Water Works
Overview
Overview
Keywords: biodiversity, canal, float, lake, marine life, oil spill as an example for pollution, river, sea, sink, water, water quality
Subjects: citizenship, environmental education, geography, science, social and scientific education
Age group: 4-12 years old
Difficulty level: ● ○ ○ (easy) / ● ● ○ (medium)
Authors: Iro Koliakou (GR), Cláudia Meirinhos (PT), Jane Shimizu (IE)
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About this topic
The experiments on the topic "Water Works" revolve around the question "Is my water clean?". They instil an understanding of the environment's delicate balance and the importance of preserving clean water sources.
Through easy and fun activities, children are introduced to the scientific concepts of the water cycle, the density of objects, and the hydrophobic properties of oils.
You can use the introductory story "Lilu's big vacation experience" to introduce your students to the topics of nature and sustainability.
This short story leads to the individual experiments on the topic of water.
It had finally stopped raining. Lilu put on his rubber boots and made his way to his friend Alina. He skipped happily through the puddles until he stopped, startled, on the bridge over a river. A motorboat was anchored on the riverbank. He saw a strange, shimmering spot on the surface of the water at the back of the motorboat. On the other side of the river, a whole load of rubbish was caught between overhanging bushes. Lilu was upset that people were so careless with nature. He urgently wanted to talk to Alina about this.
When he reached Alina, he told her about his observations. Alina was also upset. They thought about how they could get the rubbish out of the water so that the animals living in the river would feel better again. They wanted to go to the river first thing in the morning and start their planned experiments.
When Lilu set off for the river the next morning, he was surprised to realise that he had put on his rubber boots for nothing – all the puddles were gone. What had happened to the water in the puddles? So many things he wanted to investigate together with Alina. Would you like to help the two of them?
- Puddles: What Happens to Polluted Water within the Water Cycle?
- Shimmering spot: Oil Spill Cleanup
- Rubbish in the river: Does Rubbish Float or Sink?
What Happens to Polluted Water within the Water Cycle?
This experiment simulates the water cycle to illustrate how it acts as a natural water purifier. Students witness the stages of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Water is a fundamental resource, and understanding its natural purification processes is crucial for students' environmental awareness.
Does Rubbish Float or Sink?
In this experiment students investigate whether pieces of rubbish float, do not float or sink. They investigate whether the shape or size, or the type of rubbish affects whether the item floats, or does not float, or sinks.
Furthermore, students are encouraged to look at how rubbish ends up in our waterways and how rubbish and pollution can have a negative impact on sea creatures and wildlife.
Oil Spill Cleanup
This hands-on experiment demonstrates the effects of an oil spill. Oil spills pose a serious threat to water bodies, causing contamination and detrimental effects on aquatic life.
Targeted at children aged 4-9, this experiment aims to demonstrate these repercussions, offering children an understanding of the necessity to maintain clean and healthy water environments and to explore various cleanup tools and techniques.
About the authors of this unit
Main responsible persons:
Cláudia Meirinhos (PT)
- What Happens to Polluted Water within the Water Cycle?
Jane Shimizu (IE)
- Does Rubbish Float or Sink?
Iro Koliakou (GR)
- Oil Spill Cleanup
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