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This text based informational website helps explain what the three states of matter are, their particle arrangement/movement, their physical properties, and changing state.  I would use this informational website in my classroom to teach my 2nd graders about the three different states of matter.  This website correlates with the ALCOS standard of Matter and Its Interactions, Science - Gr. 2, standard #1.  The Bloom's Taxonomy levels that this website supports are analyze, evaluate, and understand.  This website will help students analyze the information about the three different types of matter and be able to compare solids, liquids, and gases from one another.  It will also help students evaluate the different states of matter, their particle arrangement/movement, their physical properties, and their changing state. It will also help students understand what to determine if a substance is a liquid, solid, or gas.

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The three are solid, liquid and gas. The represents by small, solid spheres. It describes the arrangement, movement and of particles in a substance. The model can be used to explain the of solids, liquids and gases.

Explaining properties

A single particle does not have the properties of the material it is part of. The properties of a substance are the properties of a huge number of particles together.

have a fixed shape and cannot flow, because their particles cannot move from place to place

cannot be (squashed), because their particles are close together and have no space to move into

flow and take the shape of their container, because their particles can move around each other

cannot be compressed, because their particles are close together and have no space to move into

flow and completely fill their container, because their particles can move quickly in all directions

can be compressed, because their particles are far apart and have space to move into

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Solids, liquids and gases - The three states of matter - AQA - GCSE Chemistry (Single Science) Revision - AQA - BBC Bitesize

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The three are solid, liquid and gas. The represents by small, solid spheres. It describes the arrangement, movement and of particles in a substance. The model can be used to explain the of solids, liquids and gases. A single particle does not have the properties of the material it is part of.

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This text based and image based informational website helps explain what plants need in order to survive and grow.  This informational website supports the ALCOS Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics, Science - Gr. 2, [SCI.AAS.2.5]- Participate in investigations of the growth needs of plants (e.g., water, light, soil, air) over a period of time. I would use the website in my classroom to teach about the five important things plants need in order to survive and grow (light, air, water, nutrients, and space to grow). The website explains how and why plants need these things, how they can get it, what would happen if plants didn't get it, and how it works in the plants for them to grow and survive. The website not only includes great text information but it also includes great visuals for students to better understand and see things visually.

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This text based informational website helps explain what the five different types of ecosystems are (forest, grassland, desert, tundra, and freshwater/marine).  This website supports the ALCOS Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics, Science - Gr. 2, standard #7 where students should be able to evaluate and understand the different types of ecosystems in our world. I would use this website in my classroom to teach my students about what ecosystems are, the two different categorizes of ecosystems (terrestrial and aquatic), the different types of ecosystems that are found on Earth, where they can be found, and characteristics of each. This website is great at explaining everything I would need my students to know about ecosystems. It also includes accurate information that can be easily read by 2nd grade children.

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An ecosystem consists of all the living and non-living things in a specific natural setting. Plants, animals, insects, microorganisms, rocks, soil, water and sunlight are major components of many ecosystems. All types of ecosystems fall into one of two categories: terrestrial or aquatic. Terrestrial ecosystems are land-based, while aquatic are water-based. The major types of ecosystems are forests, grasslands, deserts, tundra, freshwater and marine. The word "biome" may also be used to describe terrestrial ecosystems which extend across a large geographic area, such as tundra. Keep in mind, however, that within any ecosystem, specific features vary widely - for instance, an oceanic ecosystem in the Caribbean Sea will contain vastly different species than an oceanic ecosystem in the Gulf of Alaska.

Forest ecosystems are classified according to their climate type as tropical, temperate or boreal. In the tropics, rainforest ecosystems contain more diverse flora and fauna than ecosystems in any other region on earth. In these warm, moisture-laden environments, trees grow tall and foliage is lush and dense, with species inhabiting the forest floor all the way up to the canopy. In temperate zones, forest ecosystems may be deciduous, coniferous or oftentimes a mixture of both, in which some trees shed their leaves each fall, while others remain evergreen year-round. In the far north, just south of the Arctic, boreal forests - also known as taiga - feature abundant coniferous trees.

Different types of grassland ecosystems can be found in prairies, savannas and steppes. Grassland ecosystems are typically found in tropical or temperate regions, although they can exist in colder areas as well, as is the case with the well-known Siberian steppe. Grasslands share the common climactic characteristic of semi-aridity. Trees are sparse or nonexistent, but flowers may be interspersed with the grasses. Grasslands provide an ideal environment for grazing animals.

The common defining feature among desert ecosystems is low precipitation, generally less than 25 centimeters, or 10 inches, per year. Not all deserts are hot - desert ecosystems can exist from the tropics to the arctic, but regardless of latitude, deserts are often windy. Some deserts contain sand dunes, while others feature mostly rock. Vegetation is sparse or nonexistent, and any animal species, such as insects, reptiles and birds, must be highly adapted to the dry conditions.

As with deserts, a harsh environment characterizes ecosystems in the tundra. In the snow-covered, windswept, treeless tundra, the soil may be frozen year-round, a condition known as permafrost. During the brief spring and summer, snows melt, producing shallow ponds which attract migrating waterfowl. Lichens and small flowers may become visible during this time of year. The term "tundra" most commonly denotes polar areas, but at lower latitudes, tundra-like communities known as alpine tundra may be found at high elevations.

Freshwater ecosystems can be found in streams, rivers, springs, ponds, lakes, bogs and freshwater swamps. They are subdivided into two classes: those in which the water is nearly stationary, such as ponds, and those in which the water flows, such as creeks. Freshwater ecosystems are home to more than just fish: algae, plankton, insects, amphibians and underwater plants also inhabit them.

Marine ecosystems differ from freshwater ecosystems in that they contain saltwater, which usually supports different types of species than does freshwater. Marine ecosystems are the most abundant types of ecosystems in the word. They encompass not only the ocean floor and surface but also tidal zones, estuaries, salt marshes and saltwater swamps, mangroves and coral reefs.

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An ecosystem consists of all the living and non-living things in a specific natural setting. Plants, animals, insects, microorganisms, rocks, soil, water and sunlight are major components of many ecosystems. All types of ecosystems fall into one of two categories: terrestrial or aquatic. Terrestrial ecosystems are land-based, while aquatic are water-based.

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This informational video by Jack Hartmann is a fun way for students to learn the six questions to ask for reading comprehension.  The six questions are who, what, when, where, how and why.  This informational video supports the ALCOS of [ELA.AAS.2.1] ask and answer who, what, when, where, how and why questions about a story. I would use this video in my class for students to sing along and dance to. Songs are a great way for students remember material. In the video it explains what each of the six reading comprehension questions are and how to find them in a story. This information video helps student's increase their comprehension skills by learning the six questions to keep in mind when they are reading.

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6 Questions | Fun Reading & Writing Comprehension Strategy For Kids | Jack Hartmann

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These three informational infographics tells the name, purpose, and gives an example of what each of the different text features are that can be found in a nonfiction book.  The ALCOS this infographic supports is Reading Standards for Informational Texts, English Language Arts - Gr. 2, #14 know and use various text features (e.g., captions, bold print, subheadings, glossaries, indexes, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text efficiently [RI.2.5]. I would use these infographics in my classroom by either giving each student a copy for them to have or making them into posters. These are great infographics for students to use when learning about all the different types of text features there are by explaining them and giving them and example of what it might look like. These will help students understand and apply when reading informational texts.

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This informational infographic image helps explain what a noun, verb, and adjective.  It also gives examples of nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  This image supports the ALCOS Language Standards, English Language Arts - Gr. 2, standard #35 demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking [L.2.1]. I would use this image in my classroom to help explain what a noun, verb, and adjective are. The examples given for each really help students understand what each means. I would have this made into a poster to hang up in my classroom for students remember what a noun, verb, and adjective are.

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This informational video explains what simple and compound sentences are.  In the first part of the video it explains simple sentences and explains how simple sentences must two parts and what they are; a subject and a predicate (verb).  It then gives examples of simple sentences and how to find the subject and predicate (verb) in each sentence.  The second part of the video explains what compound sentences are and how they are made up of two complete simple sentences or independent clauses put together to make one sentence.  This informational video supports the ALCOS Language Standards, English Language Arts - Gr. 2, standard #35f produce, expand, and rearrange complete simple and compound sentences (e.g., The boy watched the movie; The little boy watched the movie; The action movie was watched by the little boy) [L.2.1f].  I would use this video in my classroom to help students understand what simple and compound sentences are, so that they are able to evaluate sentences by determining if they are simple or compound and to identify the subject and predicate (verb) in  sentences. This is a great informational website for students to watch so that they will be able to identify the difference and feel comfortable with both types of sentences. so that they can then write their own.

