Human Activity & Water Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 7.11A

Everything you need for an engaging middle school ecosystems unit on the beneficial and harmful influences of human activity on groundwater and surface water in a watershed. This resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments. Designed for flexible, student-centered learning, this multiday lesson requires minimal prep while keeping students deeply engaged in real-world environmental science.

Your Students Will Explore:

• How human activity affects groundwater and surface water

• How actions such as agriculture, industry, and conservation can both benefit and harm freshwater resources

Why Teachers Love This Lesson

• Differentiated materials for a wide range of learners

• Multimodal learning keeps students active and engaged

• Flexible formats – perfect for print or digital classrooms

• Editable PowerPoints allow you to customize instruction

• Spanish translations of key resources: vocabulary, reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

• Aligned with 2021 TEKS Standard 7.11A

Based on the 5E Model: Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate

Engagement

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with creative class discussion prompts and misconceptions to address

Exploration

Students take the lead in a nine-station lab designed for all learning styles. They’ll investigate how human activities—from pollution to water conservation—affect the balance of Earth's watersheds.

Input Stations – Learning through discovery

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment connects students to key concepts

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension checks

• Research It! – Students analyze online resources and respond to guided questions

• Watch It! – Short video paired with critical-thinking prompts

Output Stations – Demonstrating understanding

• Organize It! – Printable/digital card sorts for classification and review

• Write It! – Open-ended response activities promote critical writing

• Illustrate It! – Sketches and diagrams help students visualize water systems

• Assess It! – Task cards and paragraph activities test mastery in context

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Engage early finishers or advanced students with crosswords, games, and mini-projects that extend learning.

Explanation

• Editable PowerPoints (standard & interactive versions)

• Interactive notebook templates – digital & print (English & Spanish)

• Note-taking templates for guided instruction

Elaboration

Students choose from multiple project options to showcase their understanding of how human actions affect watersheds—perfect for in-class or at-home learning.

Evaluation

• STAAR 2.0–style assessment questions (standard & modified versions)

• Review worksheet for discussion, test prep, or homework

Perfect for In-Class or Virtual Learning

All station labs, notebooks, and slides are compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint, making this resource ideal for blended or remote instruction.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.