Wad a Watershed Lab

INTRODUCTION: Using models is very important in science. In this lab, you will design a model that will help you investigate the relationship between land surfaces and water on Earth. OBJECTIVE: To design a model that will help you visualize watershed characteristics. PROBLEM: How can we use the relationships between land surfaces and water to understand conservation of resources and pollution? HYPOTHESIS: In your own words, write a hypothesis about how the relationships between land surfaces and water influence pollution and the conservation of resources.” Make a prediction about how the relationship between land and water can influence pollution and the conservation of resources. MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES:

one sheet of plain white paper
several sheets of old newspaper, or wax paper if available
one water-based marker (Note: do not use permanent marker)
one spray bottle containing water (place on “mist” setting) digital camera, if available
1. Place several sheets of newspaper over a large flat surface, such as a kitchen counter. Use at least five sheets of paper so that you can protect your work area. If it is available, you may use wax paper instead of newspaper. 2. Crumple the sheet of white paper into a loose wad.

3. Uncrumple the sheet of paper so you can lay it on your work surface. The paper should not be flat, but should be wrinkled and puffed up from the crumpling. 4. Imagine the paper as a miniaturized version of mountains, hills, valleys, and other landscape features. If your paper is so flat that you can’t imagine these features, you should recrumple it. 5. Use the marker to color the major folds or ridges in the paper, as well as some of the minor folds or ridges, as shown below. Do not allow the marker to color any other part of the paper. 6. Place the paper on top of the newspaper on the counter, and then lightly mist the piece of paper with the spray bottle. Don’t spray too heavily: Three to seven squirts will probably do the job. 7. Stop misting as soon as you see some of the colored water starting to collect in some of the valleys. Watch for a few moments as stream patterns develop over the paper. 8. If you have access to a digital camera, take a photograph of your work and include it in yourData and Observations. 9. Use your observations in this activity to answer the reflection questions in the Analysis and Conclusion section of your lab report, and then submit the completed report to your instructor. DATA AND OBSERVATIONS:

Write a very detailed description of your watershed model. Include observations based on the shape of the paper, behavior of water within your model and overall impressions. Be sure to use terminology from your lesson and your own words in this description. If you took pictures during the lab, be sure to include them below.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS:
In your own words, write an analysis of the watershed model you created.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. View this animation clip to take a closer look at the Mississippi watershed.

Notice that the clip is silent. In your own words, describe what is happening in this animation. Be sure to explain how this animation compares to your lab experience.

In the video they are displaying how many watersheds there are and how they cause for water to distribute and spread around. Which is very similar to what happened in the lab.

2. In your own words, identify and describe all the ways water moved throughout this lab activity. Use scientific terms, when possible.

In the lab when I sprayed the water on the paper it started to slide down towards the valleys and start to pool up there.

3.Based on the definition of watershed, how many different watersheds were there in your model? There were five watersheds in this model. Explain how you determined this number.

I came up with this number by seeing how many trails of water were going down the model

Use terms from the lesson to describe your watershed model. My watershed model had five watersheds and three valleys for the water to run through.

If you were able to take a photograph of your paper, include a copy of this photo and label each of your watersheds in the model. 4. Earth’s landscape can change over time. What can happen to a watershed as a result? Explain your response in your own words and include terms from the lesson.

Well because the geosphere changes new watersheds are created and old ones are lost.

5.Based on what you observed in the lab, why is pollution never a strictly local problem?

Pollution is never a strictly local problem because water is always moving so it affects multiple areas.