A Drop Around the World
Building Knowledge about Earth’s Precious Resource
4-5 Grade Band Text Set
Line of Inquiry: Earth’s precious resource, water, impacts every facet of our lives as well as the entire
world around us. Students will be exposed to the wonders of water as they explore this concept through
various types of information. This text set supports the Next Generation Science Standards for grade 5
(ESS2.A- Earth Materials and Systems/ESS2.C- The Role of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes/ESS3.CHuman Impact on Earth Systems) by providing a foundational underpinning of the hydrosphere. The
text, articles, simulation, infographic and video presentation in this collection encourage students to
think about the many uses of water, the processes that make up the water cycle, and the impact of
water on our world.
A greater appreciation for the endless supply of fresh water that is experienced daily in the United
States is brought to light as students become aware of the limited availability and access to clean water
that is experienced by many other people throughout of the world. Environmental implications and
global issues are addressed as students begin to understand that access to clean water is one of the
grand challenges facing our world today, as well as how humans play a significant role in the management and misuse of this vital natural resource. Articles and infographics encourage global awareness
and serve as a springboard for research extensions.
The anchor text is presented in rhyming verse and crafted to integrate language arts and science in a
creative way. Literary devices such as figurative language, alliteration and personification are
embedded in the text as well as many geographic references, providing ample opportunities to read
across the curriculum. Endnotes supplement factual material about the properties of water and the
water cycle.
Articles related to water range from basic water cycle information to data on the daily consumption of
water by humans and various other organisms. The infographics provide students with relevant
information to analyze and interpret, as well as promote close reading of various print sources. All of
the resources in this text set support acquisition of grade 5 ELA standards for informational reading,
language and writing.
Page | 1
Anchor Text
820L
A Drop Around the World
By: Barbara Shaw McKinney
Text Type: Literary Nonfiction
McKinney, Barbara Shaw, and Michael S. Maydak. A Drop Around the World. Nevada City,
CA: Dawn Publications, 1998. Print.
Readers travel with a single drop of water to learn how water is transformed many times
from liquid to its solid and vapor state while journeying to various parts of the world,
including regions where water is polluted and where it is not easily accessible. Composed
in rhyming couplets, each stanza of this text conveys scientific concepts about the water
cycle as well as inspires respect for water and its unique role on Earth.
Available from Amazon in paperback for $8.06.
Books
630L
Earth: The Water Planet
By: E.C. Hill
Text Type: Informational
Hill, E. C. Earth, the Water Planet. Pelham, NY: Benchmark Education, 2007. Print.
Available from Amazon in paperback for $5.75.
790L
Hydrology: The Study of Water
By: Christine Taylor-Butler
Text Type: Informational
Taylor-Butler, Christine. Hydrology the Study of Water. New York: Children's, 2012. Print.
Maps, infographics, and historic photos that illustrate earth's power provide text features that
help students meet Informational Reading Anchor Standard 7, locating information relevant to a
given topic efficiently. Readers will learn how hydrologists study weather patterns and the shape
of the land to predict how water will move around Earth. They will also discover how
hydrologists put this knowledge to use by helping to build dams, levees, and irrigation systems.
Timelines illustrate the ways scientific knowledge has developed over time.
Available from Amazon in paperback for $6.25.
Articles
760L
For the World’s Poor, Drinking Water Can Kill1
By: Addie Moorfoot
1
Every article on newsela.com is available in 5 different Lexiles. For the purpose of this text set, the goal
is for all students to access the article with 760L as an introduction to the vocabulary and topic.
Page | 2
Text Type: Informational
Moorfoot, Addie. "For the World's Poor, Drinking Water Can Kill." Newsela. N.p., 15 May 2013.
<http://newsela.com/articles/clean-water/id/57/>.
Students will learn how the lack of cleaning drinking water for about 800 million people in the
world affects lifestyles.
810L
Discarded Plastic Forms an Ecosystem at Sea
By: Los Angeles Times, adapted by Newsela staff2
Text Type: Informational
"Discarded Plastic Forms an Ecosystem at Sea." Newsela. N.p., 13 Jan. 2014.
<http://newsela.com/articles/plastic-ocean/id/2308/>.
