Fresh Water on Planet Earth

A pie chart showing the sources of fresh water on planet Earth is provided. What sources would accurately label the two largest sources on the diagram?

• Rivers/Streams and Clouds

• Oceans and Groundwater

• Groundwater and Ice caps/Glaciers

• Lakes/Ponds and Atmosphere

Approximately 30% of the earth’s fresh water is stored in—

• lakes.

• streams.

• groundwater.

• living things.

Of all of the fresh water on Earth, most of it is found in—

• lakes.

• streams.

• wetlands.

• glaciers.

Students make a model to represent all the water on the earth. For their model one hundred (100) cans represent all (100%) of the water on our planet. How many cans would represent all the fresh water in all sources on the earth?

• Just under ninety-seven (97) cans

• A little more than thirty (30) cans

• About two and a half (2½) cans

• Less than half (½) a can

Which of the following percentages is the best estimate for the amount of the water on Earth which is stored in the ocean?

• 97%

• 70%

• 54%

• 20%

Earth is the only planet in the solar system that has an abundance of water on its surface. The distribution of salt and freshwater on Earth is very uneven. Water can be found in all forms on our planet, but only a small percentage of Earth’s water is fresh. Freshwater can be found in many forms including groundwater, glaciers, lakes, rivers, wetlands, soil, and atmosphere. One challenge humans face is access to fresh water.

Based on the graph, which statement best describes where freshwater is located on Earth?

• About 70% of Earth’s freshwater is found in lakes, rivers, wetlands, and atmosphere while the rest is trapped in glaciers and underground.

• About 60% of freshwater is groundwater and ice while the rest of Earth’s water can be found in lakes, rivers, wetlands, and the atmosphere.

• About 99% of Earth's water is usable and easy to access because it is found in lakes, rivers, wetlands, and the atmosphere.

• About 99% of Earth's water is not easy to access and use because it exists as ice or groundwater.

What do you call water when it changes state?

Water on Earth can be found in many sources. Where is fresh water located on Earth?

Most of Earth is covered in water, so why is it important to conserve water?

Using scientific reasoning, make a statement about the importance of conserving the water in lakes and rivers. USE CLAIM EVIDENCE AND REASONING (LABEL EACH).