Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes
Land and water on Earth
Earth and rocks
CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-2CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-3CCSS NGSS.5-ESS2-2England: KS1 Geography linksEngland: KS3 Chemistry: Earth and atmosphere
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Land and water on Earth.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: no earlier skill in the map; start from what students know.
Leads to: Rocks and soils; Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is; Name the landform from its description
Materials: Rock samples, Hand lenses, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval: three short questions students should already manage. Answers on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- In which form is water found at the top of very high mountains? (only liquid / solid ice and snow / there is never water there / only gas) → solid ice and snowPrompt: It is very cold high up.
- About 97% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 3 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
- Which landform is described: a very high peak, often with snow on top? (mountain / valley / island / river) → mountainPrompt: Is it high land, low land, land in water, or moving water?
Hook · 3 min
- Pass round different rocks and ask how each one might have formed.
- Share the objective: Land and water on Earth. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: In which form is water found at the top of very high mountains?
- Step 1: Water on high mountains is often frozen as snow and ice.
- Step 2: So the answer is: solid ice and snow
- Answer: solid ice and snow
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- About how much of Earth's surface is covered by water? (100% / about 30% / about 70% / about 10%) → about 70%Prompt: Look at a globe: is there more blue or more land?
- About 96% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 4 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- About 97.5% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 2.5 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
- Which landform is described: a very high peak, often with snow on top? (mountain / valley / island / river) → mountainPrompt: Is it high land, low land, land in water, or moving water?
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Use concrete materials: rock samples.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Rocks and soils; Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is; Name the landform from its description.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder