Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource
Where Is Earth's Water? — 5E Lesson Plan
Earth Science · 51 minutes
Grade 5
5E lesson flow
01
Engage
6 min
Teacher Does
Ask students to predict where most of Earth's water is stored and whether saltwater and freshwater are close to equal.
Students Do
Record a prediction and one reason before seeing the data.
Ask
- Which reservoir do you think contains the largest share?
- What evidence would change your mind?
Look For
Predictions treated as testable ideas rather than graded facts.
02
Explore
15 min
Teacher Does
Provide the 97/3 rounded dataset and 100-part grid, then introduce the freshwater-only 69/30/1 model.
Students Do
Build the proportional representation, graph the freshwater categories, and check the total.
Ask
- What does each whole represent?
- What changed when we zoomed from all water to freshwater only?
Look For
Correct denominator awareness and proportional representation.
03
Explain
9 min
Teacher Does
Formalize reservoir, saltwater, freshwater, groundwater, glacier, and percentage while modeling graph scale.
Students Do
Use vocabulary to describe the two displays and identify the whole for each percentage.
Ask
- Why must the bars share a scale?
- What does 30% refer to on the freshwater-only graph?
Look For
Percent tied to the correct whole and consistent graph-scale reasoning.
04
Elaborate
13 min
Teacher Does
Show one fair graph and one misleading graph, then present claims about surface freshwater and human availability.
Students Do
Repair graph features and revise claims so they match the data.
Ask
- Does this graph describe distribution or availability?
- Which number supports your correction?
Look For
Evidence-based critique without overclaiming access or water quality.
05
Evaluate
8 min
Teacher Does
Provide a fresh labeled data display and a claim that mixes total water with freshwater-only percentages.
Students Do
Correct the denominator, state one pattern, and cite two numbers.
Ask
- What is the whole in this display?
- Does your conclusion say more than the data show?
Look For
Correct denominator and bounded quantitative explanation.
Student goal
I can use rounded percentages and scaled graphs to explain how Earth's water and freshwater are distributed.
Learning objectives
- Use a rounded 100-part model to describe the large difference between saltwater and freshwater in Earth's total water.
- Represent and interpret a simplified freshwater-reservoir dataset with a consistent graph scale.
- Use percentages and graph evidence to evaluate claims about frozen water, groundwater, and surface freshwater without confusing distribution with human availability.
Materials
- 100-square grids or digital equivalent
- Rounded total-water dataset: 97 saltwater / 3 freshwater
- Simplified freshwater-only dataset: 69 ice/glaciers / 30 groundwater / 1 surface/other freshwater
- Graph paper or bar-graph template
- Colored pencils
- Reservoir cards
Before class
- Use the same clearly labeled rounded dataset throughout the lesson.
- Label the freshwater-only 69/30/1 display as a simplified model rather than an exact inventory.
- When switching from ALL EARTH WATER to FRESHWATER ONLY, state explicitly that the denominator changed.
- Require a common baseline and consistent scale in bar-graph comparisons.
- Do not equate freshwater distribution with drinking-water availability.
- Open the Interactive Activity and teacher presentation before class.
Prior knowledge
- Students can read simple bar graphs.
- Students understand percent as parts out of one hundred or are ready to connect a 100-grid to that idea.
- Students know oceans, rivers, lakes, underground water, and ice can contain water.
Vocabulary
- reservoir
- A place where water is stored, such as an ocean, glacier, groundwater, lake, or river.
- saltwater
- Water containing many dissolved salts, especially ocean water.
- freshwater
- Water with relatively little dissolved salt.
- groundwater
- Water stored below Earth's surface in spaces within soil and rock.
- glacier
- A large, long-lasting mass of ice on land.
- percentage
- A quantity described as parts out of one hundred.
Differentiation
- Use a physical 100-square grid before percentages.
- Provide pre-labeled axes and allow students to focus on bar heights and scale.
- Offer the frame: 'Out of ___, ___ parts are ___. This supports the claim that ___.'
- For extension, ask students to compare how a total-water graph and freshwater-only graph answer different questions.
Assessment
- Check the 97/3 100-part representation.
- Check the 69/30/1 freshwater-only graph and labels.
- Check consistent scale/baseline reasoning.
- Check that the final explanation distinguishes distribution from availability.
Exit ticket
Name the whole for one percentage, identify the largest reservoir category shown, and cite one number as evidence.
Extension
Create two graph captions: one accurate distribution statement and one misleading statement, then exchange with a partner to identify which is supported.