SOUTH CAROLINA SUPPORT SYSTEM INSTRUCTIONAL PLANNING GUIDE
Content Area:
Third Grade Science
Recommended Days of Instruction: 3
(One day equals 45 minutes)
Standard(s) addressed:
3-3 The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth’s composition and the changes that occur to the
features of Earth’s surface.
Bodies of Water
Indicator
Recommended Resources
3-3.5:
Illustrate Earth’s
saltwater and
freshwater
features (including
oceans, seas,
rivers, lakes,
ponds, streams,
and glaciers).
SC Science Standards Support
Document Resource List
https://www.ed.sc.gov/apps/cso/
standards/supdocs_k8.cfm
Suggested Instructional Strategies
See Science Module 3-3.5
SC ETV Streamline
http://etv.streamlinesc.org
Water Smart: Water on Earth
http://player.discoveryeducation.
com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=6B2
0E3E7-5C72-4758-B251D88F429CC899&blnFromSearch=
1&productcode=US
The majority of Earth’s surface is
covered with water, but most if it
is saltwater. Through vivid
examples, students discover the
various types of bodies of water
and how they are connected.
Different phases and properties
of water are presented as
students compare and contrast
glaciers, groundwater, wetlands,
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
Assessment Guidelines
From the SC Science
Support Document:
The objective of this indicator
is to illustrate Earths saltwater
and freshwater features;
therefore, the primary focus of
assessment should be to give
or use illustrations to show
understanding of Earth’s water
features (including oceans,
seas, rivers, lakes, ponds,
streams, and glaciers).
However, appropriate
assessments should also
require students to identify
oceans on a world map;
compare the size of oceans,
lakes, and ponds; or identify
where glaciers might be found.
1
aquifers, lakes, estuaries,
oceans, and streams. The
program ends with a true-false
video quiz.
Geographical Features:
Bodies of Water
http://player.discoveryeducation.
com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=47D
CF08A-1006-4A90-BABBFAF43DE95EFA&blnFromSearch=
1&productcode=US
From the largest bodies of
water—the oceans—to tiny
streams and tributaries, students
recognize the diversity of
naturally occurring sources of
water. NASA and live footage
show seas, bays, lagoons, and
other bodies of water, while
examples of their locations are
highlighted on an animated
globe.
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
2
Third Grade
Science Module
3-3.5
Bodies of Water
Lesson A
Standard 3-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of
Earth’s composition and the changes that occur to the features of
Earth’s surface.
Indicator 3-3.5: Illustrate Earth’s saltwater and freshwater features
(including oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and glaciers).
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
3
From the South Carolina Science Support Documents:
Indicator 3-3.5: Illustrate Earth’s saltwater and freshwater features (including
oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and glaciers).
Taxonomy level: Understand Factual Knowledge (2.2-A)
Previous/Future knowledge: The identification of specific water features found
on Earth is new to this grade. In 1st grade (1-4.5), students illustrated the
locations of water on Earth. In 4th grade (4-2.2), students will explain the
characteristics of environments that include rivers and streams. In 5th grade (52.3), students will compare ecosystems that include oceans, lakes, and ponds.
It is essential for students to know that there are many places on Earth where
water is found. Sometimes the water is saltwater and other times it is fresh water.
Most of the water on Earth is saltwater. Water is mostly in liquid form in these
features, but sometimes it can be solid (ice). Earth’s water features include:
Oceans
 Oceans are large bodies of salt water that surrounds a continent.
Seas
 Seas are large bodies of salt water that is often connected to an ocean.
 A sea may be partly or completely surrounded by land.
Rivers
 Rivers are large, flowing bodies of fresh water that usually empty into a sea or
ocean.
Streams
 Streams are small, flowing bodies of fresh water that flow into rivers.
Lakes& ponds
 Lakes and ponds are areas where water, usually freshwater, is surrounded by
land.
 Lakes and ponds differ in size with ponds usually being smaller than lakes.
Glaciers
 Glaciers are huge sheets of ice that cover land.
 They are found where temperatures are very cold, for example, high in the
mountains or near the poles of Earth.
It is not essential for students to name specific bodies of water.
Assessment Guidelines:
The objective of this indicator is to illustrate Earths saltwater and freshwater
features; therefore, the primary focus of assessment should be to give or use
illustrations to show understanding of Earth’s water features (including oceans,
seas, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and glaciers). However, appropriate
assessments should also require students to identify oceans on a world map;
compare the size of oceans, lakes, and ponds; or identify where glaciers might be
found.
