ABSTRACT
This chapter describes ways to integrate STEAM content, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, through five unit plans on the water cycle. Science offers multiple opportunities for students to view and interact with elements of the water cycle. Technology offers fast-paced changes for students to learn safe ways to search for and represent information on the water cycle through graphs and presentation tools using ethical behaviors. Engineering enables students to acquire dispositions, knowledge, and skills necessary to study and explore the effects of precipitation and evaporation on the rising and falling of water collections in rivers and oceans and their effect on land formations and hydroelectric energy. Art provides multiple ways to involve students in fact-based learning about the water cycle. Students learn to communicate information about the water cycle through the visual arts, music, dance, theater/drama and media using trial and error, problem solving, perseverance, and creativity. Mathematics enables students to observe, record, and evaluate numerical information about the water cycle. Each unit plan follows a nine-step format: Become an Expert, Essential Questions, Objectives, Vocabulary, Materials and Resources, Set, Procedures and Closure, Formative and Summative Assessment, Extend Learning, and a Sensory Checklist. Online References at the end of each unit plan contain QR codes that can be optically used to access websites.
