Grade 5
Earth's Water and Systems
Geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, water distribution, and protecting Earth's resources.
5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS2-2, 5-ESS3-1
3 lessons
5 quiz questions
Lesson 1: Earth's Four Systems
Describe interactions among geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
Learning goals
- Identify Earth's major systems.
- Describe how systems interact.
- Use examples to explain system connections.
Major systems
Earth's systems include the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. These systems interact in many ways.
Interactions
Rain from the atmosphere can weather rocks in the geosphere. Plants in the biosphere use water from the hydrosphere and gases from the atmosphere.
Lesson 2: Water on Earth
Graph the distribution of Earth's water.
Learning goals
- Describe where Earth's water is found.
- Compare salt water and fresh water.
- Use graphs to show water distribution.
Most water is salt water
Most of Earth's water is in the ocean and is salt water. Only a small amount is fresh water that people, plants, and animals can use easily.
Fresh water locations
Fresh water can be found in glaciers, groundwater, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and the atmosphere.
Lesson 3: Protecting Resources
Consider ways people protect Earth's systems and resources.
Learning goals
- Identify human impacts on Earth's systems.
- Describe conservation actions.
- Compare solutions for protecting resources.
Human impacts
People use water, land, minerals, fuels, plants, and animals. Human activities can affect air, water, land, and living things.
Conservation
People can protect resources by reducing waste, recycling, conserving water, preventing pollution, and restoring habitats.