Opening Discussion

•What do you see in this image? •How was this image taken? •Do you think there is more land or water on Earth?•Why?

Water

•What are some of the ways that you use water every day?•Where does the water that you use come from?• Is water a finite or infinite resource? How do you know?

Intro

•Water is everywhere•Makes up 2/3 of our bodies•Found in many places on Earth•However, there is not enough of it to meet human needs•Statistic: 1 in 8 people lack access to clean fresh water

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•As a natural resource, fresh water is renewable. However, quantities of freshwater on Earth are limited•Water is considered renewable because of the water cycle• Role of water• Helps to redistribute heat• Erodes mountain ranges• Builds river deltas• Maintains organisms and ecosystems• Shapes civilizations

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• What does “saline” mean? How does salinity affect water for human usage?

• What is “groundwater”? How does water get into the ground?

• What is a “glacier”? Where do we find glaciers on Earth?

• What is “atmospheric water”?

• What do you think “biological water” might be?

Target #17- I can state where and how much fresh water is found on earth

•Division of Earth’s water resources•About 97.5% of Earth’s water is salt water•2.5% is considered fresh water•More than 79% of the freshwater is frozen as glaciers or ice caps• 21% is found in lakes, rivers, the atmosphere, organisms, the soil, and is liquid• Only some is drinkable and usable for crops

Target #18-I can analyze a map in relation to access to water resources

•There are many areas with high population density which do not have ready access to water•May cause inequalities in per capita water resources•Example• India has almost 4 times as much water as Australia, however India has almost 55 times the population• Per capita, Australia has far more water available to its residents than India does

Target #19- I can describe surface water

•Surface water: water found at Earth’s surface•Only 1% of the easily accessible fresh water supply•Sources include rainfall, melting snow, glaciers, and ice caps• Travels in the form of runoff, or water that flows over land and has not been absorbed into the ground• Runoff can flow into standing, or still, bodies of water like lakes and ponds, or it can join up with a river system

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•River System• A series of connected streams and river•Water pools there due to gravity• Empties into larger bodies of water like oceans

•Watersheds• Includes all of the land area that supplies water to a particular river system• Also known as drainage basins• Their interconnected nature greatly influences how they are managed• Must be a cooperative effort

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Target #21- I can explain why groundwater matters

• Any water that travels downward through the soil is known as groundwater• Makes up about 1/5th of Earth’s freshwater supply• Plays a key role in meeting human water needs• Aquifer

• A hollow, or permeable, part of the crust• Location where water collects• Water used in facilities like wells pull from an area of the aquifer called the water

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• Why does ground water matter?• Water stays underground for long periods of time about 1400 years• Water can only be replenished during times of heavy rain• Can take a long time to refill after being depleted

Explore the Big Question

Most civilizations began near a source of fresh water. Over time, however, technology has enabled us to move fresh water great distances. In what ways do you think this kind of technology has contributed to the water shortages many people face today?