Missouri River Basins and Watersheds
Lesson Abstract |
Summary: |
Students identify the basins and watersheds of Missouri
using
maps and construct their own watershed and basin pattern systems
with colored yarn. |
MO GLE: |
SC 4.1.D.6; 5.1.A.6,8;5.2.A.6;5.3.A.6 |
Subject Areas: |
Science, Social Studies |
Show-Me |
Goals – 1.6, 3.5 |
Standards: |
Strands – SC 5, 8; SS 7 |
Skills: |
Observation, compare and contrast, analysis, synthesis |
Duration: |
1 class period (50 minutes) |
Setting: |
Classroom |
Key Vocabulary: |
Basin, watershed, channel, drainage, tributary, first order
stream, second order stream, third order stream, fourth order stream.
|
Rationale:
Basins contain all the watersheds which eventually drain
into a given river system. This drainage pattern, in turn, defines a basin’s
boundaries. Watersheds within a basin are outlined by the geology, land
forms and topography of an area which determine these surface drainage
patterns. The land use practices within a basin’s watersheds work
together with the topography and geology of an area to affect the water
quality and quantity of a basin.
The activity allows students to determine the basins
in Missouri and their respective watersheds through hands-on activities.
Student relevance:
- Students all live in a basin and watershed.
- Students are dependent on the water quality
within watersheds and basins.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion, students will be able to . . .
- Identify the three Missouri River basins and their
boundaries.
- Explain that basins are composed of individual watersheds
which define each basin.
- Determine watershed boundaries by examining maps
of river systems.
- Explain an order streams system.
Students Need to Know:
- Water flows downhill.
- General Missouri topography.
- Missouri’s five physiographic regions.
- Tributaries feed into larger river systems.
- Basins are determined by a river system’s
drainage patterns which are the result of the topography and geology
of a given basin and its component watersheds.
Teacher Need to Know:
- The location and names of the three main basins of
Missouri (see the USA/Missouri Basin Map in lesson).
Resources:
Missouri Water Atlas
Available from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division
of Geology and Land Survey, P.O. Box 250, Rolla, MO 65402, (573)368-2125.
Website for DNR publications:
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/adm/publications/pubscatalog.pdf
Materials Needed for Lesson:
Transparencies
USA/Missouri Basin map (make from provided copy)
Rivers of Missouri map (make from provided copy)
Watersheds of Missouri map (make from provided copy)
Stream Order Diagram (make from provided copy)
Stream Order Diagram Key (make from provided copy)
Maps
Missouri Highway map (one for every three students)
Handouts
Rivers of Missouri map (make from provided copy)
“The Watershed” article (make from provided copy)
Other Materials
Colored pencils
Four different colors of yarn (one ball of yarn per color)
One pair of scissors per group
Glue, poster board or butcher paper per group (optional)
Procedure:
Part One: Basin Line Activity
- Discuss the old fashioned water basin used before
the days of running water.
- Discuss the basin dishes students have seen in old
western films, antique stores, or perhaps at home.
- Draw a bowl on the board and explain to students
that the earth’s land surface is much like a series of basins
that are interconnected.
- Ask students to speculate how these basins may be
shaped (opposed to being round) and what land forms may represent different
parts of the basins.
- Explain to students that no matter where they are
standing or live, they are always within a water basin which is composed
of smaller basins or watersheds that feed the main river of a designated
basin.
- Pass out a copy of the Missouri Highway
map to small groups of students (three to four per group).
- Ask students to examine the map carefully and try
to locate the three basins in Missouri by carefully examining the river
drainage patterns. (If USA atlases are available, these may be used
as well).
- After students have come to the conclusions, show
them the copy of the transparency USA/Missouri Basin map.
- Examine the transparency and question students about
their observations.
- Ask student groups to outline the three basins on
the Missouri Highway maps using either colored pencils, markers,
string, or yarn. (Use string or yarn if the maps will need to be used
by other classes for the same activity). Be sure students understand
that they need to observe the river flow direction.
- Allow the groups to compare and contrast their basin
outlines.
Part Two: Watershed Focus
- Pass out The Watershed brochure, read and
discuss.
- Using the Missouri Highway maps, have students
locate their home area and determine their basin and watershed.
- After students have come to their conclusions, show
them the copy of the transparency Watersheds of Missouri map.
- Discuss how their basin and watershed is part of
a designated Missouri region.
- Pass out the Rivers of Missouri handout
and have students locate the river on the map that is closest to their
community (they may refer to the Missouri Highway map as well).
- Place a transparency of the Rivers of Missouri
map on the overhead.
- Through questioning, ask students to help you outline
the community’s basin and watershed on the map with a transparency
marker pen.
- Discuss the stream river pattern within the community’s
watershed and basin.
- Place the Stream Order Diagram on the overhead
and have a student volunteer outline the watershed on the diagram. Explain
the following terms to the students after identifying and defining tributaries.
First Order Stream – a natural
channel in which no other channels feed
Into it.
Second Order Stream – a natural channel created when two “first
order”
streams intersect.
Third Order Stream – a natural channel created when two “second
order”
streams intersect.
Fourth Order Stream – a natural channel created when two “third
order”
streams intersect.
Evaluation Strategies:
- Have students outline the rest of the watersheds
in Missouri on the Rivers of Missouri map and/or shade each
Missouri basin on the map with a different color.
Extension Activities:
- Contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Geology and Land Survey, and ask to receive free outdated
Missouri topographic maps. Pass out these maps to students and have
them identify and outline stream patterns and thus watersheds.
- Have students identify first, second, third and fourth
order streams on the maps.
(Note: The concept of contour lines should be introduced before conducting
this activity.)
- Have students identify the habitat in a given basin;
based on those characteristics which animals could survive there?
Suggested Scoring Guide:
Missouri River basins and Watersheds
Teacher Name: ________________________________________
Group Name: ________________________________________
CATEGORY |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Time management |
Group defined own approach, effectively managing activity.
|
Defined useful roles not mentioned before hand. Group
adjusted roles to maximize individual capabilities and interests.
|
Group made specific efforts to involve all group members. |
One or more students in the group did not participate
in or contribute to the activity |
Role Performance |
Each student in the group can clearly explain what information
is needed by the group, what information s/he is responsible for locating,
and when the information is needed. |
Each student in the group can clearly explain what information
s/he is responsible for locating. |
Each student in the group can, with minimal prompting
from peers, clearly explain what information s/he is responsible for
locating. |
One or more students in the group cannot clearly explain
what information they are responsible for locating. |
Worked together as a team and all ideas were valued |
Group independently identifies at least 4 reasonable,
insightful, creative ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research. |
Group independently identifies at least 4 reasonable
ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research. |
Group identifies, with some adult help, at least 4 reasonable
ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research. |
Researchers identify, with considerable adult help,
4 reasonable ideas/questions to pursue when doing the research. |
Rubric Made Using: RubiStar (http://rubistar.4teachers.org)
USA/Missouri Basin Map

