Instructional Design Plan

Instructors
Dafaney White
Jennifer White

Name of Lesson
The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation, and Precipitation

Grade level
4th Grade Science

Purpose of the Instruction

The purpose of this instruction is to educate students on the processes that water takes
as it moves around the Earth in the water cycle. Students will take a comprehensive
look at condensation, precipitation, and evaporation and the roles they play in the water
cycle.

Instructional Design Model - Backward Design

The instructional design model we choose to utilize is the Backward Design Model. When using
the Backward Design Model, the instructor first identifies the desired results. Next, the
instructor determines acceptable evidence of learning. Finally, the instructor plans learning
experiences and instruction that will lead to the desired results.

Stage 1: Identify Desired Results

Established Goals

Georgia Performance Standards

S4E3. Students will differentiate between the states of water and how they relate to the
water cycle and weather.
d. Explain the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, and precipitation).

ELAGSE4W3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using

effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
ELAGSE4L1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar
and usage when writing or speaking.

ISTE NETS for Students

6. Creative Communicator
Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of
purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to
their goals. Students:
a. choose the appropriate platforms and tools for meeting the desired objectives of
their creation or communication.
b. create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new
creations.
c. communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety
of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.
d. publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their
intended audiences.

Transfer

Students will be able to…

● Describe the movement of water within the water cycle.
● Identify the states of water as it moves through the water cycle.
● Create a digital story explaining how water moves through the water cycle and
the changes it makes as it is moving through the water cycle.

Meaning

Understandings - Students will understand that…

● The water cycle is the continuous circulation of Earth’s water in the air, on land,
and in the ground.
● Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid state to a
gaseous state, also known as water vapor.
● Condensation is the process by which water changes from a gaseous state back
to a liquid state.
● Precipitation is any water that forms in the Earth's atmosphere and falls onto the
Earth’s surface in the form of rain, sleet, snow, hail, or freezing rain.

Essential Questions
● What is the water cycle?
● What is evaporation?
 ● What is condensation?
● What is precipitation?
● What are the different types of precipitation?
● How does water move through the water cycle?
● What changes does water make as it moves through the water cycle?

Acquisition

Students will know…

● Key Terms - Water Cycle, evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
● How water moves from state to state in the water cycle.
● Water changes from one state to another through evaporation, condensation,
and precipitation.
● Rain, sleet, snow, hail, and freezing rain are all forms of precipitation.

Stage 2: Determine Acceptable Evidence of Learning

Performance Task(s)
Students will use Storybird to create a digital story about the “life” of a water drop.
Through the digital story, students will explain the journey that the water drop takes as it
moves through the water cycle. Students must use vocabulary from the lesson. An
assignment guide and a rubric will be provided to the students.

Other Evidence
Students will participate in lesson based discussions, assignments, and quizzes.

Stage 3: Design Learning Experiences & Instruction

Summary of Key Learning Events and Instruction

See “Activities” and “Module Design below”

Activities
● Students will watch an introductory video from Study Jams called “The Water
Cycle” that introduces students to the water cycle.
● Students will read the printable PDF handout The Water Cycle: Precipitation,
Condensation, and Evaporation or watch The Water Cycle: Precipitation,
Condensation, and Evaporation video that provides students with learning
content related to the water cycle.
 ● Students will watch The Water Cycle Song. A video from Have Fun Teaching that
explains the water cycle in song form.
● Students will explore and interact with an interactive Water Cycle diagram that
displays the water cycle process.
● Students will watch the Water: Water Cycle, Forms of Water and Water
Conservation - Something Fishy: Kids Lesson 1. The video introduces students
to the topic of water, forms of water, the world's water, the water cycle, water for
life, and water conservation.
● Students will review a Water Cycle Infographic that explains how Earth’s water
moves and why we should conserve water.
● Students will explore the Water Cycle lesson from BrainPOP.
● Students will complete Discussion 2 related to the water cycle.
● Students will complete Assignment 1 - The Life of a Water Drop Story Map
● Students will complete Assignment 2 - Digital Story The Life of a Water Drop
Project Guidelines and The Life of a Water Drop Rubric
● Students will complete The Water Cycle Quiz.

