LESSON 4 Activity 1

The Mission of the Mighty Molecule

Grades:

4th - 7th

Objective:

Students learn a greater appreciation for the New York City watershed and all of its components. Students will gain knowledge of the complexity, the size, and an idea of how the parts of the supply system are connected. Students should also be able to visualize how a watershed works and how activities in a watershed affect the downstream areas.

Method:

Students "become" part of the water supply system using a story which prompts them to visualize themselves as water traveling through the system from the Catskill Mountains down to New York City.

Materials:

A copy of The Mission of the Mighty Molecule story, and a quiet and comfortable area for the students.

Time:

Preparation Time: 15 minutes to read over the story and fill in the blanks.
Class Time: 35 minutes

Procedure:

  1. Read through the story once, and fill in the blanks with the appropriate reservoirs or tunnels that the water from the stream near school will travel through. Also, circle the correct Catskill collecting reservoir, the correct aqueduct, and the correct East of Hudson reservoir. Use this map to determine the path of the water from your school.

  2. Incorporate this activity into a class where the New York City supply system is being discussed. This activity is designed to allow students to use their imagination in order to learn how water might travel through the supply system. By completing this activity, students should be able to visualize the whole water supply system.

  3. Have the students move to a comfortable location where they will not be disturbed. Ask the students to shut their eyes and listen to the story that you are about to tell them. Students should also be encouraged to use their imagination to develop visions of the different parts of the story. When everyone is ready, read the story out loud.

  4. When you have concluded the story, organize the class in such a manner as to discuss the story and the impact the story had on them.

Assessment:

  1. What is the purpose of the six reservoirs located in the Catskill Mountains?

  2. Why is the amount of precipitation (rain and snow) that the Catskill Mountains get important to the millions or residents in New York City?

  3. Explain how water collected in the Catskills gets all the way down to New York City without having to use pumps to move the water along.

  4. Once the droplet of water reaches the fire, what happens? Where does it go?

NYS Learning Standards:

English
Standard 3 - Language for Information and Understanding: Listening and Reading

Math, Science, and Technology
Standard 4 - Science: Physical Setting 2,3; The Living Environment 7
Standard 5 - Technology: Impacts of Technology
Standard 6 - Interconnectedness: Systems

Social Studies
Standard 3 - Geography 1


Source: Activity devloped by Aaron Bennett.