Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students use a thinking tool to organise their ideas about water. They explore the properties of water using a tub of water. They match the properties of water with words they commonly use.

Key lessons and understandings of activity:

  • The many properties of water allow us to do many different things with it. Water is essential to the existence of life. There are many words that describe the properties of water.

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 3 Science

  • With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge (ACSIS053)
  • Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE051)

Year 4 Science

  • With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge (ACSIS064)
  • Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE062)

Syllabus outcomes: ST2-11LW, ST2-4WS.

Topic: Water

Year levels: 3 and 4

Indoor or outdoor activity: Indoor and outdoor

Time required: 40 mins

Learning areas addressed: English, Science, Geography.

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

Resources required: Activity sheets and for each group:

  • Small tub, ice cream container or plastic library tub with water
  • One drinking straw per student
  • A wiping cloth
  • Small plastic cups or other plastic containers
  • An old towel (for wiping hands)

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

Make some time for your students to read the section on ‘Water’ (Years 3 and 4) in the student toolbox (coolaustralia.org/ca_topic/water).

Activity

Students use a bubble map thinking tool activity sheet in small groups to show links with four questions. Each group has four activity sheets.

Each question can be firsts explored by the small groups. After each question, the class can contribute their ideas to a larger bubble map on a whiteboard or smartboard.

Question 1. Where does water come from?

The answers can include all sources including the sea, ground water, rain, taps and bottled water.

Question 2. How do people use water?

This can include agriculture, garden, cleaning, cooking, drinking, industry and even transport by ships.

Question 3. What are some properties of water?

Come back to this question after students have had a chance to explore their properties.

Question 4. How is water wasted?

Explain to students that they will find out more about ho

...
 
- or - to view worksheets

Student Worksheet

a simple bubble map consisting of a central oval and 6 smaller ovals connected to the centre

...
 
- or - to view worksheets

Leave your Feedback

We appreciate your feedback. Let us know what you like or don't like about this activity:

Sorry. You must be logged in to view this form.