Strange River

Strange River
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Rivers are found all over the world.
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This is the Missouri River. It is the longest river in America.
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Many smaller streams and rivers flow into the Missouri River. The Missouri River gets bigger and bigger when other rivers flow into it.
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One of the rivers that flows into the Missouri River is very, very strange. Let’s fly to that strange river now…
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Here is that Strange River flowing into the Missouri River. Discuss. What do you notice?
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Here is that Strange River flowing into the Missouri River.
Discuss. What do you notice?
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Here is a closer look at the Strange River.
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Here is a closer look at the Strange River.
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Here is what the rivers look like from the other side! Let’s study this picture.
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Get a See-Think-Wonder chart to record your ideas. Your teacher will add your ideas to the class chart.
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What do you see in this picture? Record your answers in the SEE column of your chart.
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Why do you think the rivers are different colors? Record your answers in the THINK column of your chart.
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What do you wonder about these rivers? Record your answers in the WONDER column of your chart.
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Something must be making the rivers be different colors before they come together! But we don’t know what it is yet. This is a mystery for us to figure out.
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Here is the worksheet you will use as we solve this mystery. You don’t need a copy of this worksheet yet.
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The middle of the worksheet shows the two rivers coming together, just like in real life.
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If we could go back to the start of each river, we might find why they are different colors. You’re going to draw what you think we might find if we went back up each river.
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The real rivers are very, very long. We can’t draw such long rivers on a small worksheet. We have to imagine that the rivers on the worksheet are very long.
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Next, you'll imagine where the rivers go after they come together. You'll draw what it looks like there.
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Let’s see how one student filled in the worksheet.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Review, then think-pair-share. Do you agree or disagree with these ideas? Why or why not?
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Read what this student thinks. Study their drawing.
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Review, then think-pair-share. Do you agree or disagree with these ideas? Why or why not?
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Step
01/05
Now it’s your turn to draw what you think! Get a copy of the Strange River worksheet.
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Step
02/05
Write your name. This is your first drawing, so this is River Drawing Number 1. As you learn new things, you will make new drawings!
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Step
03/05
Why do you think the rivers look so different? Where do the rivers start? Draw it on your worksheet.
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04/05
Imagine where the rivers go after they come together. Draw what you think it looks like there.
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05/05
If you want to add labels, do so now. Here is a list of words you might use. You might use other words, too. When you are done, save your worksheet! You will use it again later.
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It's time to do some investigations! In this unit, you'll explore many different things about water and land. This will help you understand why these two rivers look the way that they do.

Have fun, and stay curious!

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Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Other
All illustrations by Alex Kalomeris
Fort Peck Shoreline Aerial by SkyworksRF
Katun Chuya Confluence by Valerii_M
Madison River / Missouri River Source by Mike Cline
Milk River Aerial by SkyworksRF
Milk River Alberta Badlands by Pictureguy
Milk River in Alberta by Jason Woodhead
Missouri River Aerial by SkyworksRF
Missouri River and Milk River Confluence 1 by SkyworksRF
Missouri River and Milk River Confluence 2 by SkyworksRF
Missouri River and Milk River Confluence Image by Larry Mayer / Billings Gazette
One of the Milk River Sources by Freddie Phillips
People at the beach and swimming in the Milk River by Claude Robidoux
Pouring Milk Into Tea by Pixel-Shot
River Video by Mikko
Upper Missouri River Breaks by Joseph Sohm
Credits

Activity Prep

Print Prep

To use alternate supplies, go to the previous version.
Note: This lesson is part of this unit’s Anchor Layer. If you have the Anchor Layer turned on, we recommend teaching all lessons in the remainder of this unit in order.

The anchor phenomenon for this unit is a pair of rivers that flow together but look very, very different from one another. Students explore what causes rivers to have such different colors.

During the introduction, students generate observations and questions about the phenomenon and create an initial conceptual model to explain the phenomenon.

Students will gather clues during and after each lesson in this unit to help them improve their explanations. It is important to encourage students to recognize that even if they don't know the perfect answer yet, they are going to learn a lot throughout the unit and will have an opportunity to change or add to their first explanation.

Preview activity
Number of students:
See-Think-Wonder worksheet 1 per student
Strange River worksheet
Print two copies of this worksheet for each student. Students will only need one copy at the beginning of the unit. They will begin working on the second copy after the first lesson. 		2 per student
Work of Water Teacher Guide teacher-only resource 1 per class
Prep Instructions

Before starting this lesson, review the unit Teacher Guide for an overview of the Work of Water Anchor Layer.

Set Up Your Classroom

Set up your classroom by creating a class "See-Think-Wonder" chart (the student version is linked above). We recommend using chart paper or a space on your board that won't be erased since you will revisit it throughout the unit. We also recommend that you do a single class chart, and record student thinking on it. You may choose to also have each individual student complete their own chart, in which case you will need to print one copy of that worksheet per student.

Extend this lesson

Download this Lesson to your device so you can play it offline: