Introduction
Do you know how much water in on Earth's surface? How much fresh water is on Earth versus salt water? You will find out as you explore this web quest. Make sure to have the graphic organizer as you complete each step.
Task
With a partner, you will each complete your graphic organizer after researching each source of water. Make sure to document the amount and percentages of water in various sources.
You will research oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and ground water.
After you have found your research, you will graph the percents to show where most of Earth's water is found.
Process
1. Oceans
Click on the website below to find information about oceans. You may also use other sites of your choosing if you would like.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oceanwater.html
2. Lakes
Click on the website below to find information about lakes. You may also use other sites of your choosing if you would like.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/wherewater.html
3. Rivers
Click on the website below to find information about rivers. You may also use other sites of your choosing if you would like.
4. Glaciers
Click on the website below to find information about glaciers. You may also use other sites of your choosing if you would like.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/wherewater.html
5. Ground water
Click on the website below to find information about ground water. You may also use other sites of your choosing if you would like.
https://www.ngwa.org/what-is-groundwater/About-groundwater/information-on-earths-water
Evaluation
For the final project, you and your partner will create a powerpoint that will be presented to the class based on the information and research you found. You will choose two of the water sources to include in your powerpoint and explain what percentage of water is found there. You will need to provide evidence to back up your answer and information describing the water sources chosen. A graph should be included in the powerpoint.
You will also need to answer these questions:
1. The majority of Earth's water is found in _______?
2. Where is the least amount of Earth's water found?
3. What is the percentage of freshwater found on Earth?
4. What is the difference in the amount of water in glaciers and ice caps?
5. Does water cover more or less than 50% of Earth's surface?
6. About ____% of Earth's water is found in rivers/lakes?
7. What is most of Earth's freshwater used for?
8. What is considered surface water?
9. Why is it important to know the amount of water on Earth?
10. Explain how amount of freshwater on Earth's compares to salt water.
Credits
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) - The Water Cycle, https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/freshwa….
“Information on Earth's Water.” NGWA, https://www.ngwa.org/what-is-groundwater/About-groundwater/information-….
US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Where Is All of the Earth's Water?” NOAA's National Ocean Service, 1 Dec. 2009, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/wherewater.html.
US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “How Much Water Is in the Ocean?” NOAA's National Ocean Service, 1 June 2013, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oceanwater.html.
Teacher Page
Performance Expectation: Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.
5-ESS2-2
Disciplinary Core Ideas: The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes
Nearly all of Earth's available water is in the ocean. Most fresh water is in glaciers or underground; only a tiny fraction is in the streams, lakes, wetlands, and the atmosphere.
Liquid water can become the gas form of water(water vapor) and liquid water can become a solid as ice.