Our Watershed
3 Activities
Overview
Think of a watershed like a filter, where water flows over the land and into other bodies of water, and takes into account the health of the land and all its waterways. In this playlist youth will learn more about their watershed, the ecosystem where they live, and observe the biodiversity nearby.
My Watershed
Nature and Wildlife, STEM
Grades 3 - 8
My Watershed
National Wildlife Federation
3 - 8
50 Minutes
A watershed is an area of land that drains all the streams, rainfall, and snowmelt to a common outlet such as the outflow of a reservoir, mouth of a bay, or ocean and consists of surface water, such as lakes, streams, reservoirs, and wetlands and all underlying groundwater. The word “watershed” is sometimes used interchangeably with drainage basin or catchment. Larger watersheds contain many smaller watersheds. Watersheds are critical because the water flowing over the land impacts habitat, and wildlife health supports various recreational activities and provides communities with drinking water.
Discover Activity
The Ecosystem Where I Live
Nature and Wildlife, STEM
Grades 3 - 8
The Ecosystem Where I Live
National Wildlife Federation
3 - 8
50 Minutes
An ecosystem is where plants and animals live with and interact with nonliving elements, both natural and human-made. Ecosystems host biotic or living organisms, as well as abiotic or nonliving parts. Biotic organisms include plants and wildlife, while abiotic components of an ecosystem include rocks, temperature, and soil. Ecosystems can be very big or very small; for example, a river is a huge ecosystem, and under a rock is a tiny ecosystem.
Every aspect of an ecosystem depends upon another, either directly or indirectly. To illustrate this, imagine the amount of rainfall in a given location is a variable (other variables include temperature, sunlight, and elevation) to predict the types of plants that will grow there. All of these factors will then support wildlife who depend on these plant species and weather conditions for survival.
Discover Activity
Observing Biodiversity
Nature and Wildlife, STEM
Grades 3 - 8
Observing Biodiversity
National Wildlife Federation
3 - 8
50 Minutes
Bio meaning life and diversity mean variety; biodiversity is the variety of life at every trophic level from microorganisms to the largest species of plants and animals. Biodiversity is a critical factor in a healthy environment, a part of the biosphere system. When parts of the system are not functioning well, the system starts to struggle, working inefficiently, or having the potential to break down completely.
An assessment of the best-known groups of U.S. plants and animals indicates that as many as one-third of America’s species are vulnerable, one in five is in danger and at high risk of extinction. It is critically important we provide children numerous opportunities to appreciate the natural world and teach them the skills required to be stewards of the land and its inhabitants.
Discover Activity
Our Watershed
Overview
My Watershed
Nature and Wildlife, STEM
Grades 3 - 8
My Watershed
National Wildlife Federation
3 - 8
50 Minutes
A watershed is an area of land that drains all the streams, rainfall, and snowmelt to a common outlet such as the outflow of a reservoir, mouth of a bay, or ocean and consists of surface water, such as lakes, streams, reservoirs, and wetlands and all underlying groundwater. The word “watershed” is sometimes used interchangeably with drainage basin or catchment. Larger watersheds contain many smaller watersheds. Watersheds are critical because the water flowing over the land impacts habitat, and wildlife health supports various recreational activities and provides communities with drinking water.
Discover Activity
The Ecosystem Where I Live
Nature and Wildlife, STEM
Grades 3 - 8
The Ecosystem Where I Live
National Wildlife Federation
3 - 8
50 Minutes
An ecosystem is where plants and animals live with and interact with nonliving elements, both natural and human-made. Ecosystems host biotic or living organisms, as well as abiotic or nonliving parts. Biotic organisms include plants and wildlife, while abiotic components of an ecosystem include rocks, temperature, and soil. Ecosystems can be very big or very small; for example, a river is a huge ecosystem, and under a rock is a tiny ecosystem.
Every aspect of an ecosystem depends upon another, either directly or indirectly. To illustrate this, imagine the amount of rainfall in a given location is a variable (other variables include temperature, sunlight, and elevation) to predict the types of plants that will grow there. All of these factors will then support wildlife who depend on these plant species and weather conditions for survival.
Discover Activity
Observing Biodiversity
Nature and Wildlife, STEM
Grades 3 - 8
Observing Biodiversity
National Wildlife Federation
3 - 8
50 Minutes
Bio meaning life and diversity mean variety; biodiversity is the variety of life at every trophic level from microorganisms to the largest species of plants and animals. Biodiversity is a critical factor in a healthy environment, a part of the biosphere system. When parts of the system are not functioning well, the system starts to struggle, working inefficiently, or having the potential to break down completely.
An assessment of the best-known groups of U.S. plants and animals indicates that as many as one-third of America’s species are vulnerable, one in five is in danger and at high risk of extinction. It is critically important we provide children numerous opportunities to appreciate the natural world and teach them the skills required to be stewards of the land and its inhabitants.
Discover Activity
Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.
Copyright © 2026, Mizzen Education, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to empower, uplift and support out-of-school time educators.