How to prepare for the lesson:
Please note, the Sonoma Water educator will arrive at your classroom 10-15 minutes early to set up their teaching materials.
The Google Slideshow presentation will be emailed to you. We would greatly appreciate it if you could have our presentation open when we arrive. The presentation requires sound. If you do not have a way to project these slides, please let us know so we can make other arrangements.
Students will be given a notebook to work on through the lesson. Students will also be excepted to read and follow along with instructions in groups of 3-4 during the lesson. If you would like any of these materials available in Spanish, let us know before the lesson so we can make sure to bring enough Spanish materials. Setting up strategic groups beforehand would be greatly appreciated.
If possible, it would be helpful to have a small table or desk near the front of the room for the educator to set their teaching materials on.
Have your students clear everything off of their desks before the lesson begins. They will need a pencil.
Please do not leave your classroom while the Sonoma Water educator is teaching.
How to prepare students for the lesson:
1. Watch a video about our water supply system with your students:
2. Review science concepts and vocabulary:
Google Slides Vocabulary Template for Students
Drought: When an area receives a lot less rain or snow than they normally receive, leading to a shortage of water.
Reservoir: A place made by humans where water can be stored, typically a large lake created by building a dam.
Precipitation: The release of water from the sky, such as rain or snow.
Water Quality: Water quality helps scientists understand how healthy water may be for plants, animals, or people.
Water Supply: The amount of water available for humans to use for drinking, cooking, taking showers, brushing their teeth, and so on.
Atmospheric River: Named after a river in the sky, these storms bring strong winds and very heavy rain.
Groundwater: The water found underground, in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock.
Endangered: When a plant or animal is at risk of extinction.
Flow: The movement of water.
Pollution: Material such as fertilizer, farm waste, pesticides, and trash that can wash into our waterways and harm wildlife.
Sediment: Material such as sand, soil, and mud that sinks to the bottom of a creek, river, lake, or the ocean.
Scientific Model: A model represents an idea, object, or process. Models help scientists make predictions and test their ideas.
Water year: The water year is the 12-month period that scientists measure precipitation. It begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th. The water year is named based on the year it ends. For example, the 2019 water year ended on September 30th, 2019.