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
4
Teaching Indicator 3-3.5: Lesson A – “Bodies of Water”
Instructional Considerations:
This lesson is designed to be used with no extra teaching aids. You are
encouraged, however, to supplement it with video clips whenever possible.
These will bring life to the photos.
Preparation for the lesson:
1. Copy all of the worksheets. Each student should have each sheet since part
of the instruction will be students writing on the sheets. These sheets are in
color and can be reproduced in black and white or color.
2. It would help to have a large map of the United States and a map of the
world and a globe to refer to when talking with the class.
3. Keep in mind that students are NOT responsible for knowing any specific
bodies of water for this standard. They just need to identify the kinds of
bodies.
4. If at all possible, obtain a set of SC highway maps – one for each pair or
group. (These may obtained from the highway department or SC welcome
center.)
Misconceptions:
None for this module
Safety Note(s):
None for this module
Lesson time:
1 day (1 day equals 45 minutes)
Materials Needed:
Large US map
Large world map
Set of South Carolina maps (one per pair or group)
Globe
Focus Question: What are the kinds of bodies of water on the Earth?
Engage:
1. Ask the students to close their eyes and imagine that they can take a
vacation to anywhere they would want to go for a week.
2. Ask them to talk in their groups to discuss where they would like to go.
3. Write some of the destinations they chose on the board.
4. Once you have a list, focus on all of the suggestions that had to do with
bodies of water (The beach, a cruise, the lake, a tropical island, etc.)
5. Tell them that a large part of the earth (2/3) is covered with water. In this
module, we are going to focus on learning how to identify and describe some
of places where water is found.
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
5
Explore:
1. Ask the students what kinds of bodies of water they already know about. List
these on the board.
2. Briefly go over the types of locations in which we find water as listed in the
Support Guide. (Oceans, Seas, Rivers, Streams, Lakes & Ponds, Glaciers).
Do not dwell too long on definitions at this point.
3. Distribute the “Can you name this kind of body of water?” worksheet.
a. Let them work in pairs to identify what kind of body of water is in the
photo.
b. Under each photo they should name what they think it is and list two
clues that made them pick that type of body of water. If they can’t find
2 clues, one will be adequate.
Explain:
1. Go over the set of photos on the “Can you name this kind of body of water?”
worksheet.
a. Take the pictures one at a time and point out what it is and how you
can make an educated guess. (The difference between rivers and
streams and between lakes and ponds is really a matter of size.)
b. Remind them that the important skill here is to be able to identify
pictures or descriptions of the bodies of water by kind. They do not
need to know the names of specific bodies like Lake Marion, Pee Dee
River, or the Atlantic Ocean.
c. Reinforce the essential information from the Support Guide listed
below.
2. Sometimes the water is saltwater and other times it is fresh water. Most of
the water on Earth is saltwater. Water is mostly in liquid form in these
features, but sometimes it can be solid (ice). Earth’s water features include:
Oceans
Seas
Oceans are large bodies of salt water that surrounds a
continent.
Seas are large bodies of salt water that is often connected to an
ocean.
 A sea may be partly or completely surrounded by land.
Rivers
Rivers are large, flowing bodies of fresh water that usually
empty into a sea or ocean.
Streams Streams are small, flowing bodies of fresh water that flow into
rivers.
Lakes & ponds
 Lakes and ponds are areas where water, usually freshwater, is
surrounded by land.
 Lakes and ponds differ in size with ponds usually being smaller
than lakes.
Glaciers
 Glaciers are huge sheets of ice that cover land.
 They are found where temperatures are very cold, for example,
high in the mountains or near the poles of Earth.

December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
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3. Hand out the “Bodies of Water Instruction Sheet”. Have students put their
names on the sheet since it will go in their notebooks.
4. Go over the sheet and encourage students to write notes on it to remind
them of the important ideas. You may want to prompt them to write as a
means of keeping them engaged. Starting at the top left-hand corner
a. Map of South Carolina (it would be great to have a SC map for each
pair of students. These should be available at the highway
department.) – Point out:
i. This is a map. It takes the perspective of someone drawing it
from high above the earth.
ii. The Atlantic Ocean is to the right. Here is where the beach is
located.
iii. The oceans contain salt water.
iv. Show some of the jagged lines (typically along county lines)
that are the river system of South Carolina.
v. Show some of the lakes in South Carolina. You can spot them
by their blue even though the real lakes are not really blue.
b. Map of the eastern ½ of the United states
i. Point out that where South Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean are.
ii. The dark lines represent major river systems within the US.