The article offers information on the platisphere, a manmade ecosystem of plastic debris in the
ocean.
990L
Do What You Water: The Current and Future of Fresh Water in the United States
Text Type: Informational
Source: The Natural Inquirer: http://www.naturalinquirer.org/UserFiles/File/7_34.pdf
"Do What You Water: The Current and Future of Fresh Water in the United States." The Natural
Inquirer (n.d.): n. pag. Web. June 2014.
Students will learn how scientists collect, interpret and use data about earth’s water to support
their findings and further their understanding of one of our natural resources. The text invites
students to answer questions about the data provided in the text as well as make connections to
their lives. A glossary of terms is included.
990L
What Price Water?
Text Type: Informational
Source: UNESCO Courier: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0011/001149/114969e.pdf
"What Price Water?" UNESCO Courier 52.2 (1999): 17. Web.
This article discusses the possible water crisis: factors that affect water supply; standard
response to water scarcity; market mechanism that is seen as a solution to allocating water
resources efficiently.
1010L Water, Water, Everywhere!
Text Type: Informational
Source: Readworks: http://www.readworks.org/passages/water-water-everywhere
"ReadWorks.org | Water, Water, Everywhere!" ReadWorks.org. ReadWorks, 2013. Web. July
2014.
2
Every article on newsela.com is available in 5 different Lexiles. For the purpose of this text set, the goal
is for all students to access the article with 810L as an introduction to the vocabulary and topic.
Page | 3
This text provides a basic overview of the water cycle and availability of fresh water on earth. It is
a straight forward piece that supports reading comprehension with corresponding questions.
1070L Researchers Discover Huge Underground Water Reserve in Africa
Text Type: Informational
Source: DOGO News: http://www.dogonews.com/2012/4/26/researchers-discover-hugeunderground-water-reserves-in-africa
Dolasia, Meera. "Researchers Discover Huge Underground Water Reserves In
Africa." DOGOnews, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. July 2014.
This article addresses the recent discovery of a large underground source of water in Africa as
well as the possibility of providing aid to many of Africa’s arid countries. The text Lexile is high
due to the mention of several countries’ names and content specific vocabulary.
Infographics
N/A
Millions Lack Fresh Water
Text Type: Infographic
“Millions Lack Fresh Water.” Water.org. n.d. JPEG. <http://water.org/water-crisis/waterfacts/water/>.
N/A
Water: 21st Century Challenges
Text Type: Infographic
“Water: 21st Century Challenges.” Visually.com. 2012. JPEG. <http://thumbnails.visually.netdnacdn.com/water-21st-century-challenges_502916df30b8f_w1500.jpg>.
N/A
Where Does Our Water Come From?
Text Type: Infographic
“Where Does Our Water Come From?” Fao.org. n.d. JPEG.
<http://hipandatech.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/seametrics-where-water-comes-from.jpg>.
N/A
Time is Running Dry
Text Type: Infographic
“Time is Running Dry.” UNWater.org. 2013. JPEG. <http://www.bathshop321.com/world-waterday/images/world-water-day-2013-infographic.jpg>.
Other Media
N/A
What Is Your Water Footprint?
Text Type: Interactive Web Tool
"Water Footprint Calculator." Nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic, n.d.
<http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/change-thecourse/water-footprint-calculator/>.
Page | 4
Through this interactive site, students take a water tour of their home, yard, diet, energy, and
consumer choices. Then they are given an opportunity to pledge to modify their water footprint
and help return more water to rivers, lakes, wetlands, underground aquifers, and freshwater
species.
N/A
Earth Systems Digital Lab
Text Type: Informational
"Earth Systems Digital Lab Guide for Parents." Earth Systems Digital Lab Guide for Parents.
Educational Web Adventures, LLP, n.d.
<http://www.eduweb.com/portfolio/earthsystems/parent_printable.html#welcome>.
These online activities introduce kids to the dynamic physical and biological processes that make
our home - Planet Earth - a unique, complex, and ever-changing place. Understanding how
these systems function and interact is the first step in preparing youngsters for the challenging
decisions they will make as future stewards of Earth's resources.
Page | 5