Is Earth Running Out of Water?

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Is Earth Running Out of Water?
https://rmpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/water-crisis-kqed/is-earth-running-out-of-water-above-the-noise/

PBS Learning Media

This video is an episode of Above the Noise from PBS Digital Studios that engages students in thinking about drought and water shortages worldwide. Supporting materials include background reading on water shortages, a transcript of the video, a handout for viewing Above the Noise episodes (not specific to water shortages), teaching tips, activities, and discussion questions. The video is an engaging introduction to the topic and is best used as part of a larger lesson plan.

Video length is 06:31 min

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

See how this Video supports the Next Generation Science Standards»

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Middle School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 10

Earth and Space Sciences:

MS-ESS2.C1: Water continually cycles among land, ocean, and atmosphere via transpiration, evaporation, condensation and crystallization, and precipitation, as well as downhill flows on land.

MS-ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth's Surface Processes

MS-ESS2: Earth's Systems

MS-ESS3.A1: Humans depend on Earth’s land, ocean, atmosphere, and biosphere for many different resources. Minerals, fresh water, and biosphere resources are limited, and many are not renewable or replaceable over human lifetimes. These resources are distributed unevenly around the planet as a result of past geologic processes.

MS-ESS3.A: Natural Resources

MS-ESS3.D1: Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.

MS-ESS3.D: Global Climate Change

MS-ESS3: Earth and Human Activity

Middle School:

Cross Cutting Concepts: 2

Stability and Change

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Science and Engineering Practices: 7

Developing and Using Models, Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions, Engaging in Argument from Evidence, Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information, Asking Questions and Defining Problems

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MS-P1: Asking questions and defining problems in 6-8 builds on K-5 experiences and progresses to specifying relationships between variables,and clarifying arguments and models.

MS-P2: Developing and Using Models

MS-P5: Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

MS-P6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

MS-P7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

MS-P8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Middle School:

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High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 15

Earth and Space Sciences:

Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science:

HS-ESS2 : Earth's Systems

HS-ESS2.D: Weather and Climate

HS-ESS3 : Earth and Human Activity

HS-ESS3.C1: The sustainability of human societies and the biodiversity that supports them requires responsible management of natural resources.

HS-ESS3.C2: Scientists and engineers can make major contributions by developing technologies that produce less pollution and waste and that preclude ecosystem degradation.

HS-ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems

HS-ESS3.D2: Through computer simulations and other studies, important discoveries are still being made about how the ocean, the atmosphere, and the biosphere interact and are modified in response to human activities.

HS-ESS3.D: Global Climate Change

HS-ETS1.A : Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems

HS-LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans

HS-LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

High School:

Life Sciences:

Cross Cutting Concepts: 2

Stability and Change

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Science and Engineering Practices: 6

Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions, Engaging in Argument from Evidence, Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

See Details »

HS-P1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems

HS-P4: Analyzing and Interpreting Data

HS-P6: Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

HS-P7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence

HS-P8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

High School:

Climate Literacy

This Video builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

A list of teaching tips is included in the support materials with this lesson, which include a link to a handout, Typical Water Use at Home. This handout can be a resource for students to create a personal plan for water conservation.
For high school students, see a complementary lesson Drought: Identifying Impacts and Evaluating Solutions by PBS Learning Media.
Teachers should be aware that the material in this video may become dated over time but still provides a relevant introduction to the topic of drought.

About the Content

Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
This video explores the science behind drought and how drought can result in water shortages around the world.
The video discusses fresh water storage and how water cycles through the climate.
The video also describes the impacts of water scarcity.
Comments from expert scientist: Good, engaging introduction to the global problem of water supplies. Minor fact error: 95.6% of water in oceans should be 96.5%. The resource refers to current events and projections that were valid when the video was made, in 2018. The video won't make much sense unless viewers are aware of the historical context.

About the Pedagogy

The video is an engaging introduction to the drought and water shortages and is best used as part of a larger lesson on drought.
The suggested activity to accompany the video is an online discussion board to interact with other students on the topic.
From a career and college readiness perspective, the scientist featured in this video is a person of color and could be seen as a role model to underserved populations.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

Video format allows for captions.

Entered the Collection: August 2023 Last Reviewed: March 2022

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Middle School (see details)

Middle School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 10

Cross Cutting Concepts: 2

Science and Engineering Practices: 7

High School (see details)

High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 15

Cross Cutting Concepts: 2

Science and Engineering Practices: 6

Grade Level

Online Readiness

Topics

Climate Literacy

Teaching Tips

About the Content

About the Pedagogy

Technical Details/Ease of Use

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