Watersheds Connect Places
Match the cards using the notes about Watershed, Upstream, Downstream and Tributary.
About 15 minutes, plus any extended practice
Supplied materials
- Paper and pencil; drawing or spoken answers are welcome.
- Topic notes: Watershed: land draining toward a common outlet. Upstream: toward a stream’s source. Downstream: toward a stream’s outlet. Tributary: a stream feeding another stream or river.
- Original exercise cards: Fictional basin includes hills and streams draining to one lake. / Fictional point lies closer to the river’s headwaters. / Fictional point lies closer to the river mouth. / Fictional Brook A joins River B. / A boat travels toward the stated source. / A boat follows water toward the stated outlet. / A small stream flows into a larger river. / All stated runoff reaches one river mouth.
Learn the idea
A watershed is land draining toward a common outlet. Upstream means toward the source; downstream means toward the outlet. A tributary feeds another river. Human activities in one part of a basin can affect water elsewhere, though a map alone cannot establish the size of an effect.
Watershed: land draining toward a common outlet. Upstream: toward a stream’s source. Downstream: toward a stream’s outlet. Tributary: a stream feeding another stream or river.
Use the water-flow clue: a shared outlet, toward the source, toward the outlet or a stream joining another river. Read the notes and the word cards. You can write, draw or say your answer.
- Read the four notes. Find the words Watershed, Upstream, Downstream, Tributary.
- Use the water-flow clue: a shared outlet, toward the source, toward the outlet or a stream joining another river.
- Read the worked answer. Then try the other cards and explain which words helped you choose.
- Choose two different examples: one for Watershed and one for Upstream. Explain how their clues differ.
See the method in action
Worked example: The card says: “Fictional basin includes hills and streams draining to one lake.” That matches Watershed. Watershed is land draining toward a common outlet. Compare the note for Downstream: Downstream is toward a stream’s outlet. That is a different clue.
Check your reasoning
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Helpful tips
- Use the water-flow clue: a shared outlet, toward the source, toward the outlet or a stream joining another river.
- If you are unsure, ask an adult to read the card again. Match what this card says; do not add a new event or detail.
See the answer and explanation
Upstream
The card says: “Fictional point lies closer to the river’s headwaters.” That matches Upstream. Upstream is toward a stream’s source.
Take it further
New card: “All stated runoff reaches one river mouth.” Match it with a note, then point to or say the words that helped. Check: The card says: “All stated runoff reaches one river mouth.” That matches Watershed. Watershed is land draining toward a common outlet.
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More practice: try new cases
Choose an answer for each problem. Explain your method on paper, then use the feedback to decide what to revisit.
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Check the subject sources
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