Lesson: Hydrosphere

Where is water found, and in what forms?

In order to understand the magnitude of the oceans the students must examine all of the water on earth collectively. Water is broken into groups and classified. Water is distributed in varying types and amounts around the world. This lesson breaks this information down.

Warm Ups, etc:

Can you spare a drop? - students identify potential sources of water using brainstorming methods.

By the Numbers - students review the composition and distribution of water around the earth.

Instruction, Presentations, Assignments, Activities, etc:

Link to Study Guide Objectives & Vocabulary

Notes - Hydrosphere - the distribution of water in its major forms - salt water, frozen fresh water/glaciers, liquid freshwater and clouds

Diagram- where glacier meets sea- students copy diagrams that illustrate cross sections of glaciers and ice shelves that illustrate the contact of these two portions of the hydrosphere.

Discussion of climate change, “greenhouse effect,” global warming and the current patterns of glacial changes

Poster- students generate a document displaying the hydrosphere and its features- possibly include pie graph, photos, diagrams and other information

Web Resources:

James Balog and the Extreme Ice Survey:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/james_balog_time_lapse_proof_of_extreme_ice_loss.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIZTMVNBjc4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3VTgIPoGU

http://extremeicesurvey.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retreat_of_glaciers_since_1850

2008 Guardian Newspaper, UK http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2008/mar/26/antarctica.ice.shelf.wilkins

Huge calving event and wave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL3EjH9-WSs

Tsunami + Ice shelf = fracture http://news.discovery.com/earth/japan-tsunami-broke-antarctic-ice-shelf-110809.html