A WebQuest for 5th Grade Science

Introduction

Did you know that all of the water on the earth is recycled? The water you drink from a glass today could have been the same water in George Washington's glass years ago. Can you imagine drinking water that old? Well it is true! This is due to nature automatically reusing the earth's water everyday! This water is used over and over through the water cycle as clouds are formed and water falls to earth. In this WebQuest you will learn about the water cycle and display your new knowledge to teach others about recycled water.

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The Task

Recycling of water through the water cycle is one scientific topic that students will explore at your school's Environmental Field Day this year. As a member of the Environmental Club at your school, you will set up a booth to explain this recycled water concept to other fifth graders. In this booth there will be a model and booklets the club has created for use in explaining the water cycle and clouds formations to students at the Environmental Field Day.

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The Process

Keeping your task in mind, read through all of the following steps closely before you begin:

1. How much do you really know about water? Take the true/false quiz.

2. Find out about the steps of the Water Cycle by reading and viewing diagrams.

3. You will work in groups of four. Each member should choose one of the parts of the water cycle to research and become knowledgable about. Research your part and answer the questions. Share the information you found with your group partners.

Evaportation 1. Define evaporation. 2. How does sunshine help evaporation occur?	Condensation 1. Define condensation. 2. How does condensation form clouds?
Precipitation 1. Define precipitation. 2. Name and describe the types of precipitation that fall to earth.	Groundwater 1.Define groundwater. 2. How is the Earth's water in the form of rivers and lakes important to the water cycle?

4. Create a model of the Water Cycle based on the information your group gathered. Be creative by using different materials or 3-dimensional ideas to make the diagram. Remember it will be a teaching tool in your Environmental Field Day booth. Tips--Be sure each part of the process is labeled and represented, make the display large enough to teach with, and have all group members involved in the project.

5. Develop a tri-fold brochure about the Water Cycle using Microsoft Publisher or Microsoft Word. Be sure to incorporate the information you researched about the steps of the cycle. Also, there should be illustrations to go with each step. These brochures will be handed out at your booth to help teach the other fifth graders. Make the brochures colorful and interesting!

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Evaluation

You will be evaluated by groups on the model of the Water Cycle and Brochure. The rubric below will be used for scoring. Read the descriptions and make sure your projects are a 4.

Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Score

Model of Water Cycle

Some of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is somewhat neat. Many grammar mistakes or misspelled words. Most of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is neat. Some grammar mistakes or misspelled words. The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is neat. Few grammar mistakes or misspelled words. The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is neat and creative. There are no grammar mistakes or misspelled words.

Water Cycle Brochure

Some of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is somewhat neat and interesting. There are few graphics. Many grammar mistakes or misspelled words. Most of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is neat and interesting. There are some graphics. Some grammar mistakes or misspelled words. The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is neat and interesting. Graphics for each step of the cycle. Few grammar mistakes or misspelled words. The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is neat and interesting. Many graphics for each step of the cycle. There are no grammar mistakes or misspelled words.

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	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Model of Water Cycle	Some of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is somewhat neat. Many grammar mistakes or misspelled words.	Most of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is neat. Some grammar mistakes or misspelled words.	The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is neat. Few grammar mistakes or misspelled words.	The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The model is neat and creative. There are no grammar mistakes or misspelled words.
Water Cycle Brochure	Some of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is somewhat neat and interesting. There are few graphics. Many grammar mistakes or misspelled words.	Most of the steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is neat and interesting. There are some graphics. Some grammar mistakes or misspelled words.	The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is neat and interesting. Graphics for each step of the cycle. Few grammar mistakes or misspelled words.	The steps of water cycle are labeled and represented correctly . The brochure is neat and interesting. Many graphics for each step of the cycle. There are no grammar mistakes or misspelled words.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you are now ready to teach others about the Water Cycle at the Environmental Field Day. You have developed a model and brochure to use in your booth. Now you can create yourself a certificate of completion for becoming an expert about the water cycle through the Water Science for Schools websites. As you enjoy your next glass of water, think about all the places that water has visited, maybe it was even spilled from George Washington's glass.

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