5-ESS2-1 Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.

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1 The Water Cycle Lesson Overview Water is necessary to support and maintain life on Earth. It is the key factor in the interactions between the Earth s major systems: the atmosphere (air), the biosphere (living things), the hydrosphere (water and ice), and geosphere (rock, soil,and sediments). Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation are all stages of an ongoing water cycle that affects the climate, and ultimately, the quality of life on Earth. Objectives Observe and compare the amount of water (salt and fresh) present on the Earth Research the stages of the water cycle Analyze how the water cycle affects the climate and quality of life Explain how water plays a critical role in the interaction of Earth s major systems Standards (NGSS and Common Core) For state specific standards visit edu.zspace.com Next Generation Science Standards Grade level: 4th - 6th Lesson Time: 120 Minutes Key Terms: Atmosphere Biosphere Condensation Evaporation Geosphere Hydrosphere Precipitation Transpiration Water Cycle Resources: Answer Key The Water Cycle worksheet Materials needed: Posterboards Markers/crayons/colored pencils Research materials on the water cycle Earth and Space Science - Earth s Systems 5-ESS2-1 Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact. 5-ESS2-2 Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth. Common Core Connections Language Arts RI.5.7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently. W.5.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources. SL.5.5 Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, sound) and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes. The Water Cycle 1

2 Mathematics 7.RP.A.3 Use proportional relationships to solve multistep ratio and percent problems. Differentiation (Δ) Group students heterogeneously to allow students with a strong command of the English language to assist others Provide a handout with a list of vocabulary terms and definitions that will appear in the activity Allow students to provide answers that are handwritten, typed, or verbal Give students a variety of presentation styles to choose from (using charts/graphs, PowerPoint, making 3D presentations, creating videos/movies, making posters) Enrichment: Students could find real-world problems involving the concept and design solutions to those problems Enrichment: Students could research similar topics and create presentations Enrichment: Students could build models of concept Introduction The teacher will ask the students why the water cycle is so important. After listening to several ideas, the teacher will explain to the students that they will be investigating how water plays an integral role in the interaction of Earth s major systems (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere) and how the water cycle affects our climate, and ultimately, the quality of life on Earth. Activity The Water Cycle This section will be completed in Studio along with The Water Cycle worksheet. Scene 1 Earth is an amazing planet because of its abundance of water. Water is necessary to sustain life. Let s take a closer look at the amount of available water on Earth. Rotate the model of Earth and look at it from all sides. Locate Earth s salt water in oceans and seas. Locate Earth s fresh water in rivers, lakes, ice caps, glaciers, groundwater, and aquifers. Scene 2 Did you know that the water on Earth now is the same water that has been on Earth since the beginning of time? That s because the 3-step water cycle continuously recirculates and distributes water across Earth. These steps are not in any particular order; instead, they work as a cycle. The Water Cycle 2

3 Step 1: Evaporation Step 2: Condensation Step 3: Precipitation Rotate the globe and look for evidence of the water cycle. Turn on the labels. Posters and Presentations Students will work in small groups to conduct in-depth research about the water cycle. Each group of students will imagine that they are meteorologists studying one type of extreme weather condition such as a tornado, hurricane, blizzard, rain storm, or thunder and lightning. Students will research the causes of their extreme weather condition and its effects on the geosphere (land), biosphere (living things), atmosphere (air), and hydrosphere (water and ice). Groups will create posters that diagram the stages of the water cycle and show how their extreme weather condition fits into this cycle. Posters will also include details about the causes of their extreme weather condition, as well as its effects on Earth s major systems and the quality of life on Earth. Students will also add real-life photographs to their posters. Students will make class presentations using their posters as visual aids. Closing After listening to the group presentations, students will share what they liked about other students posters. Questions for Discussion 1. What did you learn about the amount of water (salt and fresh) present on Earth? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: I learned that even though the Earth is covered by 71% water, less than 1% of Earth s water is available for drinking. 2. What is something new that you learned about the water cycle that you didn t know before? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: I learned the water here on Earth is the same water that was here millions of years ago. 3. Based on your research, in what ways could humans negatively affect the water cycle? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Pollution and chemicals in the oceans, streams, or groundwater could cause acid rain and other hazardous effects on plants, animals, and humans. 4. Why is it important to protect our environment and the water cycle? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: The Earth does not gain or lose water. It can only recycle the water that it already has. So we need to take care of our water and keep it clean and safe. The Water Cycle 3

