---
title: Water on Earth
created: '2026-05-26'
updated: '2026-05-26'
type: lesson_topic
subject: science
tags:
- science
- grade-2
- homeschool
- ngss
standard: 2-ESS2, 2-ESS3
phase: 3
phase_name: 'SPRING: Earth Science and Diversity of Life (Weeks 21-30)'
weeks:
- 21
source: ''
---
# Water on Earth
Second grade science topic covering water on earth. Part of Phase 3 (SPRING: Earth Science and Diversity of Life (Weeks 21-30)).
## Key Concepts
Where water is found
- **Objectives:** Identify oceans, lakes, rivers, ice, underground water
- **Activities:**
- Map water locations on a globe/map
- Water cycle introduction
- Create water feature collage
- **Assessment:** Labeled water map
### Week 22: The Water Cycle
**Focus:** How water moves around Earth
- **Objectives:** Describe evaporation, condensation, precipitation
- **Activities:**
- Water cycle in a bag experiment
- Act out the water cycle
- Draw water cycle diagram
- **Assessment:** Water cycle diagram with labels
### Week 23: Weather vs. Climate
**Focus:** Understanding weather patterns
- **Objectives:** Distinguish weather from climate
- **Activities:**
- Daily weather observation chart
- Research climate in different places
- Discuss seasonal patterns
- **Assessment:** Weather journal for one week
### Week 24: Slow Changes to Earth
**Focus:** Weathering and erosion
- **Objectives:** Understand how wind and water change land
- **Activities:**
- Erosion tray experiment (sand, water, wind)
- Observe weathered rocks vs. fresh rocks
- Time-lapse drawings of erosion
- **Assessment:** Erosion experiment report
### Week 25: More Erosion and Weathering
**Focus:** Testing erosion variables
- **Objectives:** Compare different erosion factors
- **Activities:**
- Test water speed effects on erosion
- Test vegetation effects on erosion
- Create erosion prevention models
- **Assessment:** Erosion prevention design
### Week 26: Fast Changes to Earth
**Focus:** Sudden geological events
- **Objectives:** Identify volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides
- **Activities:**
- Volcano model (baking soda/vinegar)
- Earthquake shake table demonstration
- Research famous geological events (age-appropriate)
- **Assessment:** Fast vs. slow changes comparison
### Week 27: Rocks and Soil
**Focus:** Earth materials
- **Objectives:** Identify different rock types and soil components
- **Activities:**
- Rock collection and sorting
- Soil investigation (sieve soil, observe components)
- Rock hardness testing
- **Assessment:** Rock/soil collection with labels
### Week 28: Diversity of Plants
**Focus:** Plant variety in different places
- **Objectives:** Compare plants from different habitats
- **Activities:**
- Research plants from different climates
- Create plant comparison charts
- Discuss adaptations (cactus, rainforest plants, etc.)
- **Assessment:** Plant diversity poster
### Week 29: Diversity of Animals
**Focus:** Animal variety and adaptations
- **Objectives:** Compare animals from different habitats
- **Activities:**
- Animal adaptation matching game
- Research interesting animal facts
- Create animal habitat cards
- **Assessment:** Animal adaptation presentation
### Week 30: Patterns in Nature
**Focus:** Observing and describing patterns
- **Objectives:** Identify patterns in the natural world
- **Activities:**
- Nature walk pattern hunt
- Document patterns (leaf arrangements, animal stripes, etc.)
- Create pattern art from nature
- **Assessment:** Nature pattern journal
---
## Standards
2-ESS2, 2-ESS3
## Prerequisites
[[plant-needs-experiment-results]], [[introduction-to-habitats]], [[land-habitats]], [[water-habitats]], [[ecosystems-and-interdependence]]
---
*Generated from curriculum data* ^[[raw/curriculum/science]]