In this earth science unit students explored water and its properties. They discovered where it can be found, its forms, how it can be used, and how it can change in form. Students learned about surface water such as rivers, waterfalls, ponds, lakes, streams, and oceans and discuss the differences between the various bodies of water. They gained an understanding that water is in the air, underground, and in the oceans. Students discussed differences between fresh water and salt water and learned that there is more salt water than fresh water, thus making fresh water a valuable resource. They compareed the amount of land and water on earth. Students identified sources of drinking water such as wells, rivers, springs, and the Great Lakes. They investigated various uses of water including drinking, cleaning, food preparation, generating electricity, recreation, irrigation, farming, transportation, and industry. Students looked at which uses consume more water than others, the misuses of water, and ways water can be conserved. They exploreed how water changes form and learn about two of the three states of water, solid and liquid (ice, liquid water). As our unit project we took a cross-curricular approach and made acrostic poems with "water" as our topic.