Grade: 4 (from 3rd)
Science
SCI.V.2.1
Strand:
Using Scientific Knowledge in Earth Science
- Hydrosphere
Standard:
All students will describe the characteristics of water and demonstrate
where water is found on earth.
Benchmark:
Describe how water exists on earth in 3 states.
Constructing and Reflecting:
SCI.I.1.1 SCI.I.1.2 SCI.I.1.4 SCI.I.1.6 SCI.II.1.4 -
Generate reasonable questions about the world based on observation.
Develop solutions to problems through reasoning, observation, and investigation.
Use simple measurement devices to make measurements in scientific investigations.
Construct charts and graphs and prepare summaries of observations.
Develop an awareness of and sensitivity to the natural world.
Vocabulary / Key Concepts
Context
Gas:
Examples of water in each state, including dew,
rain, snow, ice, evidence of moisture in the air,
such as fog, examples of melting, freezing and
evaporating.
•
•
•
•
Invisible
water vapor
moisture
evaporating
(Give students rubric before activity.)
Scoring Rubric
Criteria
Apprentice
Basic
Meets
Exceed
s
Accuracy of
description
Writes a
description
using key
concepts that
is an
inaccurate
connection to
the collected
data and table.
Writes a
description
that uses
fewer than
four key
concepts
connected to
the collected
data and
table.
Writes a
description
that uses at
least five key
concepts
connected to
the collected
data and
table.
Writes a
description
that uses
seven or
more key
concepts
connected to
the collected
data and
.
table
Knowledge and Skills
Resources
On the earth, water is found as liquid, solid, and
gas.
Coloma Resources:
Discover the Wonder (Scott Foresman) –
Grade 4
Students will describe water in its various states:
Module E, Chapter 1, page. 6-7
• liquid: visible, flowing, melting, dew
• solid: visible, hard, freezing, ice
• gas: invisible, water vapor, moisture, evaporation
Other Resources:
http://www.epa.gov/students/clean_water_basic
s.htm
Cast, C. Vance. Where Does Water Come
From? The Clever Calvin Series. Barron’s,
1992.
McKinney, Barbara. Drop Around the World.
Dawn, 1998.
Videoconferences Available
For more information, see
www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl or call Janine Lim
471-7725x101 or email jlim@remc11.k12.mi.us
5.2.1
Where’s the Water from the Camden Children's
Garden
Assessment
Coloma Assessment:
None required
Optional Assessment:
The students will use their data collected in the
Instructional Activity, to answer the focus
question, "What are the different states of
water on the Earth’s surface?"
The students will summarize in a written
paragraph, the different states of water on
earth using their collected data and table.
(Give students rubric before activity.)
Scoring Rubric
Criteria
Apprentice
Basic
Meets
Exceeds
Accuracy
of
description
Writes a
description
using key
concepts that
is an
inaccurate
connection to
the collected
data and table.
Writes a
description
that uses
fewer than four
key concepts
connected to
the collected
data and table.
Writes a
description
that uses at
least five key
concepts
connected to
the collected
data and table.
Writes a
description
that uses
seven or
more key
concepts
connected to
the collected
data and
table.
Teacher Notes:
Describe the characteristics of water and demonstrate where water is found on the earth.
When we discuss the hydrosphere we include all the water on the earth. Though both fresh and salt water
represent a tremendous resource and cover about 75 percent of the earth's surface, students sometimes fail
to think about the water vapor in the air, the snow and ice of the arctic and mountain tops or the ground water
stored in the porous rocks and sediment beneath the earth's surface.
Elementary students should recognize water in its various states. Young children seem to have little trouble
understanding the solid and liquid states of water yet frequently assume that when water evaporates it
disappears. Even though it may be more difficult to understand how liquid water evaporates and then can
condense into a liquid again, this concept is essential to understanding the hydrosphere as a resource.