The Watershed Connection

In this activity, learners interact with a 3-D model of a watershed to better understand the interconnectedness of terrestrial and aquatic environments. The instructions contain suggestions for "polluting" the watershed (with shredded paper “litter” and chocolate sprinkle “animal droppings”), and for modeling how the watershed cleans itself (using sponges for wetlands). Questions are included for discussing watersheds, how they get polluted, the water cycle, and "actions I can take" based in part on identifying potential pollutants on a real map of the local watershed. The commercial model from EnviroScape is expensive ($800), but the instructions could be used with a more homemade model using bowls and plastic bags.