The Journey of a Water Molecule

Overview

Jennifer Yetter, a junior high school science teacher in Rock Springs, developed this resource designed to help students explore how matter and energy move throughout living systems on Earth using narratives. By following the journey of a single water molecule, students investigate chemical reactions, photosynthesis, ecosystems, weathering, erosion, and plate tectonics. Using narrative and visual learning approaches, the resource invites curiosity and imagination to support sensemaking.

Scroll down to the Resources & Links section of this page to check out their specific materials.

Goals

• Help students understand how matter and energy move through Earth's systems
• Support students in making connections across through different science concepts
• Reinforce understanding of scientific ideas through storytelling and visuals
• Promote systems thinking by helping students recognize interactions among Earth systems

Implementation & Outcomes

• Implemented with junior high school students in Rock Springs
• Students investigated concepts related: structure of matter, energy transfer, chemical reactions, conservation of mass, photosynthesis, weathering and erosion, plate tectonics, and ecosystem cycling
• Students created models/diagrams to visualize processes and reflected on prompts to explain scientific ideas and make connections across content areas
• The resource integrates multiple NGSS junior high school standards

Resources & Links

• The Journey of Water Molecule Narrative
• Water Journey Worksheet and Prompts

Contact for More Information

For more details about this program or to learn how to incorporate similar activities in your school, please reach out to the TRKE program coordinators at smtcpd@uwyo.edu.