UNIT

3 The hydrosphere
Introduction
In this unit pupils will learn about the hydrosphere. On page 27, pupils will investigate the waters of Andalucía.
On page 22, we will look at what the hydrosphere is, its importance Pupils will put their knowledge into practice with two projects on
and why we must care for it. the Apply your skills page (28).
On page 23, we will concentrate on the water cycle and its On page 29, pupils can check what they know, and there is a wordlist
continuous journey. of key vocabulary found in the unit.
On page 24, the focus is on rivers and their characteristics. This is
followed up on pages 25 through to 26 with a study of Spain’s rivers.

UNIT OUTLINE

RIVERS

elements characteristics

Source Course Mouth Length Discharge Regime

are influenced by
have got three parts

Relief Climate
Upper Middle Lower

Torrentes, in the
SPAIN'S RIVERS Spain's islands Balearic Islands

heavy rain forms Barrancos, in the

flow into the
Canary Islands

Cantabrian Sea Atlantic Ocean Mediterranean Sea

they are they have got they are

Short, with a high discharge
and stable regime
such as
Navía, Nalón, Besaya,
Nervión and Bidasoa
A high discharge and
stable regime
such as
Tambre, Miño, Duero, Tajo,
Guadiana and Guadalquivir
Short, with a low discharge
and variable regime
such as Guadalhorce, Guadalfeo,
Almanzora, Ter, Llobregat,
Ebro, Júcar and Segura

37
 Unit 3
UNIT
3 The hydrosphere Track 14
The water cycle
o The water cycle consists of various processes that happen at the
k
bo
Work in your note same time in different places.
1 Water vapour rises from the heat of the Sun.
2 Clouds form when water vapour cools.
The Earth’s hydrosphere 3 Precipitation (rain, hail and snow) falls.
Track 12

The hydrosphere is all of the water on the Earth. Water has various 4 Water moves across the land and back to sea.
forms. We drink fresh water, which contains very little salt. Water that
contains a lot of salt is called salt water. The water cycle

Surface water is found on the surface of the geosphere. It includes

Water vapour turns into clouds.
oceans, seas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds.
Groundwater forms when surface water filters through cracks in the
Water vapour
Earth and collects inside the geosphere. Sometimes it comes to the Precipitation falls. rises into the
surface in the form of natural springs. atmosphere.

The hydrosphere
surface water Water circulates.

Groundwater flows
back into the seas.
natural springs surface water

groundwater
3 Number the processes of the water cycle in the correct order in
your notebook.
a) Water vapour cools and turns into clouds.
b) Water circulates.
1 Look at the picture. What different types of water does it show? c) Surface water turns into water vapour and rises.
d) Precipitation falls.
The importance of the hydrosphere 4 Are the sentences True or False? Correct the false ones in your
Track 13

The Earth has always got the same amount of water. It appears and
disappears because it’s always moving around. The water in the
hydrosphere is very important for all living organisms.
• It helps maintain the Earth’s temperature by absorbing the Sun’s heat.
• It provides a habitat for aquatic animals. Plants and land animals need
it to survive. Use
notebook.
1 The processes of the water cycle happen at different times.
2 Clouds produce water vapour.
3 Rainwater becomes groundwater and goes back to the sea.
4 The heat from the Moon causes water vapour to rise.
5 Answer the questions in your notebook.

!
ith water
ain
• Humans use it for industry, hygiene and recreation. yo u br
r
1 What are the three forms of precipitation? cw

i
king mus
2 Where does precipitation come from?
2 Why is the hydrosphere important for... 3 How does the water from precipitation get back to the sea?

Ma
a) ... the Earth? b) ... animals? c) ... humans? 4 What causes water vapour?

22 23

The Earth's hydrosphere The water cycle

Track 12 Track 14

Warmer Warmer
Write the word ‘water’ on the board and ask pupils if they can think Ask pupils to call out all the places they can think of where you can
of different forms of water (ice, hail, snow, fresh water, salt water…) find water.

Extra help CD Track 14

? You may like to ask volunteers to read the text before listening to
Ask students to point to the keywords in the illustration. the audio. Highlight the content using the illustrations in the text.
CD Tracks 12 & 13 3 5 Pupils work individually.

You may want to read through the text first, using the illustration to Language Assistant
Hi

highlight the content. Then play the audio and let pupils follow in
their books. Alternatively, you may like to get volunteers to read out The Language Assistant can help pupils understand difficult
the text before listening to the audio. vocabulary. Get him/her to help with pronunciation too.

