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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 30 minutes

Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-3CCSS NGSS.5-ESS2-2England: KS1 Geography linksEngland: KS2 Y4 States of matter

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is.

  • 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: Land and water on Earth

Leads to: Frozen water on Earth: glaciers, ice sheets and icebergs; Graph where Earth's water is: salty, frozen and fresh

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 from earlier learning (Land and water on Earth). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Where is most of Earth's water found? (in the oceans / in clouds / in lakes / in rivers) → in the oceansPrompt: Oceans cover most of the planet.
  2. About 96.5% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 3.5 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
  3. Which landform is described: land that rises steeply far above its surroundings? (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: Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is. 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: Is this salt water or fresh water: the Mediterranean Sea?
  • Step 1: Oceans and seas are salty.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: salt water
  • Answer: salt water
  • 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.
  1. Is this salt water or fresh water: a rock pool at the beach? (salt water / fresh water) → salt waterPrompt: Is it part of the sea, or does it come from rain, snow and rivers?
  2. Why can't people drink seawater when they are thirsty? (It has no water in it. / It is the wrong colour. / It is too salty and makes the body lose more water. / It is too cold.) → It is too salty and makes the body lose more water.Prompt: What do you feel like after eating something very salty?

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.
  1. Is this salt water or fresh water: a rock pool at the beach? (salt water / fresh water) → salt waterPrompt: Is it part of the sea, or does it come from rain, snow and rivers?
  2. True or false? Seawater is safe to drink when you are thirsty. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Oceans are salty. Where else is water found?

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

  • Review first: Land and water on Earth.
  • 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: Frozen water on Earth: glaciers, ice sheets and icebergs; Graph where Earth's water is: salty, frozen and fresh.
  • 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

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Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    True or false? Some lakes are salty, like the Dead Sea.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Why is it important to save fresh water?

    • A. Only a tiny part of Earth's water is fresh and easy to reach.
    • B. Fresh water is the same as seawater.
    • C. Plants do not need water.
    • D. There is more fresh water than salt water.

  3. Question 3

    Is this salt water or fresh water: a mountain stream?

    • A. salt water
    • B. fresh water

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Most of Earth's water is fresh water in rivers.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Is this salt water or fresh water: most lakes?

    • A. salt water
    • B. fresh water

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Glaciers are made of salt water.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Salt water or fresh water? Where Earth's water is

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. A. Only a tiny part of Earth's water is fresh and easy to reach.

  3. 3. B. fresh water

  4. 4. B. False

  5. 5. B. fresh water

  6. 6. B. False