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Simple and Compound Sentences for Kids | Learn the difference between simple and compound sentences

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This informational text based website explains the rules and different types of capitalization and punctuation marks.  It lists the rules of when different types of capitalizations should be used and gives and example of each.  It also lists the different types of punctuation marks by naming them, showing what they look like, giving a description of when to use them, and gives examples.  This informational website supports the ALCOS Language Standards, English Language Arts - Gr. 2, #36 demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing [L.2.2]. I would use this website in my classroom to teach my students about the different types of capitalization and punctuation marks, how and when they should be used, and what they look like. This website is very helpful for students because it not only explains what the different types of punctuation marks and capitalizations are but also gives them examples of how they might be used. The examples are a great way for students to understand when capitalization and punctuation marks should be used. Once students read and understand the information provided on this website they will then know how to apply this information when they write.

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Want to know more about when to capitalize and which punctuation marks to use. Read on to find out the different rules for capitalization and punctuation. Capitalization Rules |Punctuation Rules

CAPITALIZATION RULES

Rule

Examples

Capitalize the first word in the greeting or closing of a letter.

Dear friends, Yours truly

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, "The National Anthem"

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PUNCTUATION RULES

Punctuation Marks

Description

Examples

Apostrophe

'

Use it to show possession, to take the place of missing letters in contractions and to form the plurals of letters and numerals.

Sam's best fried never got straight A's, but Sam didn' t care.

Colon

:

Use it after the greeting in a business letter; to introduce a list; between numbers in time; and to introduce an important quotation in a report, essay, or news story.

Dear Sir: Here are the rules: no gum, no baseball caps, no talking.

The police office stated: "We found the suspect's fingerprints at the scene of the crime."

Commas

,

Used for many things. Look at the following rules, then look at their coordinating examples on the next column.

1. To separate three or more items in a series.

2. To separate adjectives that modify the same noun.

3. Between a city and a state.

4. Between the day and year in a date.

5. After the greeting and closing of a friendly letter.

6. Before a conjunction that joins the independent clauses in a compound sentence.

7. After the dependent clause at the beginning of a complex sentence.

8. After introductory words or mild interjections at the beginning of a sentence.

9. To set off the name of the person you're speaking to.

10. To set off an appositive (a noun or phrase that renames or further identifies the noun it follows).

11. With words that interrupt a sentence's basic idea.

12. In front of a short, direct quotation in the middle of a sentence.

13. At the end of a direct quotation that is a statement when it comes at the beginning of a sentence.

1. Marge loves spinach, Brussels sprouts, and asparagus.

2. Dear Susie,
Yours truly,

3. Yes, you can borrow my new CD.
Oh, I didn't know that the test was today.

4. Mrs. Tyra, my math teacher, won the teaching award.

5. Dad, of course, had to brag about our soccer team to everyone. Eddie, therefore, will have to leave the game early.

6. "Mrs. Howard is giving a luncheon today," explained Mom.

Dash

--

Use it to separate and stress elements in a sentence.

Use after an interrupted or unfinished statement of thought or to introduce a list of items.

Use after an introductory list.

Also, use before and after comments inserted into a sentence to give information or add emphasis.

The cafeteria -- and no other room - may be used for school lunches.

You'll need three things -- a pencil, an eraser, and a ruler.

Toys, hairbrushes, chewing gum -- these items must be left at home.

Ellipsis

...

Three dots in a row. It is used to replace words that have been left out. Use an ellipsis to indicate that something has been left out of the middle of a sentence. If something is left out at the end of a sentence, use a period and then an ellipsis.

Mary, Mary...how does your garden grow?

Four score and seven years ago our forefathers brought forth this nation...

Exclamation Point

!

Use it after strong interjections, exclamatory sentences, and strong imperative sentences.

Hyphen

-

Use it to break a word between syllables at the end of a line, in two-part numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine, in spelled-out fractions, and in some compound nouns and adjectives.

Four-fifths of the twenty-two drive- in movies in town have closed.

Parentheses

()

Use it to give the reader added information. Also use before and after an abbreviation or an acronym of a company or organization once its full name has been written.

Read the first story (pages 4-7) tonight.

A representative from American Airlines (AA) will visit our class.

Period

.

Use it at the end of a declarative sentences, at the end of an imperative sentence that doesn't require an exclamation point, and after most initials and abbreviations. Also use as a decimal point.

Dr. A. C. Ross will visit the clinic today.

Quotation Marks

" "

Use it before and after a direct quotation or to set off words or phrases used in a special way. Also use before and after the names of book chapters, essays, short stories, songs, poems, and magazine, and newspaper articles.

Sue said, "Pass the paper, please."

Cory hummed, "Row, row, row, your boat" as he washed the car.

