CSO, Oh No!

Cause & effect, systems thinking.

Following interconnected, multi-step processes through reading comprehension.

Scientific story-telling.

Participants will develop a more in-depth understanding of the "real" water cycle, which always involves complex interaction with human systems.

Students will explore the impacts of a range of common water uses, which include human error, infrastructure failures, and unintended consequences.

Basic principles and terminology of the hydrologic cycle will be reinforced, while a more holistic, big-picture, real-world understanding of natural resource use and human impacts, like pollution, is developed.

Copy of Tracking Sheet for each student (digital preferred as stories get quite long).

Link to the website (link can also be found above and on tracking sheet)

Each participant plays alone on their own device, or it can be played together as a group.

Prepare to carry out the activity by each participant making a copy of the tracking sheet for their own unique journey.

Providing introductory/background context before the activity will help students better understand what the game demonstrates and why it is so important!

The activity begins by clicking the link to the game - you will be redirected to a new site to play.

Follow the directions and prompts to move through the activity.

After playing and tracking their unique journey, participants can share their stories (each will be different).

An original, in-depth, interactive online activity.

Participants follows a water drop on a journey through Earth's hydrologic cycle, moving through many types of human uses and human impacts.

Players "choose their own adventure" as they move through the game, tracking their journey through each part of a unique, detailed story.

The activity provides thorough scientific background and imagery to help students develop a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between people and one our most precious natural resources.

The activity can be preceded with introductory explanation/information/review: of the hydrologic cycle; of basics around essential human water uses; and of the understanding that water may become polluted along the way as it is used as resource in various ways by people. 

The activity can be followed-up by each participant sharing their unique story, and by reflecting on both how their water was used by humans and how their water was impacted by humans along the way.