunities to explore this important aspect of topography and its relationship to the water cycle. Students apply "rain" over a topographic model and observe the water runoff. From their observations they identify the location of major bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and streams. This activity not only provides students with first hand experience with watersheds but also provides a knowledge base to better understand issues such as how an abandoned mine may influence water quality far from the mine site or how farming practices in Nebraska may influence the health of organisms in the Gulf of Mexico.
Scientific Concepts:
As part of the water cycle, water falls to the surface where it collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans
Students use appropriate tools to analyze and interpret data
Content List:
1Teacher„¢s Manual with MSDS
28Student Worksheets and Guides
6Watershed Trays, LAB-AIDS‚®
6Pipets, 3-mL
1Blue food coloring , 15-mL drop controlled bottle
12Red/blue pencils
1Transparency 1: Map of Major U.S. Rivers
1Transparency 2: Sample Map of Water Flow within the Model
1Transparency 3: Map of the Mississippi Watershed Sub-Basins
Classroom Planning:
To complete this kit requires one ~50-minute class period