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

Oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and ponds

Earth and rocks

CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-2CCSS NGSS.2-ESS2-3England: KS1 Geography links

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and ponds.

  • 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: the next skill in this area.

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. In which form is water found at the top of very high mountains? (solid ice and snow / only liquid / only gas / there is never water there) → solid ice and snowPrompt: It is very cold high up.
  2. About 97.5% of Earth's water is salt water. What percentage is fresh water? → 2.5 %Prompt: All the water together is 100%.
  3. Which landform is described: a long channel of moving fresh water? (mountain / valley / island / river) → riverPrompt: 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: Oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and ponds. 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: Which body of water is this: the largest body of salt water, covering huge parts of Earth?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: ocean
  • Answer: ocean
  • 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. Which body of water is this: a large area of salt water, partly surrounded by land? (stream / sea / waterfall / river) → seaPrompt: Is it salty or fresh? Moving or still? Big or small?
  2. Which of these usually holds the LEAST water? (an ocean / a lake / a pond) → a pondPrompt: Order them from smallest to largest in your head.

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. Which body of water is this: a small, narrow flow of water, smaller than a river? (stream / waterfall / sea / ocean) → streamPrompt: Is it salty or fresh? Moving or still? Big or small?
  2. Which of these usually holds the LEAST water? (a pond / an ocean / a puddle) → a puddlePrompt: Order them from smallest to largest in your head.

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

  • 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

eurekami

Oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and ponds

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which of these usually holds the LEAST water?

    • A. an ocean
    • B. a puddle
    • C. a pond

  2. Question 2

    Where does a river usually start?

    • A. high up, from springs, rain or melting snow
    • B. underground in a cave of fire
    • C. in the middle of the ocean
    • D. in a desert with no water

  3. Question 3

    Which body of water is this: a small, narrow flow of water, smaller than a river?

    • A. ocean
    • B. stream
    • C. sea
    • D. pond

  4. Question 4

    Which of these usually holds the MOST water?

    • A. an ocean
    • B. a lake
    • C. a pond

  5. Question 5

    What is the difference between a pond and a lake?

    • A. A lake flows downhill.
    • B. A pond is salty and a lake is not.
    • C. A lake is much bigger and deeper.
    • D. There is no difference.

  6. Question 6

    Which body of water is this: water falling over a steep drop in a river?

    • A. river
    • B. pond
    • C. waterfall
    • D. sea

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Answer key: Oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and ponds

  1. 1. B. a puddle

  2. 2. A. high up, from springs, rain or melting snow

  3. 3. B. stream

  4. 4. A. an ocean

  5. 5. C. A lake is much bigger and deeper.

  6. 6. C. waterfall