Water topic
Resources linked to the topic of water.
Just Add Water
Aimed at primary level, the seventeen activities this pack investigate science around the theme of water. They link to the topics of states of matter, materials, electricity and area of design and technology and geography.
The activities include: creating a model of the water cycle, demonstrating surface tension, building a solar still, filtering water, use salt water as an electrical conductor and building mini-rafts.
Teachers' notes are provided within the pack and include concise summaries of the science involved in the investigations. Designed to demonstrate key ideas and concepts, and to spark an interest in science and engineering, they could be used in class or within a science week or club.
Just Add Water
This resource, aimed at primary level, links to the topics of living things and their habitats and seasonal changes. The colourful booklet provides a step-by-step guide to creating a pond, large or small, to provide a habitat in which frogs, newts and other wildlife flourish. It looks at the value of wildlife ponds, the plants and animals that could be added, ways to encourage children to visit the pond and how to look after it.
Information is provided about the seasonal changes that occur within a pond and the types of plants and animals which may be found at different times of the year. Ideas for activities are suggested including: pond-dipping, observation of different animals and plants and identification and classification.
Drip, Drip, Drip
This resource pack contains eight activities based around water and personal finance education. Each activity is aimed at a specific age group at primary level and provides curriculum links to aspects of mathematics, science and PSHE. The activities are:
*[b]Needs and wants associated with water[/b]-Assess the priority of our everyday water uses and begin to appreciate that we cannot always have everything we need or want.
*[b]Which water?[/b]- Compare the value of tap water to bottled water and make money related choices.
*[b]How do we pay for it?[/b]- Look at how households are billed for the water they use and dispose of and understand and recognise a water bill, and the methods which can be used to pay for it.
*[b]Cost of supplying clean water[/b]- Find out where our water comes from and what goes into making it clean and safe whilst developing a sense of ‘value for money’.
*[b]Reducing your water bill[/b]- Consider ways to reduce water consumption in the home and making financial savings and how those savings could be used.
*[b]It’s just a little leak[/b]- Look at how small leaks in the home can contribute to a huge amount of water loss across the UK and make future financial plans for unexpected events.
*[b]Water and energy[/b]- In using water we often forget that we are also using energy to heat it and making informed financial decisions.
*[b]Water around the world[/b]- Find out about access to clean fresh water and how it varies significantly across the world whilst introducing the concept of charitable giving.
Science From Water Play
The Teaching Primary Science book Science from water play contains many suggestions for organisation and for activities arising from water play with infants to more structured investigations of floating and sinking with older children. It discusses equipment and classroom organisation and provides some case studies
Water for the World
This activity looks at water consumption on a local and global scale. Students learn about the main water contaminants and various methods of purification and the role of engineers and their approach to design challenges. The resource aims to inspire an interest in water conservation and to introduce students to Technology Justice and the Millennium Development Goals.
Students watch a short video highlighting the importance of clean water and then work in a team to build a water filter.
How Water Behaves
This activity sheet looks at the changing state of water. Children think about the way water behaves when it is heated to boiling point or cooled to freezing point and discuss the changes in state. They then look at some of the properties of water in its liquid state and write them down.
Precipitation
This resource shows an example of how to create condensation and precipitation in a jar. It could be used when looking at changes of state and the water cycle.