Second Grade · Science · week 34

Where water lives on Earth

Name at least four places water is found on Earth and correctly identify which are salt water and which are fresh water.

Look at a picture of Earth from space, and you will notice it looks mostly blue, because oceans cover most of the planet's surface. Ocean water is salt water, which people and most land animals cannot safely drink. But water hides in plenty of other places too.

Rivers, lakes, and rain are usually fresh water, safe to drink after simple cleaning. Water is also frozen solid at the icy poles, floating overhead as clouds, and even hiding underground in wells that people dig to reach it.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Look at a globe or world map together and estimate how much of it looks blue.
  • Make a list together of every place water can be found, including hidden spots like underground or in clouds.
  • Sort the list into salt water (ocean) and fresh water (nearly everything else) together.
  • Talk about where your own household's water comes from, if you know.
Talk about it:
  • What is the biggest place water is found on Earth?
  • Name one place fresh water is found besides a faucet.
  • Why can't people safely drink ocean water?

Mastery looks like: They name at least four places water is found on Earth and correctly sort them into salt water or fresh water.

Common stumbles: Thinking all water on Earth is the same, missing the salt water versus fresh water distinction; forgetting hidden water locations like underground or in clouds and ice.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Science for this learner.
← Back to todayAll coursesYear planner