1 2 Pupils work in pairs. Answers

3 a) 2 b) 4 c) 1 d) 3
Answers
4 1
 False. The processes of the water cycle happen at the same
1 fresh water, salt water, surface water and groundwater
time.
2 a) Because it helps maintain the Earth's temperature by 2 False. Water vapour produces clouds.
absorbing the Sun's heat. 3 True
b) Because it provides a habitat for aquatic animals and, in 4 False. The heat from the Sun causes water vapour to rise.
addition, plants and land animals need it to survive. 5 1 rain, snow and hail
c) Because it is used for industry, hygiene and recreation. 2 clouds
3 Water moves across the land and back to the sea.
Closing the lesson 4 the Sun

Have a class discussion based on the idea of water moving around. CLIL Music: Making music with water
Ask the pupils how water 'appears' and 'disappears'. How does it
move around? This will act as an introduction to the water cycle. Photocopiable resource

38
 Unit 3

Rivers Spain’s rivers (I)

Track 15 Track 16

A river is a large stream of fresh water that flows across the land. Rivers Rivers that flow into the Cantabrian Sea
form in the mountains and flow downhill into the sea, another river, ...
These rivers flow through the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and
Elements of a river the Basque Country, in northern Spain. They are short rivers. They
• The source is the place where a river begins. have got a high discharge and a stable regime because there is a lot
of rain in this area.
• The course is the path a river takes. A river’s course can be divided
into three sections: The Eo, the Navia, the Nalón, the Besaya, the Nervión and the
Bidasoa all flow into the Cantabrian Sea.
– The upper course is the section closest to the source of a river. The
water in the upper course moves quickly and carries lots of sand IC
NT Cantabrian Sea

F R AN CE
LA
and pebbles. AT CEAN
– The middle course is the central section of a river. Here, as the O
Na

Eo
ló
river flows over flat land, it joins together with smaller streams. n

a
ay

Nervión
Key

ia

Bid
Bes
Nav
River

as
a
This is also where large bends called meanders are formed.

o
Country
border
Elevation (m)
– The lower course is the section closest to the end of a river. In 3 500
2 000
the lower course, a river moves slowly and deposits the sand and 1 500
1 000

pebbles it was carrying. 700

400 0 100 200 300 km
0

• The mouth is the end of a river, where it flows into the sea, a lake or
another river. A river that flows into another river is called a tributary. Rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean
Track 17

Characteristics of rivers Most of Spain’s rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean.

When we study rivers, we look at three main characteristics: The rivers of Galicia are short. They have got a high discharge and a
stable regime. They include the Tambre, the Miño and the Sil.
• Length. This is the distance between the source and the mouth of a river.
The rivers of the Meseta and Cantabrian Sea
• Discharge. This is the amount of water passing through a given point FRANCE
the Guadalquivir River Valley
in a river at a given time.
re
mb
Ta

are long. They have got a Sil

A N
• Regime. This is the variation in a river’s discharge over the course high discharge and a variable MIÑ
O

Esla

a
of a year. If a river’s discharge does not change throughout the year,

O C E

e rg
regime. They include the

su
Pi
DUERO
To

we say it has got a stable regime. If it does change, we say it has got

Adaja
DUERO rm
es

Duero, the Tajo, the Guadiana res

na
A T L A N T I C
TAJO
a variable regime.

A L

He
and the Guadalquivir.

Jarama
Alberche
n Buendía
gó r Reservoir
Ala Tiéta

T U G
The characteristics of a river depend on relief and climate.
Some of these rivers have

a
el
TAJ O

gü
Alcántara

Ci
Reservoir Cíjara
Reservoir

got reservoirs, which are

Záncara
IANA
GUAD

P O R
Jabaló
La Serena

1 Match the words to their definitions in your notebook.

n
Reservoir

large artificial lakes that we Zú

ja
r

a
Se
use to generate electricity or ADA
LQ UIV
IR

1 course a) The place where a river begins.

Key

iel

n
GU

Od
River

ea
supply water. Examples are
Country

to
n

Tin
border
a
2 meander b) A river that flows into another river. Elevation (m)
3 500
te
rr
the Serena, the Alcántara, 2 000
1 500

Me
di
3 mouth c) A large bend in a river. 1 000
700

the Buendía and the Cíjara 400

0
0 100 200 300 km

4 source d) The path a river takes.

Reservoirs.
5 tributary e) The place where a river ends.

24 25

Rivers Spain's rivers (I)

Track 15 Track 16

Warmer Warmer
Before reading the text asks pupils to give their own definition of Before reading the text, distribute several atlases of Spain to the
what a river is where it starts and where it ends. class and ask them to look for the regions of Asturias, Cantabria
and the Basque Country, in northern Spain and point to any rivers
Language Assistant
Hi

they can find in those areas.

