Science Links: Earth Systems and the Water Cycle

Science links for grade 5 students.

Freshwater: Clean Water for Drinking and Agriculture

  • EPA Water Cycle animation (by epa.gov – a review of the water cycle)
  • Florida Water Cycle diagram (by Southwest Florida Water Management District)
  • Florida’s Hidden Water Sources (by Southwest Florida Water Management District)
  • We All Live in a Watershed (by Southwest Florida Water Management District)
  • Florida Watersheds and River Basins and Tampa Bay Watershed (by protectingourwater.org)
  • Is Your Watershed Healthy? (by state.fl.us)
  • Gross or Good? (by state.fl.us)
  • Is Your Yard Florida-Friendly? (by state.fl.us) * Essential: Know the 9 Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principals *
  • Florida Toxic Slime: (TV ad on YouTube by Florida Water Coalition) Extra fertilizer that is not used by the plants in a lawn or garden will get into the groundwater and then into canals, rivers, and the ocean. Fertilizers and pollution from factories that get into the water can cause an increase in numbers of phytoplankton. We need phytoplankton to produce oxygen. If we pollute the water so phytoplankton die, we destroy an important source of oxygen, but too many phytoplankton is a problem also. Nature needs to be kept in a balance. Too many phytoplankton can release chemicals that kill fish and cause skin irritations for people. President Obama and our local Florida government need to know that we want our waters protected and clean.

Methods of Producing Clean Water for Drinking and Agriculture

Earth’s Oceans

 

Florida Research

Grade 4 Florida Research Project

Enduring Understandings:

  1. Studying history helps us to understand Florida today.
  2. Geography, location and climate affected the development of Florida.
  3. Florida was settled long before the Europeans arrived in 1492.
  4. European influence on Florida had a lasting impact.
  5. Good citizens work together to solve problems and to make a difference.

Guiding Questions

  1. Who were the first people of Florida and how did they use their environment to meet their basic needs?
  2. How have the different cultural groups in early Florida influenced our state?
  3. What are the characteristics of the geographic regions of Florida?
  4. Why is Florida’s location important culturally, politically, and economically?
  5. How has Florida’s physical geography and resources contributed to people’s decision to make Florida their home?
  6. How has Florida’s physical geography and resources contributed to people’s decision to make Florida their tourist destination?
  7. How do the citizens of the state work together to solve problems?
  8. How can citizens make a difference?

Resources

Student Products are on the class wiki: http://icsflorida.wikispaces.com/

An Anhinga dries its wings after fishing in a fresh water pond