-A Sample Scheme Of Work Covering The Water Cycle-

Background:
 
Water is a vital part of all environments. As the amount of fresh water and vapour is limited, it has to be recycled over and over again. There is about the same amount of water on earth now that there was when the dinosaurs roamed our planet. The water cycle, the continuous movement of water from ocean to air and land then back to the ocean in a cyclic pattern, is a central concept in meteorology. In the water cycle, the sun heats the Earth's surface water, causing that surface water to evaporate (gas). This water vapour then rises into the Earth's atmosphere where it cools and condenses into liquid droplets. These droplets combine and grow until they become too heavy and fall to the earth as precipitation (liquid if rain, solid if snow).
 
Water is temporarily stored in lakes, glaciers, underground, or living organisms. The water can move from these places by streams and rivers, returns to the oceans, is used by plants or animals or is evaporated directly back into the atmosphere.
 
Where water is stored and how it moves through the water cycle underpins several aspects of the Geography curriculum. Knowledge of the water cycle is a fundamental building block to the study of both weather and rivers. An understanding of the water cycle also aids explanation of the location of ecosystems and settlements.

Learning objectives: children will:
 
· understand that water on earth moves in a continuous cycle.
 
· be able to name and explain the stages of the water cycle.

Overview of the scheme of work:
 
In this scheme of work, pupils will carry out a number of activities that demonstrate the concepts of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and soil moisture and runoff. The children will then construct a terrarium in order to observe the water cycle as a whole.
During the five weeks of lessons, pupils should have access to the online Rivers and Bridges activity and should observe the Water Cycle (accessed from the River menu) and complete the Water Cycle activities (accessed from the Water Cycle). Pupils can also explore the River System and complete the River System Quiz (both accessible from the River menu).

Book list: mainly for lower range of KS2:
 
The Magic School Bus Wet All over: A Book About the Water Cycle (Magic School Bus), Patricia Relf, Scholastic Books.
Where Do Puddles Go? (Rookie Read-About Science), Fay Robinson, Children's Press.
 
What Makes It Rain? The Story of a Raindrop (Learn About Nature), Keith Brandt, Troll Communications.
 
Water, Water Everywhere: A Book About the Water Cycle, Melvin Berger, Ideal Children's Books.


-A scheme of work for KS2 Geography to cover a half term-

Medium Term Plans:
 
: Introduction to scheme of activities.
: Lesson 1: evaporation
: Lesson 2 (parts A & B) condensation
: Lesson 3: precipitation
: Lesson 4: soil saturation and runoff
: Lesson 5: the stages in the Water Cycle
 
Lesson Plan - Introduction: I am water!
Lesson Plan 1 : the water cycle
Lesson Plan 2A : condensation
Lesson Plan 2B : condensation
Lesson Plan 3: precipitation
Lesson Plan 4: soil saturation and runoff
Lesson Plan 5: the stages of the Water Cycle