WaterViz

These inquiry-based hands-on water cycle games, experiments, and investigations are designed for students in grades 6-12 to learn about water cycle science and creative ways of representing data using tactile graphics, 3D models, and musical sonification.

By Mary Robbins, Tina Herzberg, Lindsey Rustad, and Susan Osterhaus

Introduction

In the Fall of 2023 and the Summers of 2023-2025, the Project INSPIRE team took a deep dive into water cycle science and climate data. Now it is your turn to share these investigations, experiments, and activities with one or more of your students or children. Below we share what we did, but you are welcome to make these materials and activities your own.

Feel free to share the WaterViz program with classroom teachers, science fair organizers, families, and others to support them in understanding that students with visual impairments can participate in hands-on science learning when provided with accessible tools and appropriate accommodations. 

In Fall 2023, we invited environmental scientists (6th -12th grade braille readers from across the country) to join us on Zoom for the virtual WaterViz program, held over 6 Saturday morning sessions. In Summers 2023-2025, environmental scientists were invited to join us for a week-long in-person camp in South Carolina. Working in teams, the environmental scientists honed their skills for understanding water cycle and climate data, using accessible tools to conduct hands-on experiments, and using creative and accessible methods to represent scientific data. The scientists learned:

• How animated digital art, musical sonification, tactile graphs, and 3D models can be used to represent environmental science data.
• How to work collaboratively, follow directions, and use accessible tools to set up and conduct experiments. 
• How to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to collect, analyze, and interpret experimental data.
• How to use tactile art supplies and materials to create and present accessible representations of experimental data including creating tactile graphs and building 3D models.

90-Minute Sessions

• Session 1 – Dipping into the Water Cycle
• Session 2 – WaterViz Investigation 1 (News Article)
• Session 3 – WaterViz Investigations 2 & 3 (Animated Art with Image Description, Musical Data Sonification)
• Session 4 – WaterViz Investigation 4 (Tactile Graphs)
• Between Sessions 4 and 5 – Transpiration Experiment
• Session 5 – Transpiration Experiment Presentations, Zoom-a-Scientist, Analyze Climate Data Tables (Investigation 5)
• Session 6 – Building a 3D Model of Climate Data (Investigation 5 Continued)
• Additional Experiments

Acknowledgements

This activity is an adaptation of the WaterViz Curriculum available at Waterviz Curriculum – Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study

The transpiration experiment is an adaptation of the Muddy Sneakers Outdoor Classroom Resources for Remote Learning Transpiration Experiment available at Investigating Transpiration Rates in Different Leaves | Course Hero

The soil percolation experiment is an adaptation of the National Center for Agricultural Literacy Soil Texture and Water Percolation Experiment available at: https://agclassroom.org/matrix/lesson/147/ 

This program was developed as part of Project INSPIRE: Increasing the STEM Potential of Individuals Who Read Braille, a 5-year grant funded by the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (H235E190003).

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) and the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina (NFB of SC) partnered in offering the in-person activities during the SCCB Summer Teen Program. 

Return to Project INSPIRE Student Programs.