The Language Assistant could elicit or pre-teach the key vocabulary CD Track 16
in pink with pupils before reading the text.
This is a short text, so advanced pupils can study the map whilst
CD Track 15 listening to the audio. Alternatively, you could ask volunteers to
Volunteers could read the texts before or after listening to the read the text before playing the recording.
audio. Give pupils time to relate the information to the image. CD Track 17
1 Pupils work individually.
Volunteers could read the text before or after listening to the audio.
Tip!
You may want to direct pupils' attention to the rivers' locations on
Tip!
the map as you go along.
Ask pupils to consider the importance of rivers for humans and how
we have utilized them throughout our history. Ask them to Closing the lesson
investigate the name of the closest river to where they live and to Refer pupils back to the atlas and ask them to find a page where
find out where its source and tributary are. What is the length,
they can a river that flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
discharge and regime of the river? Do they live near the upper
course, middle course or lower course?
Notes
Extra help
?
Pupils can work with the Language Assistant or with their dictionary
to help them to find the answers within the text.

Answers
1 1
 d)  2 c)  3 e)  4 a)  5 b)

39
 Unit 3

Spain’s rivers (II) Track 19

The waters of Andalucía
Track 18

Rivers that flow into the Mediterranean Sea Rivers

The rivers that flow into the Apart from the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir, the rivers of
Cantabrian Sea
Mediterranean Sea can be divided into Andalucía are short, they have got a low discharge and a variable
F R A N C E

two groups: regimen. Some flow into the Atlantic Ocean and others flow into
ANDORRA
the Mediterranean Sea.
• The rivers in the south are short. Ar
ag
ón

Cinca
EB

• The Atlantic Ocean. The rivers Guadiana, Odiel, Guadalquivir,

Llobreg
RO
Ter

They have got a low discharge

Gállego

at
EB
Guadalete and Barbate flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The

e
and a variable regime. They include

gr
n RO
ló

Se
Ja

the Guadiaro, the Guadalhorce and

Mequinenza
Reservoir
tributaries of the Guadalquivir irrigate the entire valley.
the Guadalfeo. Examples are the Viar, the Bembézar, the Guadiato, the
Guadajoz and the Guadiana Menor.

TU
ds
• With the exception of the Ebro, the l an

R
IA
Alarcón
Is

Cabr
ric
• The Mediterranean Sea. The rivers Guadiario, Guadalhorce,
Reservoir Contreras
ea

iel
Reservoir
al
rivers in the east have got a low

B
R

Guadalfeo, Andarax and the Almanzora, etc. flow into the

JÚCA

discharge and a variable regime. SEGURA

Mediterranean Sea.
They vary in length. These rivers

NA
CASTILLA-LA MANCHA
include the Segura, the Júcar, the a

ADIA
PORTUGAL
e EXTREMADURA
S

GU
Almanzora
n
Ebro, the Llobregat and the Ter.
Tranco de
a Guad Beas Reservoir
Guadalhorce e iato
alfeo
n ula
Guad a Be Já
nd
Guad
alima
R
r
r Key m
VI
Some of these rivers have got reservoirs. UI
bé
r River za
MURCIA
e Country r GUAD A L Q
i t
border
Elevation (m)
Córdoba Jaén
R
d
The largest are the Mequinenza, the

G Me
iv

Viar

ua n
M e
3 500
H er

dia or
Ceuta 2 000
ue a
de Guadajo

na
1 500 lv IR
a UIV z

iel
GUADIANA
Negratín
ALQ
1 000

Od
Ebro, the Alarcón and the Contreras
Reservoir
GUAD
700
400
0 Ge
Melilla Sevilla nil

to
Huelva Almanzora

Tin
Iznájar

Gu
reservoirs.
0 100 200 300 km Reservoir

adaí
Granada
Marshes of

ra
Odiel and Tinto ce
Guadalhor
Marshes of Andarax
Guadalquivir Guadalhorce
lete Reservoir

Water on Spain’s islands

a
ad Almería
Gu lfeo

ro
Málaga Guada

dia
ua
G
Cádiz

te
Barba
The Balearic and Canary Islands have not got permanent ATL AN T IC M e d i t er r a n e a n
rivers because of the characteristics of the soil and because
S ea
they do not receive a lot of rain. OCEAN
MOROCCO

1 Separate the word snake to find words about rivers.

Relief of Andalucía
River Plain area Capital of autonomous community Country boundaries
0 20 40 60 80 100 km

o ur s
Reservoir Mountain area Capital of province Autonomous community boundaries

th
regimedischargeleng reservoirsourcemouthc e Track 20
Reservoirs and marshes
Some rivers are dammed and converted into reservoirs. This is
2 Copy and complete the table. Give three examples of each. so that we can store water for periods without rain. The main
reservoirs are the Tranco de Beas from the river Guadalquivir, the
Rivers that flow into... Examples
Negratín from the Guadiana Menor, the Iznájar from the Genil,
... the Cantabrian Sea.
and the Guadalhorce, from the Guadalhorce.
... the Atlantic Ocean. rvoirs
se
... the Mediterranean Sea. Marshes are areas of low ground which become flooded with sea
e
m s and r

water. Examples are the marshes of the Guadalquivir and the Odiel.
3 Why aren’t the rivers in the Balearic and Canary Islands permanent?
Da

