WATER SLIDE
(1 Hour)
Addresses NGSS
Level of Difficulty: 2
Grade Range: K-2
OVERVIEW
In this activity, students will experiment with ice and water and evaluate how both can carry materials and
change the formation of Earth’s surface. About 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Water exists
on Earth in liquid, solid, and vapor states and shapes the land as it moves. In the Arctic and sub-Arctic,
glacial erosion has shaped much of the landscape. Rivers and streams continually change the land it runs
through all over the world.
Topic: Water as ice and liquid
Real-World Science Topics
• An evaluation of Earth as a water planet.
• A comparison of the liquid and solid water on Earth and how they shape the land.
Objective
After completing this activity, students should be able to explain that both liquid and solid states of water
impact our landscape and examine how Earth is a dynamic and ever-changing planet.
NGSS Three-Dimensions
Science and Engineering
Practices
Obtaining, Evaluating, and
Communicating Information
• Obtaining, evaluating, and
communicating information in
K–2 builds on prior experiences
and uses observations and
texts to communicate new
information.
Disciplinary
Core Ideas
ESS2.C: The Roles of Water
in Earth’s Surface Processes
• Water is found in the ocean,
rivers, lakes, and ponds.
Water exists as solid ice and
in liquid form. (2-ESS2-3)
Crosscutting
Concepts
Patterns
• Patterns in the natural world
can be observed.
Background Information
What is the hydrosphere?
The hydrosphere is made up of all the liquid water on Earth and the water frozen in ice and snow. It includes
clouds in the sky, groundwater, oceans, streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes.
How does water behave in the hydrosphere?
Water is constantly moving. Water enters the atmosphere when it evaporates; when it falls on land it enters
the ocean or rivers that flow toward the ocean, and can condense into tiny particles forming clouds.
How does water shape our land?
Waves and currents can pick up sediments and move them to a new place. Glaciers are frozen water in large
layers of ice. Glaciers pick up sediment, like sand and mud, as they move. As these glaciers melt, they leave
the sediment they were carrying behind creating moraines. These accumulations of sediment create unique
landscapes.
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WATER SLIDE
Key Vocabulary
Glacier-large, moving sheet of ice
Liquid-one of four fundamental states of matter and the only state that has a definite volume but no shape
Sediment-tiny pieces of rock
Solid-one of four fundamental states of matter; does not flow to take the shape of its container
Materials Needed for Activity
• Image(s) of Earth
• Claim Cards
• Station directions- printed out
• Venn diagrams- one per student
• “Landforms Made From Ice” images
For experiment (enough for each group)
• Soil
• Sand
• Clay
• Ice cubes
• Water
• 2 pans
• Pipettes or container with spout
Teacher Preparation
• Print out or project an image of Earth from multiple angles. A rotating visual image works best.
• Copy and cut out claim cards for liquids and solids.
• Provide an example of water as an ice cube and liquid in a container.
• Set up the solid water station: Create a block of modeling clay in a deep pan. Provide ice cubes
and sand at that station.
• Set up the liquid water station: Put a layer of soil 2 inches deep in a pan. Provide pipettes or a container
with a spout.
• Print out station directions.
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STEPS FOR
WATER SLIDE
1.
Warm-up Activity: Show students an image of Earth in color. Share with students that, when viewed
from space, our planet looks blue and is referred to as the “Blue Planet”. Ask them what they think this
means. It is anticipated that students will notice that most of Earth’s surface is covered with water,
making it appear blue. They might point out that most of the water in is in the ocean and glaciers.
There is also water in streams and lakes.
2.
Show an example of ice and water, and share information with students about liquids, “A liquid takes the
shape of its container and does not have a shape of its own.” Distribute one claim card to each student.
The claim cards show objects and materials that illustrate examples of solids and liquids.
3.
One at a time, ask students to share the images on their cards and state their claim if the picture is
an example of a liquid or not. After students have stated their claims, ask if there were any cards with
which they disagreed, and why. Work with students to reach a consensus.
4.
Ask students what the remaining cards have in common. The teacher will share information about
solids, “A solid has its own shape and takes up space.”
5.
Ask students how solids and liquids are different from each other. Guide students to list different types
of solids and liquid water on Earth using a T-chart. Students may respond that ice, glaciers, and snow
are examples of solid water, and streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans are liquid.
6.
Next, explain to students that liquid water and solid water help shape our Earth. Today they will explore
how. Direct the students’ attention to the two stations; explain that one will model how liquid water can
shape the land, and the other will model how solid water can shape the land.
7.
Guide students to visit each station. They can do this as a class or in smaller groups. After they observe
the modeling, invite them to complete the Venn diagram. Review answers as a class.
8.
Finally, display images of landforms created by liquid water and ice. Ask students to apply what they
learned to identify which landforms were created by each and how.
Extension Activity
Now that the students have identified ways that solid and liquid water can shape the land, they will identify
what types of landforms were created. At this level it is appropriate to identify simple landforms such as hills
and valleys. Students can also begin to discuss the variety of life forms that can live in these locations.
Sources
http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthriverslandscape.html
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WATER SLIDE
SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS CARDS
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Milk
Soap
Cotton Ball
Nail
Book
Pencil
Water
Dirt
Sand
Scissors
Juice
Oil
Gum
Plastic
Shampoo
Blood
Honey
Ice
Butter
Apple
Ketchup
Toothpaste
Crayon
Chair
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WATER SLIDE
STUDENT HANDOUT
Name:
Date:
Station Directions
Solid Water
Press an ice cube on the flat surface of the modeling clay and move it back and forth.
What happened to the clay?
Observe the ice cube melting at the bottom of the clay mound. What do you notice about the tiny pieces
of sand (sediment) that were in the ice cube?
Place a small pile of sand on the clay, then place the ice cube on the sand and leave it there for two minutes.
Remove the ice cube. What happened to the ice cube after it sat on the sand?
Capture your work on your Venn diagram.
Liquid Water
Use your pipette or water container to run water down the soil. What do you notice about the soil?
Did it stay in one place or move? What happened at the bottom of the pan?
Capture your work on your Venn diagram.
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WATER SLIDE
STUDENT HANDOUT
LIQUID
Water
How do Liquid and Solid water shape our land?
SOLID
Water
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WATER SLIDE
STUDENT HANDOUT
Landforms Made From Ice
Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Moraines in Upper Engadin,
as seen from Fuorcla Surlej
Landforms Made From Liquid Water
Stream erosion
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Alluvial meanders
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