You will learn
- Name water sources.
- Describe how water reaches homes.
- Tell fresh from salt sources.
- Explain the water cycle simply.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Rain, rivers, lakes, springs and wells are sources of fresh water.
- The sea is salty.
- Water reaches homes through pipes or is carried.
- Water moves in a cycle.
Words to know
where something comes from
a deep hole dug to reach underground water
water that flows out of the ground
a store of water
1. Discover: The village well
Early each morning, Mariama walks to the village well to draw water. In town, her cousin simply turns on a tap. “Where does it all come from?” Mariama asks. Her teacher draws a picture of rain, river, well and pipes.
Think: Where does well water come from?
2. Understand: Where water comes from
Idea 1: Natural sources
Rain falls from clouds into rivers, lakes and the ground. A spring is water that flows out of the ground. A well is dug to reach underground water.
Idea 2: Storing and delivering
A reservoir stores water. Pipes carry treated water to homes. In some places, people carry water from wells or rivers.
Idea 3: The cycle
Water on the ground evaporates, forms clouds and falls again as rain. This is the water cycle.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Source
A well.
- Dug hole.
- Reaches underground water.
- Source.
Answer: Wells reach underground water.
Example 2 (We do it together): Deliver
Tap water.
- Reservoir.
- Pipes.
- Tap.
Answer: Pipes bring water from a reservoir.
Example 3 (You try): Cycle
Rain to cloud.
Show the steps and answer
- Rain falls.
- Water evaporates.
- Clouds form.
Answer: Water moves in a cycle.
Did you know?
Some of the water we drink today fell as rain thousands of years ago and has been stored underground since.
Why this matters
Knowing sources helps us protect them and share them fairly.
4. Explore: Water cycle poster
Draw the water cycle with arrows.
- Draw the sun and a cloud.
- Draw rain, river and sea.
- Add arrows.
- Label evaporation, clouds, rain.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? The cycle returns to the start.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Rain falls from ___.
- A ___ is dug to reach water.
- Pipes bring ___ to homes.
- Water moves in a ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Name a water source.
River.
Question 2. What is a well?
A hole for water.
Question 3. What is a spring?
Water flowing from ground.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Name a water source.
- What is a well?
- What is a spring?
- Is the sea salty?
- What stores water?
Level 2: Grow
- Why use a reservoir?
- How does rain reach a river?
- What is the water cycle?
Level 3: Stretch
- Draw the water cycle.
- Compare well and tap.
- Explain why sources need protection.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
Where does your water come from?
Show a sample answer
Tap, well or river.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Taps get it from sources.
Fix: It is salty.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can name water sources.
- I can describe how water reaches homes.
- I can tell fresh from salt sources.
- I can explain the water cycle simply.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Rain, rivers, lakes, springs and wells are sources of fresh water.
- The sea is salty.
- Water reaches homes through pipes or is carried.
- Water moves in a cycle.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Clean water. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Name four sources. [4 marks]
- What is a well? [1 mark]
- How does water reach homes? [2 marks]
- Describe the water cycle. [3 marks]
- Safety rule? [1 mark]
Total: 11 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- Any four [1 each]
- Hole to reach underground water [1]
- Pipes [1]; reservoir [1]
- Evaporation [1]; clouds [1]; rain [1]
- Keep away from open wells [1]
Score guide: 10 to 11 = secure. 7 to 9 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 7 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Name a water source.
- What is a well?
- What is a spring?
- Is the sea salty?
- What stores water?
- Why use a reservoir?
- How does rain reach a river?
- What is the water cycle?
- Draw the water cycle.
- Compare well and tap.
Homework
Find out where your home water comes from. Draw its journey.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Name a water source. | River. | 1 |
| 2. What is a well? | A hole for water. | 1 |
| 3. What is a spring? | Water flowing from ground. | 1 |
| 4. Is the sea salty? | Yes. | 1 |
| 5. What stores water? | A reservoir. | 1 |
| 6. Why use a reservoir? | Store water. | 1 |
| 7. How does rain reach a river? | Flows down. | 1 |
| 8. What is the water cycle? | Water moving round. | 1 |
| 9. Draw the water cycle. | Labelled. | 1 |
| 10. Compare well and tap. | Source and delivery. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 River.; 2 A hole for water.; 3 Water flowing from ground.; 4 Yes.; 5 A reservoir.. Level 2: 1 Store water.; 2 Flows down.; 3 Water moving round.. Level 3: 1 Labelled.; 2 Source and delivery.; 3 Keep water safe..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Name water sources | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Describe how water reaches homes | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Tell fresh from salt sources | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Explain the water cycle simply | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “Water comes only from taps.” Taps get it from sources.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Name four sources and explain the cycle.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns where water comes from. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Follow a tap or well together.
- Ask, “Where does it start?”
- Draw the cycle.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: name water sources; describe how water reaches homes; tell fresh from salt sources; explain the water cycle simply.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 1 ideas: weather and the sky, water around us and keeping our environment clean.
Materials. Paper, crayons, arrows and pictures. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Prepare example water cycle pictures. Prepare sheets.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Pour water and ask, “Where did it start?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach sources.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners draw cycles.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners present.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Where did it come from? Where does it go?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “Water comes only from taps.” Taps get it from sources.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 11-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Name four sources and explain the cycle. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 2 Unit 7, topic 8; Next Generation Science Standards, structure and properties of matter and Earth systems (2-ESS2 water on Earth); Cambridge Primary Science Stage 2, materials and Earth; IB Primary Years Programme, how the world works. These sources informed the lesson.