Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students investigate our present and future resources of fresh water. They examine some of the current issues and compare different views about managing water resources. Students then write an essay on one water issue of their choice.

Learning goals:

  • Students recognise key concepts around water, including personal water saving behaviours.
  • Students communicate effectively in fair and considered class-wide discussion on issues.
  • Students demonstrate the ability to read, evaluate and interpret information about the issues.
  • Students demonstrate the ability to use online tools to complete activity (extension).

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 7 Science

  • Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
  • Identify questions and problems that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on scientific knowledge (ACSIS124)

Year 7 English

  • Use comprehension strategies to interpret, analyse and synthesise ideas and information, critiquing ideas and issues from a variety of textual sources (ACELY1723)

Year 8 Science

  • Identify questions and problems that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on scientific knowledge (ACSIS139)
  • Summarise data, from students’ own investigations and secondary sources, and use scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions(ACSIS145)

Year 8 English

  • Analyse and evaluate the ways that text structures and language features vary according to the purpose of the text and the ways that referenced sources add authority to a text (ACELY1732)

Syllabus Outcomes: SC4-4WS, SC4-7WS, SC4-12ES, EN4-2A, EN4-3B. 

General Capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.

Module: Water

Year levels: 7 and 8

Indoor or outdoor activity: Indoor

Time required: 30 mins

Learning areas addressed: Geography, English, Health and Physical Education.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Lead students in a discussion around water.

Resources required: Internet access and writing materials.

Homework and extension opportunities: This activity has opportunities for homework or extension.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

As an introduction to the topic, show students the video below (https://vimeo.com/77933478)

Part 1: Students are to complete a research project on water. Students are to use the videos, fact sheets, infographics and news articles in the ‘Water’ section of the Student Toolbox.

Students are to:

1. Identify an issue related to water.

2. Find and describe some different points of view about the cause of the issue or how to solve the issue.

3. Judge which point of view is supported by the most evidence.

4. Provide their own point of view about the issue.

Part 2: Students are to write an essay on one water issue of their choice. They may wish to choose one of the issues below or another issue of interest.

Suggested examples of issues:

• How can we allow more water to flow down rivers to keep them healthy?

• How can farmers be helped with access to water supplies?

• How can farms make better use of water supplies?

• Should more storage dams be built?

• Shou

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Student Worksheet

You are going to do a research project on water. Read the student toolbox and then you are to:

1. Identify an issue related to water.

2. Find and describe some different points of view about the cause of the issue or how to solve the issue.

3. Judge which point of view is supported by the most evidence.

4. Provide their own point of view about the issue.

Select one of the issues below and write an essay about it using the resource you have completed. 

• How can we allow more water to flow down rivers to keep them healthy?

• How can farmers be helped with access to water supplies?

• How can farms make better use of water supplies?

• Should more storage dams be built?

• Should sewerage treatment plants be allowed to treat water so it is perfectly clean and recycle it back into the suburban water supply?

• How will climate change affect our water sources?

• What can we do to save water?

• Should we be making seawater into freshwater when it requires a lot of electrici

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