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Science lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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 · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 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/ 8

  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

  7. Question 7

    Where is most of Earth's FRESH water?

    • A. in clouds
    • B. frozen in ice sheets and glaciers
    • C. in swimming pools
    • D. in rivers

  8. Question 8

    Is this salt water or fresh water: a river?

    • A. salt water
    • B. fresh water

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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

  7. 7. B. frozen in ice sheets and glaciers

  8. 8. B. fresh water