The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes

Videos

GradesK-12Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by The Wonder of Science

Open Resource

What it is

This video describes the importance of water in geologic processes and to life on Earth, the places we find water, the basics of the water cycle, and the physical properties of water.
The first 2 minutes and 49 seconds of the video are appropriate for students to watch and the last 2 minutes and 37 seconds provide teaching suggestions for different grade levels.

Teaching tips

Positives

This video does a nice job of connecting the biological, chemical, physical, and geological importance of water on Earth.
This video provides a good overview to start a lesson on the water cycle, water and geologic processes, weather and climate, or water in living systems.

Additional Prerequisites

Stopping the video at 2 minutes, 45 seconds is suggested if you're showing it in class.
The beginning of the video is only appropriate for some grades, as it is likely too advanced for very young learners.

Differentiation

Connections could be made with social studies and history classes when discussing the impacts of major floods, storms, or droughts on human communities.
Other resources related to this topic include this video on why ice floats in water, this article on how forests can protect water, and his experiment on how temperature affects the solubility of carbon dioxide in water.

From the scientist review

The resource underscores the properties of water, processes in the water cycle, and its interactions in the Earth-atmosphere-ocean system. The video is relevant and recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: K-12
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: The Wonder of Science
Authors: The Wonder of Science, Paul Andersen
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-ESS2-4. + 69 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6.MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
2-ESS2-2.2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-3.2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-1.4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

New Jersey Climate Education Hub

New Jersey Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2-ESS2-2.2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-3.2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-1.4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6.MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Oregon Climate Education Hub

Oregon Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2.ESS2.22.ESS2.2 Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2.ESS2.32.ESS2.3 Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4.ESS2.14.ESS2.1 Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
6.ESS2.46.ESS2.4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
6.ESS2.56.ESS2.5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
6.ESS2.66.ESS2.6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS.ESS2.5HS.ESS2.5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2-ESS2-2.2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-6.MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
2-ESS2-3.2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth, and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-1.4-ESS2-1. Make observations and measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.

Maine Climate Education Hub

Maine Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2-ESS2-22-ESS2-2 Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-32-ESS2-3 Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-14-ESS2-1 Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
MS-ESS2-4MS-ESS2-4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5MS-ESS2-5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6MS-ESS2-6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5HS-ESS2-5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

New York Climate Education Hub

New York Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2-ESS2-2.2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-3.2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-1.4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the Sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6.MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Connecticut Climate Education Hub

Connecticut Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2-ESS2-2.2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-3.2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-1.4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6.MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub

ECCLPs Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2-ESS2-2.2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-3.2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-1.4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6.MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Michigan Climate Education Hub

Michigan Climate Education Hub Standards legacy

2-ESS2-22-ESS2-2 Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-32-ESS2-3 Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-14-ESS2-1 Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation
MS-ESS2-4MS-ESS2-4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5MS-ESS2-5 Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses results in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6MS-ESS2-6 Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5HS-ESS2-5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

Illinois Climate Education

Illinois Climate Education Standards legacy

2-ESS2-2.2-ESS2-2. Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
2-ESS2-3.2-ESS2-3. Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that it can be solid or liquid.
4-ESS2-1.4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
MS-ESS2-5.MS-ESS2-5. Collect data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.
MS-ESS2-6.MS-ESS2-6. Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
HS-ESS2-5.HS-ESS2-5. Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.

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