Drip Irrigation Kit(K10): Lesson1 - Know Your Controller: The Water in the Earth

1. Engage: Where is Water all Around Us?

Start the lesson by showing images/videos of Earth's water (oceans, rivers, rain, glaciers, even a glass of water).

Ask students: "Raise your hand if you've seen water today—where? In the sink? Outside as rain? In a puddle? Let's list all the places!"
Key Question:
Did you know Earth has a lot of water, but most isn't for drinking? Let's find out why!

Show a simple info graphic to introduce:

Activity 1
Give students cards with water sources.
(You can find and cut out the cards from the end of the activity sheet.)
Ask them to sort into "salty" vs. "fresh" piles, then match to the correct percentage.

2. Explore: How Does Water Move?

Play the audio "The Journey of Water" and guide students to explain the process of the water cycle.

Evaporation: Sun heats water (e.g., oceans) → turns to water vapor.
Precipitation: Vapor meet cool → forms clouds → Clouds release water (rain, snow) → flows back to oceans/land.
Transpiration:plants absorb water from the soil and release water vapor back into the air.
Key Question:
Why is the water cycle critical for plants, animals, and humans? How does it keep Earth's water supply balanced?

3. Engineer: Meet The UNIHIKER K10

Show the UNIHIKER K10 board: "This is our brain today! It is an ESP32 based development board designed for rapid experience and learning of artificial intelligence. The board integrates screen, RGB light and multiple sensors. Let’s use these to simulate water cycle steps."
Guide students to get to know the main board, observe the icons on it, and guess what this board can sense and what it can do.
Key Question:
We want to simulate the evaporation process of water. Which sensor on the main board can detect sunlight?

Demonstrate connecting the board to a computer (USB cable).

Connect the device and upload the code to the device.

Demonstrate the first program (Simulate Sun heats water, it turns to vapor):
When you activate the light sensor, the screen will display a GIF.

4.Experience: Your Turn to Code
Activity 2
Give students 2-3 minutes to practice connecting and uploading.
Code provided(lesson1-experience):

Activity 3
Guide students to observe and discuss:
1.What will be displayed if you flash the light sensor on the UNIHIKER K10?
2.How fast does the GIF flash?

5.Challenge: Modify Your Code

Activity 4
Give students 1 minute to think and discuss: can vapor flash faster or slower?
Guide them to modify and test their codes.

6.Elaborate: Water Cycle in Our Lives

Key Question
How do humans use the water cycle? (e.g., water treatment plants, desalination)
Activity 5
Create a simple water cycle model using everyday materials (e.g., a plastic bottle, soil, and water). Label evaporation, condensation, and rainfall!