How Much Water is on Earth? - New Bedford Whaling Museum

Whales: Giants of the Ocean

Lesson 2 | How much water is on Earth?

The majority of the surface of our planet is covered by ocean water. In this lesson, students will perform simple activities to collect data and estimate how much water covers the planet Earth and then compare their results to estimates made by scientists.

BY THE END OF THIS LESSON, STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:

  • Explain how much of the Earth’s surface is covered by water
  • Make and record a prediction using fractions or percentages
  • Understand where whales, dolphins and porpoises live

GUIDING QUESTION:
How much of Earth’s surface is covered by water?