Background information:

You have to love water. Water is, without a doubt, the most incredible substance we know. All life depends on it. Although water covers three quarters of our Earth’s surface, the freshwater that so much of life depends upon only makes up 1% of this water – just a tiny sliver scattered on this earth to support us all.

Activities that we do on land can affect the quality of our water. Our waste often gets washed into our waterways and coasts without any treatment. This waste might be the big bits that you can see like plastic bags, dead animals, dog poo and cigarette butts. But it’s also the tiny, microscopic nasties that we can’t see. They build up and pollute our water to such an extent that waterways become unliveable for native plants, fish and animals.

The sea has long been a dumping ground for all sorts of things: rubbish, sewage, industrial waste, stormwater. Ever seen those pipes along the coast that run out from the land way out to sea? Well, they're not there to pump seawater into the land but rather to pump pollution out. You can even see the pollution making great big mucky clouds under the water.

Not all water pollution comes from people dropping cigarette butts in the river and washing car oil down the drain. Water pollution also comes from industrial activity. But if you’re looking for something you can do to help prevent water pollution, try some of the following:

Save water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary. This helps prevent water shortages and reduces the amount of contaminated water that needs treatment.
Be careful about what you put down your sink or toilet. Don’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain.
Use household products that are sensitive to the environment, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries.
Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilisers in your garden. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.
Don’t litter! Litter will be carried into waterways by stormwater, causing pollution.

New words for children to learn:

Healthy versus unhealthy

Activity: Healthy rivers

Ages - 0 to 2

What to do

Preparation: Lay out your materials and fill your fish tank or tub so it’s 3/4 full. Pick as many different objects as possible.

Ask children to experiment with dropping objects into the water. Which ones sink and which ones float? Do some float to start with and then sink later? Do some sink faster than others?

Provocations

I wonder which objects will sink?
I wonder which objects will float?
I wonder if some objects will sink faster than others?
I wonder if things look different when they are wet?

Possible lines of development

Other things in the yard that float or sink.
Playing with the water - cups, sieves, spoons, dropping things from height into the water etc.
Water safety.
Add some ice cubes to the water for children to play with.

Ages - 2 to 3

What to do

Preparation: Lay out your contaminants and fill your fish tank or tub so it’s 3/4 full. Add your sea animals to the water (optional).

Begin by explaining to children that the tub of water represents a river. When it is healthy the water is clear; when it is unhealthy the water can get very, very dirty. How does the water look right now?

Now add one of the contaminants to the water, explaining to children what this contaminant is and where it comes from. You may need to stir the water a bit to mix the contaminants into the water. How does the water look now?

Repeat with the remaining contaminants, stopping to look at the health of the water after each contaminant is added.

Once complete ask children to create a group mural of a picture of a healthy river. What colours will you use, how will the water look and what animals will you see in the water?

Provocations

I wonder what healthy water looks like?
I wonder whether healthy water is clean or dirty?
I wonder what colour dirty water is and what colour healthy water is?
I wonder whether the plants and animals that live in the water like it healthy or dirty?

Possible lines of development

Water safety.
Other contaminants from the yard - ask children to collect sticks, leaves, gum nuts etc and add to water.
Fishing - use a sieve or spoon to ‘catch’ the fish you have in your tub. Are they healthy?

Ages - 3 to 5

What to do

Preparation: Lay out your contaminants and fill your fish tank or tub so it’s 3/4 full. Add your sea animals to the water (optional).

Begin by explaining to children that the tub of water represents a river. When it is healthy the water is clear; when it is unhealthy the water can get very, very dirty. How does the water look right now?

Now add one of the contaminants to the water, explaining to children what this contaminant is and where it comes from. You may need to stir the water a bit to mix the contaminants into the water. How does the water look now?

Repeat with the remaining contaminants, stopping to look at the health of the water after each contaminant is added.

Once complete ask children to draw a picture of a healthy river. What colours will you use and how will the water look? Alternatively, ask children to draw the journey that a river takes to the sea - what does it see on the way and who uses the river?

Provocations

I wonder what healthy water looks like?
I wonder whether healthy water is clean or dirty?
I wonder what colour dirty water is and what colour healthy water is?
I wonder whether the plants and animals that live in the water like it healthy or dirty?
I wonder how we can keep our rivers, lakes, dams and seas healthy?

Possible lines of development

Water safety.
Other contaminants from the yard - ask children to collect sticks, leaves, gum nuts etc and add to water.
Fishing - use a sieve or spoon to ‘catch’ the fish you have in your tub. Are they healthy?

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenge and persisting when difficulty arises
Well being	Being involved

Embedding into daily practice

Don't pour chemicals or oils down the drain. These will enter natural waterways and feed into the ocean, harming marine animals both on land and in the sea.
Keep rubbish in the bins and recycle wherever possible.
Use biodegradable cleaning products at your centre.

Healthy Rivers

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Summary

Activity Guides and Printables

Activity Details

Curriculum Mapping

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