Water as a Resource Incursion (P – 2)

In this engaging 90-minute incursion, students investigate the unique properties of water to understand its importance to life on earth. Students investigate how water is used and moved by people and nature, and make a model to collect fresh water from salt water. From exploring the capillary action of plants using paper to conducting chemical tests to identifying pollution in different water samples, this incursion is packed full of fun activities that are perfect for younger year levels. Our passionate science educators carefully guide students through each step, prompting students to predict, observe and reflect on each activity.

• Students will learn how water is used and moved by people and nature.
• They will study the unique properties of water and understand its importance to life on Earth.

• Discuss prior knowledge of water and its uses;
• Explore the observable properties of clear liquids using senses of sight, hearing and smell;
• Investigate the water cycle by making a model to collect fresh water from salt water;
• Observe capillary action in paper and relate to movement of water in plants;
• Discuss a transpiration demonstration;
• Investigate the movement of water against gravity using a siphon;
• Explore surface tension holding water molecules together;
• Conduct chemical tests to identify pollution in different water samples;
• Observe a natural water filter cleaning muddy water and think about designing their own filter;
• Set up an ongoing experiment to investigate the growth of plants with different types of contaminated water.

• People use science in their daily lives (VCSSU041);
• Observable changes occur in the sky and landscape; daily and seasonal changes affect everyday life (VCSSU046);
• Earth’s resources are used in a variety of ways (VCSSU047);
• Respond to and pose questions, and make predictions about familiar objects and events (VCSIS050);
• Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051);
• Use informal measurements in the collection and recording of observations (VCSIS053);
• Compare observations and predictions with those of others (VCSIS054);
• Represent and communicate observations and ideas about changes in objects and events in a variety of ways (VCSIS055);