Semicolons

;

The following is a list of rules for using semicolons. Please look at their corresponding examples on the next column.

1. Use it to join independent clauses in a compound sentence without a comma and a conjunction.

2. Before some conjunctions that join two simple sentences into one compound sentence. Use a comma after the conjunction.

3. To separate a series of items when one or more of the items include commas.

The art supplies we need for class are paintbrushes; red, yellow, and blue paint; a sketch pad; a charcoal pencil; a calligraphy pen; and an art smock.

Question Marks

?

Use it at the end of interrogative sentences, after a direct question, at the end of an incomplete question, and when a statement is intended as a question.

What is your name?

Really? When? No kidding?

Your name is Wendy?

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*~* Back Home *~*

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Want to know more about when to capitalize and which punctuation marks to use. Read on to find out the different rules for capitalization and punctuation. Capitalization Rules |Punctuation Rules CAPITALIZATION RULES Rule Examples Capitalize the first word in the greeting or closing of a letter.

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This informational video explains what landforms are, the different types of landforms on earth, and how they are formed.  In the video it talks about six different types of landforms found on Earth; mountains, hills, valleys, deserts, plains, and plateaus.  This informational video supports the ALCOS Earth's Systems, Science - Gr. 2, SCI.AAS.2.9- Identify physical features of Earth. I would use this video in my classroom when teaching my students about the different types of landforms that are found on Earth. I would play the video and have my students take notes while watching the video. I would pause the video when important information came along that I want them to write down. This informational video is a great video at explaining what the different types of landforms are by explaining them, showing what they look like, how they are formed, where they can be found, and some characteristics of each landform.

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Types of Landforms  | Landforms | Video for Kids

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This text based information website explains what water is, how water is distributed on Earth, the hydrologic cycle, the three states of water (solid, liquid, and gas), and the water cycle.  This informational website supports the ALCOS Earth's Systems, Science - Gr. 2, SCI.AAS.2.10- Identify places water is found on Earth as a liquid and as a solid.  I would use this website in my class to teach and read to them about the distribution of water, the hydrologic cycle, the three states of water (solid, liquid, and gas), and the water cycle. After I have read to them I would then have my students find and answers the 10 review questions found at the bottom of the webpage. This informational website is great at explaining what water is, the distribution of water, the hydrologic cycle, the three states of water (solid, liquid, and gas), and the water cycle. It also gives student visual examples to help them understand better. How I would use this website in my class by having them answer the 10 review questions will help them apply what I have just read to them.

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Lesson Objectives

Describe how water is distributed on Earth.

Describe what powers the water cycle and how water moves through this cycle.

Vocabulary

condensation

evaporation

fresh water

groundwater

hydrologic (water) cycle

precipitation

reservoir

residence time

sublimation

transpiration

water vapor

Introduction

Water is simply two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen bonded together. Despite its simplicity, water has remarkable properties. Water expands when it freezes, has high surface tension (because of the polar nature of the molecules, they tend to stick together), and others. Without water, life might not be able to exist on Earth and it certainly would not have the tremendous complexity and diversity that we see.

Distribution of Earth's Water

Earth's oceans contain 97% of the planet's water, so just 3% is fresh water, water with low concentrations of salts ( Figure below). Most fresh water is trapped as ice in the vast glaciers and ice sheets of Greenland. A storage location for water such as an ocean, glacier, pond, or even the atmosphere is known as a reservoir. A water molecule may pass through a reservoir very quickly or may remain for much longer. The amount of time a molecule stays in a reservoir is known as its residence time.

How is the 3% of fresh water divided into different reservoirs? How much of that water is useful for living creatures? How much for people?

The Hydrologic Cycle

Because of the unique properties of water, water molecules can cycle through almost anywhere on Earth. The water molecule found in your glass of water today could have erupted from a volcano early in Earth history. In the intervening billions of years, the molecule probably spent time in a glacier or far below the ground. The molecule surely was high up in the atmosphere and maybe deep in the belly of a dinosaur. Where will that water molecule go next?

Three States of Water

Water is the only substance on Earth that is present in all three states of matter - as a solid, liquid or gas. (And Earth is the only planet where water is present in all three states.) Because of the ranges in temperature in specific locations around the planet, all three phases may be present in a single location or in a region. The three phases are solid (ice or snow), liquid (water), and gas ( water vapor). See ice, water, and clouds ( Figure below).

The Water Cycle

Because Earth's water is present in all three states, it can get into a variety of environments around the planet. The movement of water around Earth's surface is the hydrologic (water) cycle ( Figure below).

