Discrepant Event Lesson Plan

Thinking of creative ways to get your students interested in the water cycle? Why not try a discrepant event lesson regarding groundwater! Discrepant event lessons are designed to challenge, amaze, puzzle, or astonish the observer by presenting information that is different from previously held information. They are often utilized in science lessons in order to stimulate further inquiry and to help students develop problem solving skills.

Challenging Students' Assumptions

Students often have vague or unclear ideas regarding where their drinking water comes from, and groundwater is often a resource that is out of sight out of mind. Students may also be unsure as to who regulates the purity of their potable water. When discussing the implications of groundwater as a potable resource teachers have an excellent opportunity to discuss groundwater in a holistic manner by drawing from examples in their communities and their world at large. Teachers may follow the 5E (Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration, Evaluation) lesson template listed below, or adapt the ideas to their own lesson format.

Engagement: How the Teacher Captures Students' Interest

Use a bottle of brand name bottled water such as Aquifina when discussing terms and words associated with groundwater. Challenge students to examine concepts of purity and words associated with groundwater such as “aquifer” or “artesian well" that may be listed on the bottle. Encourage students to question words that may sound exotic such as “reverse osmosis.” These words and concepts are often associated with bottled water ads and students are often confused by them. They are therefore a good starting point for finding discrepancies in students' thinking.

Exploration: Hands-On/Minds-On Activites for Students

Questions the teacher may use to encourage and/or focus students' exploration: Where does our drinking water come from? Who regulates our water supply? Is our drinking water quality guaranteed? Further questions may involve discussions of water treatment plants or the use of individual household wells and septic systems. A groundwater model is a wonderful tool to use in explaining the resource. Students respond very positively to this type of 3D visual aid. Consider borrowing, buying, or building your own groundwater model as a class project. Groundwater models may be simple or complex..

Explanation: Techniques Used to Explore the Scientific Concept

Teachers may choose to focus on groundwater terminology or groundwater's roll in the water cycle. But, if time permits, the lesson may include specific or very broad topics. It all depends on what you as a teacher would like the class to investigate or what has been brought up in class discussions. For example, osmosis regulation in kidneys may be discussed, or more broadly, watershed protection issues. An important part of the explanation process is that the teacher should facilitate student questions, exploration, and further investigation.

Elaboration: Developing a Sophisticated Understanding of the Concept

By addressing students' misconceptions regarding groundwater and drinking water purity, students will have a clearer idea how this resource functions. Teachers may discuss how water treatment plants work, or perhaps even take a field trip to their local water treatment faciliy.

Evaluation: Demonstrating Lesson Objectives

This lesson component is up to the individual discretion of the teacher and will reflect how the above lesson components are utilized.

Water Glass

Water and Clouds

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