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Primary school
There's lots to learn about water
We have a great range of free resources specially designed for children in primary school and their educators. Your students can do their own watery experiments, learn about water's journey to and from their homes, and understand what makes water a precious resource we should never take for granted.
H2Whoa! - Excursion
Designed by qualified teachers, this free on-site learning experience at Quakers Hill Purified Recycled Water (PRW) Discovery Centre has been tailored to meet NSW syllabus outcomes for Years 3 to 6.
- What is the value of water?
- What impacts the availability of water?
- What is PRW and how is it made?
- How can water be managed sustainably?
Throughout the learning experience, students will have the opportunity to build their very own urban water cycle, learn about water management over time, and visit a working treatment room to see the PRW process in action.
For more information or to express your interest in booking Aqua Innovate, contact the Community Education Team at education@sydneywater.com.au.
Wondering about water
Stage 1 lessons and resources
Looking for inspiration to improve water literacy in the classroom? These modules are ideal inquiry-based resources that help connect your students with water, discover its unique qualities and build value and care for water.
The modules can be used in sequence or as standalone lessons to complement any water education program. Students will explore, investigate and learn about:
- water on Earth, the water cycle and the urban water cycle
- the importance of access to clean, safe water
- how we use and care for water.
Module 1 – Water and us
Module 2 – What makes water water
Module 3 – Water on Earth
Module 4 – The water cycle
Module 5 – Clean safe water
Module 6 – Every drop counts
Exploring our connection with water.
Lesson plans
Water and us – lesson plan
Worksheets
Water and us – worksheets
Resources
Water and us – PowerPoint
Exploring what makes water a unique and wonderful substance.
Lesson plans
What makes water water – lesson plans
Worksheets
What makes water water – worksheets
Resources
What makes water water – PowerPoint
Exploring amounts and distribution of water on Earth.
Lesson plans
Water on Earth – lesson plans
Worksheets
Water on Earth – worksheets
Resources
Water on Earth – PowerPoint
Water on Earth – video
Test the difference – practical investigation
Bluey: The Beach, read aloud by Julia Gillard – video
Exploring the water cycle and how we manage it to meet our needs.
Lesson plans
The water cycle – lesson plans
Worksheets
The water cycle – worksheets
Urban water cycle – activity sheet
Resources
The water cycle – PowerPoint
Make a Water Cycle Model – experiment
Water experiment – videos and brochures
Exploring access to clean safe water.
Lesson plans
Clean safe water – lesson plans
Worksheets
Clean safe water – worksheets
Resources
Clean safe water – PowerPoint
How we filter water – video
Water experiment – videos and brochures
Abby Lau from Malaysia – video
Azam Muhammed from Pakistan – video
Gippsland Water Teaching Resources – The Water Princess
Exploring how we use and save water every day.
Lesson plans
Every drop counts – lesson plan
Worksheets
Every drop counts – worksheets
Resources
Every drop counts – PowerPoint
How do we use water? – interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open)
Water in your home – video
10 Easy ways to save water at school – fact sheet
Understanding water
Drinking Water
Read
Watch
Drinking Water
Did you know that all the water on Earth is all that we have?
Our natural water cycle moves water all around us, all the time, but less than 1% of fresh water is usable.
How we use water and conserve it is important to think about. The way we think, feel, value and use water contributes to our liveable cities.
Water quality and filtration is carefully managed to make sure your water is safe to drink straight from the tap.
Most of our drinking water comes from catchments.
Wastewater and water recycling
Read
Watch
Wastewater and water recycling
Have you thought about what happens to all the used water from your home or school?
We use wastewater treatment and water recycling to make water safe to be reused or returned to the environment.
Wastewater Treatment Primary Sedimentation
Stormwater
Read
Watch
Stormwater
What happens when it rains on the road, your roof or your school's paved areas?
Stormwater rushes off hard surfaces and flows into drains that lead to creeks, rivers and the ocean.
You can help us care for our waterways by being mindful that the drain is just for rain!
Rouse Hill stormwater catchment
Activities
Experimenting with water
Playing water games
Make a cloud to see part of the water cycle in action.
Make a cloud – brochure
Explore how water evaporation works.
Water evaporation experiment – brochure
Use red cabbage to make a natural pH indicator.
Make a pH indicator – brochure
Make a simple water filter from things around the home.
Make a simple water filter – brochure
Create your own mini earth terrarium.
Water cycle and terrarium – brochure
Discover what breaks down and what doesn't.
Keep wipes out of pipes – brochure
Games
- Explore a water cycle diagram and test your knowledge about the water cycle in this interactive diagram by Earthguide.
- Explore the different parts of the water cycle with Thirst in the water cup by United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- Find out just how hard it is to manage a river catchment with climate change, increased demand for water and environmental problems putting our rivers under stress. Catchment Detox by ABC Science.
- Enjoy learning about or testing your knowledge with this natural water cycle game by South East Water, or explore the urban water cycle.
Explore more
Using water
- How do we use water? – lesson plan
- How do we use water? – worksheet
- How do we use water? – interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open)
Recycled water
- Recycled water – lesson plan
- Does your school have purple taps? – information booklet
- How do we clean recycled water? – worksheet
- Recycled water – interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open)
Using water
- How do we use water? – lesson plan
- How do we use water? – worksheet
- How do we use water? – interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open)
