Fantasy islandFantasy islandWATERSHED ACTIVITYWATERSHED ACTIVITY

MaterialsMaterials•Modeling clay (60-75 cubic cm)Modeling clay (60-75 cubic cm)•Eye dropper with waterEye dropper with water•Wax paper ~ 35 x 35 cmWax paper ~ 35 x 35 cm•Graph paper (.5 cm x.5 cm squares or similar)Graph paper (.5 cm x.5 cm squares or similar)•BlueBlue thread (~30 cm) thread (~30 cm)•RedRed thread (~50 cm) thread (~50 cm)•Metric rulerMetric ruler•ScissorsScissors•Colored pencilsColored pencils

Learner OutcomesLearner Outcomes

1.1.Understand the relationship between Understand the relationship between topography and drainage.topography and drainage.

2.Recognize that runoff from a certain area 2.Recognize that runoff from a certain area as the primary source for water in a as the primary source for water in a stream.stream.

3.Apply principles and terms associated with 3.Apply principles and terms associated with surface water systems, including surface water systems, including watershed, divide and tributary.watershed, divide and tributary.

ProceduresProcedures

1.1.Lay the wax paper on your table and then Lay the wax paper on your table and then use the clay to build an island. Design the use the clay to build an island. Design the island so that the maximum height is less island so that the maximum height is less than 3 cm. The island should have at least than 3 cm. The island should have at least 4 distinct drainage basins. The shape 4 distinct drainage basins. The shape and/or size of at least one of these basins and/or size of at least one of these basins should be much different than the others. should be much different than the others. Its best if students avoid creating lakes, Its best if students avoid creating lakes, craters, cone-shaped peaks, and craters, cone-shaped peaks, and unrealistic landforms.unrealistic landforms.

2. Use an eyedropper containing water to 2. Use an eyedropper containing water to determine the approximate location of 4 (or determine the approximate location of 4 (or more) of the island’s largest rivers. Do this more) of the island’s largest rivers. Do this by gently dropping water from 3-6 cm by gently dropping water from 3-6 cm above different locations on the island. above different locations on the island. Watch the path of the drops as they run off Watch the path of the drops as they run off the island. If a drop gets "stuck", simply the island. If a drop gets "stuck", simply add more water to the drop. Eventually it add more water to the drop. Eventually it should flow off the island. You may should flow off the island. You may reshape the island to get the rivers where reshape the island to get the rivers where you want them to be. you want them to be.

Procedures Procedures (continued)(continued)

Procedures Procedures (continued)(continued)

2.2.

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3. Once you are satisfied with the drainage 3. Once you are satisfied with the drainage of the island, use pieces of of the island, use pieces of blueblue thread to thread to mark the location of the island’s 4 (or mark the location of the island’s 4 (or more) major rivers. Press the thread gently more) major rivers. Press the thread gently into the clay to keep it in place. You will into the clay to keep it in place. You will need scissors to cut the thread.need scissors to cut the thread.

4.Next, use 4.Next, use redred thread to mark the thread to mark the boundaries of the watersheds of each river boundaries of the watersheds of each river that you have identified (at least 4). that you have identified (at least 4).

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Here are some common mistakes:

Procedures Procedures (continued)(continued)

Here are some common mistakes:

The image on the left shows three common The image on the left shows three common mistakes. For one, rivers do not typically mistakes. For one, rivers do not typically originate at the highest point in a originate at the highest point in a watershed. Usually, the headwaters are watershed. Usually, the headwaters are some distance below that point as shown some distance below that point as shown on the right.on the right.

Secondly, the divides are drawn incorrectly. Secondly, the divides are drawn incorrectly. They include more land (near the coast) They include more land (near the coast) than they should. The image on the right than they should. The image on the right shows more realistic watershed boundaries. shows more realistic watershed boundaries.

Finally, in the image on the left, there is a gap Finally, in the image on the left, there is a gap between boundaries of the two basins. In reality, between boundaries of the two basins. In reality, water at the top of that ridge will drain into one water at the top of that ridge will drain into one basin or the other, so a single line (divide) like that basin or the other, so a single line (divide) like that shown on the right would be correct.shown on the right would be correct.

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5. Lightly scratch the clay with the tip of a 5. Lightly scratch the clay with the tip of a pen or pencil to show the possible pen or pencil to show the possible locations of 2-5 tributaries for each stream locations of 2-5 tributaries for each stream that you have identified with that you have identified with blueblue thread. thread.

6. Next, make a map of your island. First, cut 6. Next, make a map of your island. First, cut the island away from the wax paper. Place the island away from the wax paper. Place the model onto a piece of graph paper, and the model onto a piece of graph paper, and then trace the edge of the island onto the then trace the edge of the island onto the paper. Set the model aside and then draw paper. Set the model aside and then draw each of the following onto the map: each of the following onto the map: major major riversrivers ( (blueblue), ), tributariestributaries ( (blueblue), boundaries ), boundaries of of drainage basinsdrainage basins – a.k.a. “ – a.k.a. “dividesdivides” (” (redred).).

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6.6.

Procedures Procedures (continued)(continued)

7. Do each of the following to your map:7. Do each of the following to your map:a)a) Identify which direction will be "north".Identify which direction will be "north".

b) Give your island a name . . . place it at the top of the b) Give your island a name . . . place it at the top of the map.map.

c) Put arrows on all of the rivers (including tributaries) to c) Put arrows on all of the rivers (including tributaries) to show flow direction.show flow direction.

d) Name each of the major rivers (d) Name each of the major rivers (blueblue thread). Write these thread). Write these names along rivers.names along rivers.

e) Put a e) Put a greengreen X in the upper part of each drainage basin. X in the upper part of each drainage basin.

f) Put a f) Put a greengreen Z in the lower part of each basin. Z in the lower part of each basin.

g) Include a scale on your map (should show both g) Include a scale on your map (should show both kilometers and miles).kilometers and miles).

h) Draw in the divides for each of your watersheds in h) Draw in the divides for each of your watersheds in redred..

blueblue

greengreen

greengreen

redred

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7.7.

Procedures Procedures (continued)(continued)

8. Determine the length of the longest 8. Determine the length of the longest channel on the map. channel on the map.

9. Determine the area of the largest 9. Determine the area of the largest watershed on the map. watershed on the map.

10. Choose one of the following two options:10. Choose one of the following two options:

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A. Imagine that there is a city near the mouth A. Imagine that there is a city near the mouth of the river that has the largest watershed of the river that has the largest watershed that depends on this water for its people. that depends on this water for its people. Create a problem in the upper part of this Create a problem in the upper part of this basin that threatens this water supply. On basin that threatens this water supply. On a separate sheet of paper, write a a separate sheet of paper, write a newspaper article (complete with title) newspaper article (complete with title) describing the problem and explaining how describing the problem and explaining how it will impact the water supply for the city. it will impact the water supply for the city. (3-5 good paragraphs should do.)(3-5 good paragraphs should do.) oror

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B. Obtain a piece of 12" x 18" construction paper. Draw and color a scene that shows a portion of one of the watersheds on your island. The scene should include the river and vegetation, as well as whatever else you envision present in the area.

That’s a Wrap!That’s a Wrap!

SCORINGSCORING

100100 POINTS POSSIBLE POINTS POSSIBLE

Model ……………………………………. 30 pts

Map ………………………………………. 30 pts

Questions 8 & 9 ………………………... 10 pts (5 pts each)

Question 10: Option A or B ………….. 30 pts