People used to have to use these river systems to travel around
the US before we had trains.
c. Drawing of the World on a flat map
i. Show where the different oceans are.
ii. Stress that whenever you make a flat map of globe, everything
is distorted. Show a globe if you have one.
iii. See if they can locate the Atlantic Ocean, the USA and South
Carolina. (Finding SC will be very approximate.)
d. Drawing of a river system
i. This is a drawing of what a river might look like.
ii. Notice that it starts in the mountains (to the left) and flows into
the ocean.
iii. The river is fresh water until it mixes with ocean water.
e. Aerial photograph of a lake and rivers
i. This is a picture taken from earth orbit of mountains.
ii. Notice the jagged streams flowing into lakes.
f. Drawing of a glacier
i. This is a drawing of a glacier.
ii. The glacier looks like a frozen river. Actually glaciers do move,
only they move very slowly (inches a year).
Extend:
1. Hand out “What have you learned about bodies of water?” sheet.
a. Let the students work individually on the sheet.
b. Once they are finished, let them work in pairs to collaborate and reach
consensus.
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
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c. When they are finished, go over the sheet with them. Stress the clues
they use to help them identify the body correctly.
2. Ask: Did you change you mind as to where you might like to take your
vacation? Why? Share their answers and rationale.
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
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Can you name this kind of body of water?
1. Type:
Reasons (2):
2. Type:
Reasons (2):
3. Type:
Reasons (2):
4. Type:
Reasons (2):
5. Type:
Reasons (2):
6. Type:
Reasons (2):
7. Type:
Reasons (2):
8. Type:
Reasons (2):
9. Type:
Reasons (2):
Ocean
River
Glacier
December 2010
Sea
Lake or Pond
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
9
Can you name this kind of body of water? KEY
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
1. Type: Stream
2. Type: Lake (glacier in
background)
3. Type: Stream
Reasons (2): rapidly flowing,
relatively small amount of water,
surrounded by rocks
Reasons (2): mountains
surround water, water is not
moving perceptibly.
Reasons (2): rapidly flowing,
relatively small amount of
water, surrounded by rocks
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
4. Type: Glacier
5. Type: Stream
6. Type: Ocean
Reasons (2): solid ice, some
melted ice in middle, mountains in
background
Reasons (2): hard to tell, it
could be a river or stream
depending on the size, looks
like a forest next to the water
Reasons (2): very strong
waves, large body of water to
the left, rocky coast
Picture 7
Picture 8
Picture 9
7. Type: River
8. Type: Glacier
9. Type: Ocean
Reasons (2): larger body of water
than a stream, seems to be
moving slowly
Reasons (2): blue color, ice,
large regular blocks, water on
the edge
Reasons (2): looks like beach,
sand, waves in the water
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
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Bodies of Water Instruction Sheet
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
11
What have you learned about bodies of water?
1.Type:
Reasons (2):
2.Type:
Reasons (2):
3.Type:
Reasons (2):
4.Type:
Reasons (2):
5.Type:
Reasons (2):
6.Type:
Reasons (2):
7.Type:
Reasons (2):
8.Type:
Reasons (2):
9.Type:
Reasons (2):
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
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What have you learned about bodies of water? KEY
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
1.Type: RIVER
2.Type: Glacier
3.Type: Ocean
Reasons (2): Aerial photo, river
surrounded by forest.
Reasons (2): Ice, water on
edge
Reasons (2): sandy beach,
huge body of water in the
background
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
4.Type: Lake
5.Type: River
6.Type: Stream
Reasons (2): still body of water,
mountains surrounding, doesn’t
seem to be moving
Reasons (2): large body of
slow moving water
Reasons (2): fast moving
water, flowing over rocks
Picture 7
Picture 8
Picture 9
7.Type: Steam
8.Type: River
9.Type: Glacier
Reasons (2): small amount of
water, water looks polluted (rivers
and oceans can be polluted)
Reasons (2): large body of
slow moving water
Reasons (2): ice, looks to be
flowing into a lake, glacier
between mountains.
December 2010
Science S³ Third Grade Module 3-3.5
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