Context: This lesson was created while student teaching Spring of 2008. It was taught in Mrs. Karen Gilbert's second grade class at Hudson Elementary.

Impact: This lesson will focus on the rain cycle. The students will move around the room to different stages of the cycle in order to get an idea of how water moves. The entire class will be able to participate in the activity. The will learn how water get from a puddle or lake, up to a cloud, and finally rain. They will also see how the sun affects the rain cycle.

Alignment: This lesson met the following North Carolina Standards for Elementary Teachers.

Standard 3: Elementary teachers have a broad knowledge and understanding of the major concepts in science.

Indicator 3: Teachers have knowledge of basic earth science concepts including planetary astronomy (objects in the sky, changes in the earth and sky, and weather.)

I met this indicator by showing the students how the rain cycle works.

Standard 15: Elementary teachers encourage under represented groups to engage in the schooling process, especially math and science.

Indicator 1: Teachers use a variety of strategies to encourage under represented groups to engage in the schooling process, especially in math and science.

I met this standard by asking two of our visitors from the Special Education class, who visit everyday for science, to come up and be our first water droplets that turn into condensation and rise to form a cloud.