2-ESS2-3
The standard
Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
Next Generation Science Standards
What this standard means
Students need to use pictures, maps, books, videos, or simple charts to find examples of water on Earth. They should name places like oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds, glaciers, snow, and ice. They also need to sort water as liquid or solid.
Mastery looks like a student pointing to evidence and saying, “A glacier is solid water,” or “A river is liquid water.” Students often think water only means drinking water, or they miss ice and snow as forms of water. Some also mix up where water is found with what people use water for.
Ways to teach it
- Have students sort picture cards of oceans, rivers, lakes, snow, icebergs, glaciers, and puddles into solid water and liquid water groups.
- Ask students to write or discuss: Where have you seen water outside, and was it solid or liquid?
- Show four images and ask students to circle the water, label where it is found, and mark solid or liquid.
- Use a local weather photo, park map, or community map to find nearby examples of liquid water or solid water.
Plan a lesson for 2-ESS2-3
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- HS-ESS2-5
Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
- 5-ESS2-2
Describe and graph the amounts and percentages of water and fresh water in various reservoirs to provide evidence about the distribution of water on Earth.
- MS-ESS2-4
Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
- 4-ESS2-2
Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth's features.