These brief activity ideas can be adapted into more fulsome activities to guide learner inquiry.
Water Cycle Collage
Core Question: What does the water cycle look like?
Overview: Gather a variety of magazines and cut out pictures that help explain the water cycle. Combine your selected magazine pictures and add drawings to make a water cycle collage. How does your collage represent the water cycle?
Condensation Fascination
Core Question: How does water move between liquid and gaseous states?
Overview: Place an empty cup in the middle of a bowl. Pour water into the bowl until it surrounds the cup, but not so much that the cup floats. Cover and seal the bowl loosely with clear plastic wrap, using tape if necessary. Place a small rock on the plastic wrap directly above the cup. Set the bowl in the sun. Wait and observe. What happened? What does this tell you about water and its ability to change state?
A Drop in the Bucket
Core Question: How much fresh water is actually available for human consumption on Earth?
Overview: Start with a liter (1000ml) of water in a 1000ml beaker or other glass container - this represents all the water on Earth. Pour 30 ml of the water into a 100ml graduated cylinder (or other glass container) - this amount (3% of all water) represents Earth’s fresh water. Pour salt into the remaining 97% left in the 1000ml container to simulate the world’s oceans (that are unfit to drink). Pour 6 ml of fresh water into a small dish to represent non-frozen fresh water (leaving 24ml representing the frozen fresh water of polar regions in the 100ml container). Use an eye dropper to remove a single drop from this small dish - this is the amount of fresh water that is actually available and fit for human consumption. Release this small drop into a bucket, listening carefully for the sound it makes. Discuss the results of the demonstration. Why is it important to carefully manage this precious drop of water?
That was Then, This is Now
Core Question: How have water supply practices and systems changed over time?
Overview: Choose a period in history that interests you and imagine that you are living in that time. Conduct research on the following questions: How was drinking water supplied then? How was it treated? How did the people bathe, clean their clothes or wash dishes? How did they get hot water? Where did their wastewater go? Make a chart headed "Then" and "Now" and record similarities and differences in water supply systems from the past to modern day. Compare the ideas you collected with others. What questions do you have now?
Everything is Made with Water
Core Question: How much water does it take to produce commonly used products?
Overview: There is almost nothing that can be manufactured without the use of water. Here are some examples of how much water is used to produce goods:
|
Goods |
Litres of water used |
| One can of fruit or vegetables | 35 |
| One glass of a cola soft drink | 38 |
| One ear of corn | 99 |
| A hamburger, fries and soft drink | 5,320 |
| One car | 148,000 |
Choose an item and research the resources and processes needed to produce it. List all the times water would be used to obtain and process the raw materials, and then manufacture and deliver the items. How could you be more thoughtful about the water and products you use?
Making Every Drop Count
Core Question: How much water does it take to produce commonly used products?
Overview: Keep track of the water you use over a one-week period using a chart (or a journal) to record your water use and the estimated number of litres used. At the end of the week, consider: Do you think they used water wisely? Did you ever waste water? Research water conservation strategies and make a list of actions you can do to conserve water at home and at school. How could you be more water wise?
