Using visual vocabulary boards helps students retain information and allow them to show what they know in a creative manner. For this activity, students will create a spider map that defines and illustrates 3-5 types of bodies of water. Their finished product should have an illustration that accompanies each definition.
| Body of Water | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bay | A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward |
| Gulf | A deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth |
| Lake | A large inland body of standing water |
| Ocean | The whole body of saltwater that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the earth |
| Pond | A body of water that is usually smaller than a lake |
| River | A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream |
| Sea | The expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses |
| Strait | A narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water |
| Stream | A small, narrow river |
| Waterfall | A fall of water usually from a great height |
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a 3-5 cell spider map that defines and illustrates different bodies of water.
Student Instructions:
Teachers can use different colorful and interesting pictures and videos to explain the difference between different water bodies visually. Students will learn better by watching and it will also help them retain the information. Ask the students to draw or paint any body of water they find interesting as a way to engage them in the lesson.
One way of engaging the students throughout the lecture is to use storytelling to explain different and complex concepts. Teachers can come up with interesting and interactive stories regarding different bodies of water to explain to the students the differences among them.
Each waterbody has its own significance and uses in the environment and the ecosystem. Teachers can help the students distinguish these waterbodies based on their significance and uses. For instance, some waterbodies are used for trade and some are used for irrigation purposes.
Use interactive maps—physical or digital—to let students explore and distinguish between various bodies of water. Google Maps and other online tools, as well as educational applications, may be quite useful. Incorporate the subject of geography to help students integrate different concepts together.
Recommend the students some reading resources about different water bodies. After that, have discussions with the students about what they learned. Group conversations or written reflections might be used for this. If possible, teachers can arrange a field trip to any nearby water body to encourage hands-on learning.
A sea is a smaller body of salt water that is partially surrounded by land, whereas an ocean is a massive expanse of salt water that covers a significant amount of the surface of the Earth. Students can reflect on some examples of both waterbodies such as the Arabian Sea and the Pacific Ocean and make a comparison using a Venn Diagram.
In general, lakes are bigger and deeper than ponds. Lakes may get water from a variety of sources, including rivers and subterranean springs. Students can analyze the different types of animal and plant species that can be found in both waterbodies as a way to distinguish between them.
Rivers normally travel downstream and eventually drain into a bigger body of water after beginning at a natural source, such as a spring or a glacier that is melting.