Hey Year 6!!
Are you thirsty for knowledge about WATER?
Quench that thirst by exploring this webpage.
Click the arrow at the bottom of the page to begin your deep dive on the wonderful resource that is WATER!
Let's Begin
Just So You Know...
The following webpage aims to explore the following syllabus outcomes and inquiry questions:
Outcomes:
- GE3-1 describes the diverse features and characteristics of places and environments
- GE3-2 explains interactions and connections between people, places and environments
Key inquiry question:
How do people and environments influence one another?
Let's Begin For Real
What is Water?
The Britannica dictionary defines water as a colourless, transparent, odourless liquid, and that is used for drinking, washing, etc. (Britannica Dictionary, n.d.)
Explore what different people say about water
Scientists define water as a chemical substance consisting of two hydrogen atoms attached to the central oxygen atom via a covalent bond. (Vix, 2019)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples define water as life - water is central to the cultural, social, spiritual and physical identity of all Indigenous peoples. (Murray Darling Basin Authority, 2020)
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What Is Water To You?
Click the water droplets below and write down the first 3 words that come to your mind. Your entries will contribute to a class word cloud.
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Where is Water?
As one can see in the image below (click image for a closer look), Earth is a very watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Let's take a look at Earth's water distribution.
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(Crash Course Kids, 2015)
Watch
This
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Take A Look
At This
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Click
Here
After watching the video and analysing the graph on the previous 2 pages, share 1-2 facts about water distribution that surprised you on the water wall
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Uses Of Water
All living things on Earth require water for survival - animals, plants and us! We all consume water for drinking, however it doesn't stop there...
Look below at the various other ways our world uses water:
In our homes to cook and clean!
For recreation & businesses!
DID YOU KNOW?
The human body is 70% water.!
For producing food & farming!
To generate electricity!
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What Is Your
Water Footprint?
Click on the foot and answer the questions to discover how much water you use.
(Home Water Calculator, n.d.).
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The Right To Water
On 28 July 2010, through Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognised the human right to water and acknowledged that clean drinking water is essential to the realisation of all human rights (United Nations, 2022). According to the Last Well (2019):
- Every person on Earth needs 20–50 litres of clean fresh water a day for drinking, cooking and cleaning.
- Water cost should not exceed 3% of household income
- Water sources should be within 1000m from one's home
- Collection time of water (if needed) should not exceed 30mins.
Unfortunately not everyone has these privileges. In fact, it was reported by the World Health Organisation (2022), that over 2 billion people live in water-stressed countries, and this figure is expected to be exacerbated in some regions as result of climate change and population growth.
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A Water Case Study
Let's explore water in Indonesia
Indonesia has made notable economic progress over the years. According to Statista (2019), between 2003 and 2019, Indonesia decreased the percentage of individuals living under the poverty line to 9.41 percent from 17.42 percent.
Despite attaining the status of an upper-middle-income country, Indonesia’s upturn is still greatly overshadowed by its water shortage issues. Today, about 24 million Indonesians are still deprived of a safe and improved water supply (Statista, 2019).
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A Water Case Study Continued
Why are Indonesians still deprived of a safe and improved water supply?
Due to its geographical location along the Pacific Ring of Fire (an area that is reported to have high degrees of seismic activity), Indonesia is frequently threatened by natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. On average, Indonesia was reported by ReliefWeb (2020), to experience at least one major natural disaster monthly. Arguably, it is these natural disasters that deprive Indonesians access to clean and safe drinking water as in the wake of a disaster, the water supplies are often destroyed.
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A Solution??
Water.org is a global nonprofit organisation founded by Gary White and Matt Damon (yes, actor Matt Damon). It is their mission to help people get access to clean and safe drinking water (and thus sanitation) through affordable financing such as small loans or WaterCredit (Water.org., 2022).
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Water.org in Indonesia
Water.org first launched their program in Indonesia in 2015. Since then, they have increased access to water (and thus sanitation) to more than 3.8 million people in low-income households through WaterCredit (Water.org., 2022).
Watch Me
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(Water.org., 2022).
Water Stories
This is Mherindalee, click on the image to read how Water.org helped her and her family.
This is Sariati, click on the image to read how Water.org made a difference to her life.
This is Janine, click on the image to read how she built a connection to safe water with Water.org.
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Your Turn: Water Wanderer
Explore Water.org's webpage. Select a different country and find:
- What is their water problem
- What has Water.org done for them
- An interesting water story
Share the water profile you create with the rest of the class by inputing it into the padlet on the right. Happy wandering!!
Click here to explore Water.org
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Add your profile here
w
A
T
E
R
ater is the lifeblood of the earth.
lways do your best to save it!
here are billions of animals, plants and humans who rely on it -
very drop counts! So...
emember to save it!
HAVE A GO AT WRITING YOUR OWN ACROSTIC POEM ON WATER TOO!
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References
Back to Beginning
Crash Course Kids. (2015). Water Water Everywhere: Crash Course Kids #14.2. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkAhB-8CtZg
Home Water Calculator. (n.d.). Lower Murray Water. https://www.lmw.vic.gov.au/home-water-calculator/
Human Rights to Water and Sanitation. (2022). UN-Water. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights-water-and-sanitation
Murray Darling Basin Authority. (2020). Water for First Nations people. www.mdba.gov.au; Australian Government. https://www.mdba.gov.au/about-basin/water-for-first-nations-people
ReliefWeb. (2020). The facts: Indonesia earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters - Indonesia. https://reliefweb.int/report/indonesia/facts-indonesia-earthquakes-tsunamis-and-other-natural-disasters#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20%5Bat%20least%20one
Statista. (2019). Indonesia: share of people living below the poverty line. https://www.statista.com/statistics/962950/indonesia-share-of-people-living-below-the-poverty-line/
Vix. (2019). Water. Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online. https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/water#:~:text=Water%20(Chemical%20Formula%3A%20H2
Water.org. (2022). About Water.org - Learn About Our Water NGO. https://water.org/about-us/
Water Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary. (n.d.). https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/water
Why Is Clean Drinking Water Important? – The Last Well. (2019). Thelastwell.org. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://thelastwell.org/2019/06/why-is-clean-drinking-water-important/#:~:text=Clean%20water%20is%20essential%20for
World Health Organisation. (2022). Drinking water. Who.int; World Health Organisation: WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water