7th Grade Environment Simulations

Are you looking for a hands-on, inquiry-based lab for your middle school students that covers watersheds and human impact on water supply? Then check this out! In this lab, students will crumple a piece of paper, use markers to draw various landmarks and landforms on the paper, and then spray water over the paper to simulate rain flowing through a watershed. Students will be able to observe how water travels from areas of higher elevation to lower elevation due to gravity. Additionally, students will learn how humans impact the environment by leaving pollution on Earth's surface, which gets transported into the water supply. This lab also includes detailed step by step instructions and post-lab questions.

An answer key is included.

Materials needed: markers, plain paper, spray bottles, and water.

Your students will:

• Apply knowledge
• Practice concepts 
• Use observation skills
• Demonstrate understanding
• Analyze data
• Apply key terms and definitions
• Engage in visual and hands-on learning
• Explore real world problems

An engaging way to begin a unit on economics! This fun and hands-on activity will have students explore the important concepts of human needs versus wants through an engaging rocket ship simulation. Students will be vicariously drawn into an emergency situation in which they must collaborate, and agree as to what items they consider as ‘essential’ for their survival on their rocket ship mission to live on a far away planet. An interactive Slide Presentation will help guide the groups on their journey… along with prompting students to delve deeper by examining the broader issues of sustainability, waste, and identifying the main differences between ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries.

Materials:

• Teacher Reference Guide
• Slide Presentation
• Handouts:

#1. Student Guided Notes & Student Reflection

#2. Rocket Ship Activity

If you liked this lesson see other related lessons here:

• Child Labor: Comparing Industrial Era to Today
• Analyzing Environmental Disasters Caused by Human Activity
• FDR & The New Deal Matching Game
• Mystery: What Caused the Great Depression?
• Post Zombie Apocalypse: What Form of Government Would YOU Create?