1 Study the map and name three tributaries of the river Guadalquivir.

26 27

Spain's rivers (II) The waters of Andalucía

Track 18 Track 19

Warmer Warmer
Distribute maps of Spain to several different groups. Ask pupils to Divide the class into small groups ask some of the groups to discuss
find three rivers that flow into the Mediterranean Sea. What are the what a reservoir is and the other groups to describe what a marsh
names of the rivers? Have any of the pupils ever seen any of them? is. Ask them to think whether they are naturally occurring or man-
made
CD Track 18
Volunteers can read the text before listening to the audio. Stop after
CD Tracks 19 & 20
each sentence to locate the information on the map on page 26. Ask volunteers to read the text before listening to the audio. Higher-
1 3 Pupils work individually. level pupils could listen to the audio first without looking at the text
and then check their comprehension by listening again and reading
Language Assistant
Hi
the text at the same time.

The Language Assistant can talk about the rivers where they are 1 Pupils work individually.
from, the names of them and some facts about them.
Answers
Answers
1 Example answers: Genil River, Jándula River, Guadiato River.
1 regime, discharge, length, reservoir, source, mouth, course

2 Rivers Examples Notes

... the Cantabrian Sea Eo, Navia, Nalón
... the Atlantic Ocean Tajo, Duero, Guadiana
... the Mediterranean Sea Guadiaro, Ebro, Ter
3 Example answer: Because they don’t receive much rain.

CLIL Technology: Dams and reservoirs

Photocopiable resource

40
 Apply Check what My Word list
your skills! you know! course
discharge
k
te boo fresh water
Work in your no groundwater
hydrosphere
length
1 Explain the difference between fresh water and salt
Project River research water. Give one example of where each is found.
meander
mouth
2 List the different stages of the water cycle in the precipitation
correct order. regime:
• stable / variable
3 Are the sentences True or False? Correct the false reservoir
ones in your notebook. river:
1 A river is a large stream of salt water. • upper course
2 The source of a river is the place where the river • middle course
ends. • lower course
3 The mouth of a river is the beginning of the river. salt water
4 The course is the path an ocean takes. source
5 The upper course is the section of a river closest surface water
to the source. tributary
water cycle
4 Match the sentence halves in your notebook
1 The rivers of Galicia are...
2 The rivers of the Meseta and the Guadalquivir
Step 1 Choose a river in the world and research it. Make
River valley...
sure you answer these questions:
3 The rivers that flow into the Cantabrian Sea...
1 What is the name of the river? 4 The Segura, the Júcar, the Ebro, the Llobregat
2 Where is it located? and the Ter...
3 Where is its source? Where is its mouth? 5 The Duero, the Tajo, the Guadiana and the
4 What is it like? Describe its characteristics. Guadalquivir...
5 Do people use it? How?
a) ... short and have got a high discharge and a
As you do your research, find one fun fact about
stable regime.
the river that your classmates will enjoy learning
b) ... flow into the Mediterranean Sea.
about.
c) ... are long and have got a high discharge and a
Step 2 Make a poster to display the information you have variable regime.
found. Include photographs and illustrations, and d) ... pass through Asturias, Cantabria and the
highlight your fun fact in a creative way. Basque Country.
e) ... flow into the Atlantic Ocean.
Step 3 Present your project to the class.

28 29

Apply your skills! Check what you know!

Cooperative learning Tip!
Tip!

These projects can be carried out in groups, pairs or individually. Try You can use these pages as a review, as revision for the unit
to create mixed-ability groups or pairs if you choose to have the evaluation (photocopiable resources), or as homework. Pupils can
pupils working together. work in pairs or individually.

Project: River research Answers

In this project, pupils are going to research one of the world’s rivers
and put the information onto a poster.
This project can be done during school hours, using school facilities,
or at home. It can be done as a group activity or an individual
activity. The purpose of the activity is to develop research and
presentation skills.
Extension activity
Photocopiable mixed-ability extension worksheets A and B can be
used to review unit content. Worksheet A is intended for
lower-level pupils.
Notes
1 Fresh
 water is water that you can drink. Salt water is water that
contains a lot of salt.
Salt water is found in the sea and the ocean. Fresh water is found
in rivers and in the taps in our homes.
2 1
 Surface water turns into water vapour and rises.
2 Water vapour cools and turns into clouds.
3 Precipitation falls.
4 Water circulates.
3 1 False. It is a large stream of fresh water.
2 False. The source of a river is the place where a river begins.
3 False. The mouth of a river is the end of the river.
4 False. The course of a river is the path a river takes.
5 True

4 1 a)  2 c)  3 d)  4 b)  5 e)

41