Model Design

Module 1 - Course Introduction

● Module Overview
○ Welcome
○ Instructor Introductions
○ Goals of the Module
● Discussion - Questions and Concerns
● Course Syllabus
● Discussion 1 - Introduce Yourself
○ Introduce yourself to the class. Be sure to include your name and two
interesting facts about you. Respond to two classmates’ posts.

Module 2 - The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation, and Precipitation

● Module Overview
○ Goals of the Module
● Learning Content - The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation, and
Precipitation
○ Introductory Video - “The Water Cycle” from Study Jams
○ Reading - The Water Cycle: Precipitation, Condensation, and Evaporation
 ○ Resource - The Water Cycle Song from Have Fun Teaching
○ Resource - Interactive Diagram - The Water Cycle
○ Resource - Water: Water Cycle, Forms of Water and Water Conservation -
Something Fishy: Kids Lesson 1
○ Resource - Water Cycle Infographic
○ Resource - BrainPOP - Water Cycle
● Discussion 2 - The Water Cycle
○ Why is the water cycle important to humans and other living things?
○ How does the water cycle affect us daily?
○ Why is it important to conserve water?
○ What are some ways in which you can conserve water?
● Assignments
○ Assignment 1 - Story Map Assignment
■ The Life of a Water Drop Story Map
■ The Life of a Water Drop Project Guidelines
○ Assignment 2 - Digital Story Project
■ The Life of a Water Drop Project Guidelines
■ The Life of Water Drop - Rubric
● Quiz
○ Quiz 1 - The Water Cycle
■ The Water Cycle Quiz

Interactivity and Collaboration

Students will participate in an introductory post. Students will also participate in an
online discussion related to the water cycle. They will be required to make one initial
post, and two follow up post responding to their classmates’ discussion posts. Students
can post questions and respond to classmates’ questions using the "Questions and
Concerns" discussion board. Students also have a school provided Gmail address,
which they can use to email the instructor or other students in the class. The instructor
will meet with students online by appointment if needed. Students can also reach the
instructor through email or telephone.

Technology, Tools, and Materials

Students will use various technology tools to complete the water cycle course. Below is
a list of technology equipment, technology tools, and class resources/materials that will
be used to aid in the successful completion of the course.
Technology and Tools
● Internet
● Computer
● Canvas.com
● Study.com account login (school provided)
● BrainPop.com account login (school provided)
● Storybird.com
● Studyjams.com
● YouTube.com
● water.usgs.gov
● Student and instructor Gmail account login (school provided)
● Acrobat Reader DC
● Google Docs
● Google Forms
● Google Drive

Materials
● Course Syllabus
● “The Water Cycle” video from Study Jams
● The Water Cycle: Precipitation, Condensation, and Evaporation PDF from
Study.com
● The Water Cycle Song from Have Fun Teaching
● The Water Cycle Interactive diagram from USGS - Science for Changing the
World
● Water: Water Cycle, Forms of Water and Water Conservation - Something Fishy:
Kids Lesson 1 Video from Something Fishy
● Water Cycle Infographic
● Water Cycle resource from BrainPOP
● The Life of a Water Drop Story Map
● The Life of a Water Drop Project Guidelines
● The Life of Water Drop - Rubric
● The Water Cycle Quiz

Learner Assessment

● Discussion 2 – The Water Cycle

○ Why is the water cycle important to humans and other living things?
○ How does the water cycle affect us daily?
○ Why is it important to conserve water?
 ○ What are some ways in which you can conserve water?
● Assignments
○ Assignment 1 - Story Map Assignment
■ The Life of a Water Drop Story Map
■ The Life of a Water Drop Project Guidelines
○ Assignment 2 - Digital Story Project
■ The Life of a Water Drop Project Guidelines
■ The Life of Water Drop - Rubric
● Quiz 1 –The Water Cycle
○ The Water Cycle Quiz

Learner Support
● Students will be provided with a Course Syllabus that provides information
related to the course.
● The instructor will meet with students online by appointment.
● Students can reach the instructor through email or telephone.
● Students can post questions and respond to classmates questions using the
“Questions and Concerns” discussion board.
● Students will be provided with a The Life of Water Drop - Rubric for The Life of a
Water Drop Project Guidelines project.
● Students will be provided with multiple learning resources that appeal to many
different learning styles.