Lesson 2: Water, It’s Special

Water is special. To students, it may seem almost magical. The purpose of this lesson is to have students discover that water is all around us and is part of everything that we see and do.

1. Have students read Lesson 2 Part 1.

2. Ask discussion questions:

• What are the three forms water can take?
• Water in the form of gas is called what?
• What makes water freeze?
• What makes ice melt?
• Why does ice float?
• What makes water evaporate?
• Why does your body need water?
• What can happen if your body doesn’t get enough water?

3. Have students read the “Imagine that!” box and discuss. Use the scales to weigh one or two volunteers and calculate the amount of total body weight that is water for each student. (As an optional activity after completing this lesson, you may have each student calculate the amount of water in his or her own body.)

4. Have students read Lesson 2 Part 2.

5. Ask discussion questions for part 2:

• Animals need to drink water. For what other reasons do animals need water?
• What is the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates?

6. Have students read the “Imagine that!” box in Lesson 2 and discuss other reasons animals and plants may become endangered or threatened.

7. Have students read part 3.

8. Ask discussion questions for part 3:

• Plants also need water. What do plants give in return for the water they use?
• How do plants interrelate with animals? Have you interrelated with plants or animals today? How?

9. Have students read the “Imagine that!” box in part 3 and discuss.

FCAT-style questions based on the content of Lesson 2 have been prepared to assist students in preparing for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

• Lesson 2 FCAT-Style Questions
• FCAT Reading Rubric
• Sample Responses

1. As a homework assignment, ask students to make a list of ways that water helps people, animals and plants. Let students use WaterWays Lesson 2, parts 1–3, to help them start their list. Challenge them to see who can make the longest list.

2. FCAT-Style Questions, Lesson 2 Online Quiz or Lesson 2 Quiz worksheets may be used.*

1. These experiments can be done individually or in cooperative groups. Have students read both experiments, “Leaves at work” (experiment A) and “Rain on a glass” (experiment B). Have students begin the Make A Prediction lab report worksheet for each experiment.

2. Both experiments are simple to do, but you will need time for the observations. Set up experiment A and while you are waiting for results, set up experiment B.

3. Now go back and discuss “What do you think?” for experiment A. By this time, you will have something to observe for experiment A.

4. Discuss “What do you think?” for experiment B.

5. When making observations in experiment A, have students compare and contrast bags.

• Is there more or less moisture in bags with more or fewer leaves?
• If moisture doesn’t form in a bag, lead that student to discover why (dead leaves, bag not secured tightly, etc.).

6. You may want to have students make a chart and record their observations.

7. Have students complete the Make A Prediction lab report worksheets and discuss No. 8 (below). Read and discuss “Make a difference.”

8. If you have access to a freezer, do the extra activity “How does water expand?” as a class experiment, or assign it as homework.

Answers for the FCAT-style questions and the online and offline quizzes can be downloaded at answers.html. The quiz answer keys are password-protected. You can obtain the password by registering via a short form.