United States
Intro to Water Mini-Lesson
Objective: Students will learn about ocean and fresh water distribution, and they will learn that water is constantly moved around the planet via the water cycle.
Suggested Time: 15 minutes
Reading Level: Upper Elementary
Teacher Background
Water is the most important feature of our planet. A simple combination of hydrogen and oxygen, water is probably common throughout MORE
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Print or Project
- A Visual Overview: Show the slideshow of photos to your class. Each has a descriptive caption and kid-friendly copy for your students to read. (Please note that there is also more extensive teacher note copy just for you.)
- Creative Caption Review: Once you've been through the slideshow for an overview, go back through it again. This time ask students to explain why the captions do (or do not!) work. (Example: Do you think the caption "The Blue Planet" is a good one for the photo of Earth? Why or why not?)
Click the thumbnail slides below to see the captions and kid-friendly copy up close.
- Continue the Conversation: Ask students to think of the many ways they use water besides drinking. Some topics include: recreation, fishing, power, irrigation, etc.
- Write about it: Ask students to write a paragraph explaining why water needs to be conserved, even though Earth is known as the Blue Planet. Have them include a few ways that they think they can conserve water at home. (Turn off water when brushing teeth; take shorter showers, do full loads in clothes washer, etc.)
Extension Activities
Reinforcements: These worksheets will be useful as you further develop your teaching unit. The Word Power worksheet will give your students vocabulary practice with key terms from this mini-lesson and the related activity will help reinforce key concepts on water.
 | Intro to Water Word Power |  | The Water Cycle |
Excerpted from:
Eyewitness: Water
Eyewitness: Water provides an in-depth, comprehensive look at Earth's most precious resource, its chemical properties, its movement around the planet, and why it is essential for all life.
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