Source: Missouri Water Atlas, 1986, Missouri Department of Natural
Resources,
Division of Geology and Land Survey
Rivers of Missouri Map

Source: Missouri Water Atlas, 1986,
Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
Division of Geology and Land Survey
Stream Order Diagram

Stream
Order Diagram Key 
The Watershed
The watershed is an area of land that drains into a
stream. This includes both the surface runoff and groundwater. Because
a stream is made up of drainage water, it is a product of the land above
it.
If the land is misused or pollutants are spilled, the
receiving stream will be degraded. Although simple, the most important
concept in stream management is that every stream is the product of its
watershed and each of us lives in a watershed. Each one of us is linked
to a stream regardless of our occupation or way of life. How we use the
land is ultimately reflected in the condition of the stream.
Watershed management includes all of the land uses and
activities of rural and urban living. Each watershed has its own runoff
patterns which are dependent upon the types of plants and trees and the
natural slope of the land.
A timbered or native grass watershed delivers its runoff
slowly and over a long time period. Watersheds with a lot of timber clearing
or the construction of many paved streams and parking lots allow water
to runoff fast, which results in larger, more frequent floods. Faster
runoff increases erosion both on the land and in the stream channels below.
In urban areas, flood plains make good locations for
parks, ball diamonds, football or soccer fields, and industries which
can withstand periodic flooding. In rural Missouri, flood plains make
good pastures or areas for growing timber products such as pecans and
walnuts. Row cropping can be acceptable if the stream channel, and other
channels that carry water during floods are protected with a corridor
of trees on both sides.
Most watershed changes speed runoff, but conservation
can reduce their bad effects. Some landowners build terraces and use strip
cropping. Towns use stormwater control measures, such as retention basins,
to help slow runoff.
A natural watershed delivers some nutrients and sediment,
such as soil, sand, and gravel to the stream. But some watershed practices
increase these amounts to harmful levels. Row cropping of erodible land,
careless handling of household and industrial chemicals, construction
sites with uncontrolled erosion, and strip mining pollute runoff waters
and degrade the receiving stream.
Some Missouri farmers are doing a good job of maintaining
runoff water quality by removing erodible land from production, but this
is still a major pollution source. Reclamation of strip mined lands has
also been effective and homeowners are becoming more conscious of the
need for careful use and disposal of chemicals. An effort to stop poor
land use and other polluting activities will result in healthier streams.
This article was written by Bill Turner, Missouri
Department of Conservation, and printed in the pamphlet “Understanding
Streams.”
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