Educational worksheet explaining how watersheds work, designed for students to observe, question, and reflect on watershed concepts.

Problem Overview:

The task involves understanding how watersheds work by creating a model and observing the effects of adding water to it. The worksheet prompts you to reflect on your observations, wonder about certain aspects, and connect your experience to the concept of a watershed.

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Solution and Explanation:

#### Step 1: Understanding the Task
- Objective: Learn how watersheds function by creating a physical model and observing the movement of water.
- Key Components:
- Notice: Observe what happens when you add water to the model.
- Wonder: Reflect on questions or curiosities that arise from your observations.
- Remind: Connect your experience to something familiar.
- Define: Write a definition of a watershed based on your activity.

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#### Step 2: Creating the Watershed Model
To create a watershed model, you can use materials like:
- A baking tray or shallow dish.
- Soil or sand.
- Small rocks or hills to represent landforms.
- Water (e.g., from a spray bottle or small container).

Arrange the soil/sand in the tray to mimic a landscape with hills, valleys, and low-lying areas. Use rocks to create barriers or elevation changes.

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#### Step 3: Observing What Happens When You Add Water
1. Add Water: Spray or pour water onto the model and observe its movement.
- What Happens?
- Water flows downhill due to gravity.
- It collects in low-lying areas, forming "ponds" or "lakes."
- Water may pool around obstacles (rocks) or flow along specific paths.
- Some areas may absorb water (soil/sand), while others remain wet longer.

2. Notice:
- Water follows the path of least resistance.
- Higher elevations direct water toward lower elevations.
- Certain areas act as natural "drains" or "sources."

3. Wonder:
- Why does water collect in some areas but not others?
- How do human activities (like building roads or cutting down trees) affect water flow?
- What happens if there is too much water?

4. Reminds Me Of:
- Natural landscapes like mountains, rivers, and lakes.
- Rainfall patterns and how water moves through the environment.
- Urban drainage systems or stormwater runoff.

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#### Step 4: Defining a Watershed
Based on your observations, write a sentence or two defining a watershed:
- Definition: A watershed is an area of land where all the water that falls on it (rain, snow, etc.) drains into a common body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean. It acts like a giant funnel, collecting water from higher elevations and directing it toward lower points.

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#### Final Answer
Here’s how you might fill out the worksheet:

I NOTICE:
- Water flows downhill and collects in low-lying areas.
- Water follows specific paths created by the terrain.
- Some areas absorb water, while others remain wet longer.

I WONDER:
- Why does water behave differently in different parts of the model?
- How do human activities impact the movement of water in real watersheds?

IT REMINDS ME OF:
- Natural landscapes like mountains and rivers.
- Stormwater runoff in urban areas.

What is a WATERSHED?
A watershed is an area of land where all the water that falls on it drains into a common body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean. It acts like a giant funnel, collecting water from higher elevations and directing it toward lower points.

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Final Answer Box:

$$
\boxed{\text{A watershed is an area of land where all the water that falls on it drains into a common body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean.}}
$$