Rivers
This list supports the teaching of science through the topic of Rivers. Providing ideas and resources which link primary science objectives to Rivers, and covering some of the objectives from properties and changes of materials, evolution and inheritance, living things and their habitats, electricity and forces' as well as countless opportunities to cover working scientifically.
Visit the primary resources for cross curricular topics webpage to access all resource lists:
https://www.stem.org.uk/cross-curricular-topics-resources
- ALL
- Teacher guidance
- Presentation
- External link
Teacher guidance
Water for Industry
Many children don't know that rusting is an irreversible change. Activity 1 is great way of exploring the process of rusting, learning about the properties of materials, as well as reversible and irreversible changes.
The activity involves some significant preparation of materials in advance, so it might be best done as a whole-class investigation or demonstration, unless you can involves some willing adult volunteers in the preparation of materials!
Activity 3 focuses on filtration, allowing for exploration of separating solids and liquids. This activity is much easier to set up so that each group can partake. You could even extend the activity by filtering water sufficiently to allow it to be drinkable. Remember that you should always boil water that has been filtered before drinking it, as well as risk assessing the activity thoroughly in advance.
Presentation
Effects of Climate Change - Images
These images from Practical Action provide a great starting point for discussion about flooding and what can be done to prevent flooding.
Children could use these images as a context for designing and making a raft or flood defence. This could provide an opportunity to investigate properties of materials.
Children could also investigate what types of crops grow in flood plains.
External link
Canal and River Trust Resources
The activities outlined in 'Week 6' cover several of the objectives from 'Living Things and their Habitats' and 'Evolution and Inheritance'. There are lots of suggested activities which would enable children to use classifcation keys. I would extend the activity by asking UKS2 children to produce their own keys for their local area. These could then be used to introduce Y4 children to classification.
Children sometimes find it difficult to grasp the concept of a branching database as a key. It can be useful to practice classifying items as a whole class. Children could use items that they are familiar with, such as PE equipment or sweets.
You will need to us the website www.canalriverexplorers.org.uk to access the online resources and interactive games.
Anglian Water - primary resources
Children may not realise that water has to be treated in order to make it safe to drink. Fact File 4 allows children to explore the differences in water taken from a cariety of sources. There are lots of opportunities ot investigate dissolving, filtration and reversible changes.
In order to investigate whether there are any solutes dissolved in the water, children could use a tea light and tea light stand to evaporate the water. Make sure that you follow the Health and Safety guidance of CLEAPSS and your own school when using tea lights.
Fact File 3, which is about the treatment of drinking water, give opportunities for fair tests, as well as cross-curricular discussions around the ethics of botttled water as opposed to tap water.
Tongland Power Station and the River Dee
When learning about electricity, children are often keen to learn about renewable sources of power. Hydropower has been used since ancient times, and there are numerous places in the UK that now generate electrity through hydropower.
Children could watch this video and then have the opportunity to make a waterwheel like the one shown in the video. They could explore whether adding extra paddles or larger paddles would make the wheel turn faster.
This would also be a great opportunity to take children on a visit to a local watermill or reservoir.
