Stage 1

Introduction: Why is water important?

Ask children - Who needs water? How do you use water? What are some ways you have used water today?

Segway question: Do you know where water comes from?

Songs: Water Drop Song (ES1: Younger students)

To the tune of 'I'm a little teapot'

#I'm a little water drop, small and round (make round shape with fingers)

#I fall from the rain cloud 'SPLAT', to the ground (hands fall to the ground on 'SPLAT')

#Then the sun warms me up, into the sky (twinkly fingers rising up into the air)

#To make another rain cloud, by and by (make round shape with arms)

Water Song from Whizzy Story

Activity: Float and sink - Keeping water clean

Materials needed:

• Clear container- filled with water (small plastic fish tank is ideal)

• A calico bag filled with a variety of natural/ non-natural items that float and sink ie. ping pong ball, rock, plastic rubbish, mandarin, stick, leaves, bottle top, plastic straw

• A cloth to wipe up

• Optional- mini bins- compost/ recycling/ landfill

Instructions:

Students will be invited to (blindly) select an item from the bag- they will then hypothesize whether it will float or sink when placed in the 'river' (container with water). Place item in water and observe. Discuss whether item belongs in the 'river' or not, if not, remove item. Place item in suitable bin if available. Discuss how rubbish items may end up in 'river'. What harm may this cause? What can we do to help? Discuss single use packaging items vs reusable and compostable. Discuss rubbish observed in local environment, streets, creeks, rivers and beaches- how can we help?

Discussion: Water is precious - how do you use water? who needs water? how can we save water?

• Who needs water?

• Think about all the ways you use water everyday. e.g. washing your hands.

• Brainstorm ways to save water. Have you seen water being wasted? How? What can we do to help save water?

Check out these great posters below from Crossmaglen PS, Coffs Harbour Council Area. The students made different posters with this catchy slogan 'Water flow, go slow' and put them by taps at School to help remind them to save water!

What you might be able to do at School and at home to save water?

• TASK: Have a go at making your own water saving posters. Can you make up your own catchy slogan?

Extension activities and ideas

Whizzy's New Adventures- Journey Down The Pipes. A follow up Whizzy Story that goes into a journey to the tap, and a journey down the loo. Suitable for Kindergarten to Year 3, and older students also.

Queensland Government lesson plans, activities and background information for primary and middle years support the Australian Curriculum. Waterwise toolkits for schools are designed to support teachers by providing easy-to-use stand-alone activities that develop student understanding about water issues.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Meg Humphreys for her beautifully written and illustrated book 'When Water Lost her Way' 2018. Copies of her book have been generously donated and are available for Waterwise Schools and Classrooms. Free audio book.

Thank you to The State of Queensland for kindly making available 'Whizzy's Incredible Journey's. Written by Helen Oxenham, Bill Stephens and Kim Brown. Illustrated by Harry Buckingham. (2014)