The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Water Distribution on Earth

Water Distribution on Earth

A 5th Grade STEM Lesson

Jennifer Bargos

June 2023

Notes for Teachers

• This lesson is taught after introducing places on Earth that are part of the hydrosphere.
• This lesson will take approximately two days of 45 minute lessons.
• The students will work in groups of 3-4 to complete the activity.
• They will write a letter to a city official explaining the need for water conservation.

List of Materials

• water
• food dye
• 1-liter clear plastic bottle
• graduated cylinder
• eyedropper
• six small plastic cups
• salt
• permanent marker
• rulers
• colored pencils
• handouts

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Standards

Earth and Space Science:

5-ESS2-2: Describe and graph the amounts of saltwater and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.

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ELA:

5.W.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

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Math:

5.MD.C: Recognize volume as an attribute of solid figures and understand concepts of volume measurement.

Objective(s):

-Today we will create a graph to show the relative amounts of salt and freshwater in the parts of the hydrosphere.

-Today we will interpret the data shown in our model and will write a persuasive essay urging city officials to enforce regulations for water conservation.

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Vocabulary

hydrosphere: the Earth system that contains all of the water on Earth

fresh water: naturally occurring water that contains little or no salt

salt water: water that contains dissolved salt

water cycle: the dynamic movement of water on, below, and above Earth’s surface

reservoir: a place where water collects

groundwater: water stored in the spaces between materials beneath Earth’s surface

Agenda (45 minutes each day)

Day 1

• Review where water is found on Earth
• Present students with a real-world situation about water resources
• Put students in groups of 3-4 for activity
• Formative assessment

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Day 2

• Review models from previous day
• Put students back in groups to complete graph
• Have students answer questions about water on Earth
• Write a persuasive letter sharing the need for water conservation

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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1. Where is most of Earth’s water located?
2. Where else can water be found on Earth?

What is Hydrosphere? | Water Distribution | Environmental Science | Letstute

Partner Share:�Why is water conservation so important?

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Fill a 1,000mL bottle with water. Color it with food dye. This will represent all of the water in the hydrosphere.
• Label a small cup “Glaciers and Polar Ice.” Pour 17 mL from the bottle of water into this cup.
• Label another cup “Fresh Groundwater.” Pour 8 mL of water into this cup.
• Label another cup “Salty Groundwater.” Pour 9 mL of water into this cup.

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• Label another cup “Freshwater Lakes.” Use the dropper to pour one drop of water from the bottle into the cup.
• Label another cup “Saltwater Lakes” and use the dropper to add one drop of water from the bottle to the cup.
• Label another cup “Atmosphere” and use the dropper to pour one drop of water from the bottle into the cup.
• Label another cup “Rivers” and use the dropper to pour one drop of water from the bottle into the cup.
• There should be around 965 mL of water left in the bottle. Add a spoonful of salt to the water.

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Assessment

In your group, share what you notice about the different types of water reservoirs and the amounts of water in them.

Answer the following questions in your science journal:

1. Based on your model, what makes up a majority of the water in the hydrosphere?
2. How does this model a good representation of Earth’s water distribution?
3. Where is most of Earth’s freshwater found?
4. Using your model, create a circle graph to represent your data. Color and label each section. Be sure to include the oceans, glaciers and polar ice caps, fresh groundwater, salt groundwater, saltwater lakes, freshwater lakes, the atmosphere, and rivers.

Extension

After exploring the limited amounts of fresh water available in our hydrosphere, you will be acting as a concerned citizen. Write a persuasive letter to city officials expressing the need for water conservation. Use information from your model to support your reasoning. Be sure to include include your topic, use facts and details, linking words and transitions, and a concluding statement.

Differentiation

Provide struggling students with a premade circle graph and have them label the parts.

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Pull individual or small groups to walk through the writing process when drafting their letter to city officials.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students may create an online brochure or blog urging citizens to take action for water conservation.

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Students can convert the amounts on the graph into percentages to show another way to describe where fresh water on Earth can be found.