4 Δ Investigate Further Extension Activity: Students could conduct various experiments demonstrating the evaporation, condensation, and precipitation stages of the water cycle. For example, students could create rain in a bag or clouds in a jar. Extension Activity: Students could research transpiration and sublimation, which are two other minor ways that water vapor enters the atmosphere during the evaporation stage. The Water Cycle 4

5 Answer Key Activity Questions Provided in Studio 1. What percentage of water vs. land do you think is present on the Earth? A: 50% water/50% land; B: 70% water/30% land; or C: 90% water/10% land. Correct Answer: B: 70% water and 30% land. Actually, 71% of the Earth s surface is covered in water. 2. What percentage of the water on Earth is salt vs. fresh water? Hint: Salt water is located in the oceans and seas. Fresh water is located in rivers, lakes, ice caps, glaciers, water vapor, groundwater, and aquifers. A: 50% salt/50% fresh water; B: 75% salt/25% fresh water; or C: 97% salt/3% fresh water. Correct Answer: C: 97% salt water and 3% fresh water. 3. Of the 3% fresh water, did you know that 70% of this amount is frozen in the polar ice caps? So approximately what percentage of the Earth s water is readily accessible for drinking? On the back of this worksheet, draw a pie graph that displays the percentages of salt and fresh water (both frozen in the ice caps and accessible for drinking). Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Less than 1% of the Earth s water is readily accessible. 4. If the Earth was the size of a basketball, all of the water on Earth would be the size of a ping-pong ball, and the amount of fresh water would be the size of a dot. Based on the relative amount of water on Earth, why do you think the water cycle is so important for our survival? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: The water cycle is important for our survival because it allows water to be continuously recycled into new fresh water for plants, animals, and humans. 5. Step 1 of the water cycle is evaporation. What is evaporation? Over what locations do you think most evaporation occurs? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Evaporation is when the heat and energy from the sun causes the liquid form of water to change into its gaseous state and rise into the sky. Most evaporation takes place over the oceans (85%). 6. Step 2 of the water cycle is condensation. What is condensation? In which layer of the Earth s atmosphere does condensation occur? Can you name and describe the three main types of clouds? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: As water vapor collects in the sky, it cools down, forms water droplets, and becomes clouds. This process when water changes from its gaseous state back into a liquid is called condensation. Condensation occurs in the troposphere layer of the Earth s atmosphere. There are three main types of clouds. Cirrus clouds are wispy and high in the sky. Cumulus clouds are large and puffy and in the mid-sky. Stratus clouds are low and grey and often produce rain or snow. 7. Step 3 of the water cycle is precipitation. What is precipitation? What are its different forms? What are some places that water is collected and stored naturally on Earth? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Precipitation is when water falls from the clouds back to the Earth in the form of rain, snow, hail, or sleet. Water is collected in oceans, seas, streams, rivers, ponds, polar ice caps, or groundwater. 8. What are some of the ways that climate conditions impact our environment and the quality of life? Answers will vary. Sample Answer: Climate changes could affect the quality of life because people The Water Cycle 5

6 might need to deal with the lack of water in a drought, the abundance of water in a flood, or with unstable ground in a landslide. Climate conditions also affect people s daily activities and clothing. The Water Cycle 6

7 Name Date The Water Cycle Complete this worksheet as you view The Water Cycle tour in Studio. Conduct additional research as needed. What percentage of water vs. land do you think is present on the Earth? A: 50% water and 50% land B: 70% water and 30% land C: 90% water and 10% land What percentage of the water on Earth is salt vs. fresh water? Hint: Salt water is located in the oceans and seas. Fresh water is located in rivers, lakes, ice caps, glaciers, water vapor, groundwater, and aquifers. A: 50% salt and 50% fresh water B: 75% salt and 25% fresh water C: 97% salt and 3% fresh water Did you know that 70% of our fresh water is frozen in the polar ice caps? So approximately what percentage of the Earth?s water is readily accessible for drinking? On the back of this worksheet, draw a pie graph that displays the percentages of salt water and fresh water (both frozen in the ice caps and accessible for drinking). If the Earth was the size of a basketball, all of the water on Earth would be the size of a ping-pong ball, and the amount of fresh water would be the size of a dot. Based on the relative amount of water on Earth, why do you think the water cycle is so important for our survival? Step 1 of the water cycle is evaporation. What is evaporation? Over what locations do you think most evaporation occurs? Step 2 of the water cycle is condensation. What is condensation? In which layer of the Earth?s atmosphere does condensation occur? Can you name and describe the three main types of clouds? Step 3 of the water cycle is precipitation. What is precipitation? What are its different forms? What are some places that water is collected and stored naturally on Earth? What are some of the ways that climate conditions impact our environment and the quality of life?