Aotearoa is a landscape where water dominates our environment. Water is all around us. It surrounds us and forms our rivers, lakes and oceans. Even though we are surrounded by water, the amount of freshwater that we can access and use is quite small. Water is a taonga (a treasure of immense value) that needs to be looked after, protected and treasured.
This activity is part of a suite of resources that support Smart Water – a context for learning, which provides students and teachers with opportunities to connect with water and learn more about drinking water in the Waikato region. The science and mātauranga concepts that underpin Smart Water are transferable to other locations in Aotearoa New Zealand.
In this activity, students are introduced to the context of freshwater through an engaging slideshow and a hands-on demonstration. Students reflect on their prior experiences and knowledge.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- describe the importance of clean freshwater
- recognise their personal connections to water.
Download the Word file (see link below).
Related content
Smart Water – a context for learning groups Smart Water resources into key science and teaching concepts that underpin water conservation.
Rivers and Us – a context for learning has pedagogical information and links to numerous resources that explore water use and water quality.
Activity ideas
Other activities in Smart Water:
- Water in nature explores states of matter in the water cycle.
- Te mana o te wai explores the concept of mauri – the health and wellbeing of a waterway.
- Water in the Waikato explores the major freshwater features and sources of water for the Waikato region.
- Global water perspectives explores water availability and water stress around the world, with comparison and reflection on Aotearoa New Zealand’s situation.
- Getting water ready to drink explores the drinking water treatment process.
- Water use challenge investigates how much water we need for our daily tasks.
- Water issues and effects explores water issues in the Waikato region, their effects and alternative possibilities.
- Being smart with water uses the knowledge gained from the ongoing inquiry to make a difference in how we use water.
Exploring my local lake uses online resources to identify and explore lakes in a local area. This can be a simple online discovery or it can be expanded to include an in-depth inquiry of a lake, its catchment area, its current state of health and its history.
Useful link
Visit Smart Water for water level alerts, water saving tips and more.
Acknowledgement
This resource has been produced with the support of Smart Water.