The Sun, many millions of kilometers away, provides the energy that drives the water cycle. Our nearest star directly impacts the water cycle by supplying the energy needed for evaporation.

Most of Earth's water is stored in the oceans where it can remain for hundreds or thousands of years. The oceans are discussed in detail in the chapter Earth's Oceans.

Water changes from a liquid to a gas by evaporation to become water vapor. The Sun's energy can evaporate water from the ocean surface or from lakes, streams, or puddles on land. Only the water molecules evaporate; the salts remain in the ocean or a fresh water reservoir.

The water vapor remains in the atmosphere until it undergoes condensation to become tiny droplets of liquid. The droplets gather in clouds, which are blown about the globe by wind. As the water droplets in the clouds collide and grow, they fall from the sky as precipitation. Precipitation can be rain, sleet, hail, or snow. Sometimes precipitation falls back into the ocean and sometimes it falls onto the land surface.

For a little fun, watch this video. This water cycle song focuses on the role of the sun in moving H ₂O from one reservoir to another. The movement of all sorts of matter between reservoirs depends on Earth's internal or external sources of energy (7c): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx_1g5pGFLI (2:38).

This animation shows the annual cycle of monthly mean precipitation around the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MeanMonthlyP.gif

When water falls from the sky as rain it may enter streams and rivers that flow downward to oceans and lakes. Water that falls as snow may sit on a mountain for several months. Snow may become part of the ice in a glacier, where it may remain for hundreds or thousands of years. Snow and ice may go directly back into the air by sublimation, the process in which a solid changes directly into a gas without first becoming a liquid. Although you probably have not seen water vapor sublimating from a glacier, you may have seen dry ice sublimate in air.

Snow and ice slowly melt over time to become liquid water, which provides a steady flow of fresh water to streams, rivers, and lakes below. A water droplet falling as rain could also become part of a stream or a lake. At the surface, the water may eventually evaporate and reenter the atmosphere.

A significant amount of water infiltrates into the ground. Soil moisture is an important reservoir for water ( Figure below). Water trapped in soil is important for plants to grow.

Water may seep through dirt and rock below the soil through pores infiltrating the ground to go into Earth's groundwater system. Groundwater enters aquifers that may store fresh water for centuries. Alternatively, the water may come to the surface through springs or find its way back to the oceans.

Plants and animals depend on water to live and they also play a role in the water cycle. Plants take up water from the soil and release large amounts of water vapor into the air through their leaves ( Figure below), a process known as transpiration.

An online guide to the hydrologic cycle from the University of Illinois is found here: http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/hyd/home.rxml

People also depend on water as a natural resource. Not content to get water directly from streams or ponds, humans create canals, aqueducts, dams, and wells to collect water and direct it to where they want it ( Figure below).

Table above displays water use in the United States and globally.

It is important to note that water molecules cycle around. If climate cools and glaciers and ice caps grow, there is less water for the oceans and sea level will fall. The reverse can also happen.

KQED: Tracking Raindrops

How the water cycle works and how rising global temperatures will affect the water cycle, especially in California, are the topics of this Quest video. Learn more at: http://www.kqed.org/quest/television/tracking-raindrops

Lesson Summary

Although Earth's surface is mostly water covered, only 3% is fresh water.

Water on Earth is found in all three phases: solid, liquid, and gas.

Water travels between phases and reservoirs as part of the hydrologic (water) cycle.

The major processes of the water cycle include evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and return to the oceans via runoff and groundwater supplies.

Review Questions

1. About what percent of the Earth's water is fresh water?

2. About what percent of all of Earth's water is found in groundwater, streams, lakes, and rivers?

3. In what states does water appear on Earth and on other planets?

4. What powers the water cycle? How?

5. In which of the states of matter would water be at 130oC? At 45oC?

6. Define the words condensation and evaporation.

7. Give a detailed summary of the water cycle.

8. What is transpiration? How is it like evaporation?

9. Why is the atmosphere so important to the water cycle?

10. If the sun grew much stronger in intensity, how would the water cycle be affected?

Further Reading / Supplemental Links

Points to Consider

How does precipitation affect the topography of the Earth?

What natural disasters are caused by the water cycle?

How might building dams disrupt the natural water cycle?

As Earth's temperature warms, how might the water cycle be altered?

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Describe how water is distributed on Earth. Describe what powers the water cycle and how water moves through this cycle. condensation evaporation fresh water groundwater hydrologic (water) cycle precipitation reservoir residence time sublimation transpiration water vapor Water is simply two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen bonded together.