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PlayOwl

Science · Grade 5

Earth Systems and Water Resources

Earth works as four connected systems: rock and soil (geosphere), water (hydrosphere), air (atmosphere) and living things (biosphere). Learners model how the systems interact, from rain wearing down mountains to roots cracking rock. They graph where Earth's water is (almost all salty, most fresh water frozen or underground), follow water through the water cycle, and explain how communities protect the small share of fresh water we can use.

  • 3 lessons
  • About 105 minutes
  • Earth systems and water check: 9 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, match pairs, type a number, place on a number line, put in order and sort into groups
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Develop a model with an example to describe how the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere interact.
  • Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of salt water and fresh water in Earth's reservoirs.
  • Use the water cycle to explain how water moves among Earth's systems, and describe ways communities protect water resources.

Lessons

  1. Four connected systems 5 steps3 practiceabout 33 min
  2. Where is Earth's water? 6 steps4 practiceabout 34 min
  3. The water cycle and protecting water 7 steps3 practiceabout 38 min
  4. Earth systems and water check 9 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Marble MountainLay straights, curves, drops and splitters to roll marbles down the mountain.
  • Bridge LabBuild a bridge from beams, brace it with triangles, and stay on budget.
  • Circuit Workshop 3DWire up batteries, bulbs and switches on a 3D workbench.

More 5th grade science

Guide for grown-ups