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Inside Collection (Course): Natural Sciences Grade 5
activity:
TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY WATER IS IMPORTANT FOR LIFE ON EARTH, HOW THE PLANET MAINTAINS ITS WATER BALANCE AND WHY SENSIBLE WATER CONSUMPTION IS IMPORTANT
[LO 2.1; LO 3.2]
The importance of water
Without water, life is impossible. Let us examine a few examples that illustrate the importance of water for plants and animals:
Earth’s water supply
The earth’s water supply is never replenished from space, as is the case with solar energy, which we get from the sun.
However, nature has developed mechanisms to maintain the earth’s water supply. In this way, for example, water in nature is used over and over and we speak of water cycles.
Unfortunately, humans are inclined to disturb these water cycles with their activities. Examples of this are the way in which huge industries use water, the destruction of indigenous vegetation, pollution and water wastage.
See whether you are able to mention ten examples of water wastage, water pollution or indiscriminate use of water.
THE WATER CYCLE
The largest part of planet Earth is covered by water (70%). That is why Earth looks blue on photos that are taken from satellites.
Besides this visible surface water there is also a great deal of subterranean water.
The water is distributed by means of subterranean canals (underground watercourses) and rivers on the earth’s surface.
As a result of the warming effect of the sun, this water is not icy cold everywhere.
The warming effect causes a huge amount of water to rise into the air every day as it evaporates from dams, rivers, lakes and oceans.
As the vapour rises, it cools down and condenses to form droplets of water. This is how clouds are formed.
When conditions are favourable, the water in the clouds falls to earth again in the form of rain. This process repeats itself continuously and we refer to it as the water cycle.
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1. Describe the water cycle in your own words.
2. What would happen to the water cycle if the heat of the sun were to decrease or if the sun were to stop shining altogether?
3. Explain how rain is formed.
4. Name and explain four ways in which humans disturb the water cycle.
LEARNING OUTCOME 2: CONSTRUCTION OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGELearners know, interpret and apply scientific, technological and environmental knowledge.
We know this when the learner:
2.1 recalls significant information;
2.2 categorises information
LEARNING OUTCOME 3: Science, SOCIETY and the environmentLearners are able to show understanding of the underlying connections of technology, the community and the environment.
ASSESSMENT STANDARDS
We know this when the learner:
3.1 understands science and technology in the context of history and indigenous knowledge:
3.1.1 describes traditional shelters and connects some features of such shelters with modern dwellings.
A few examples (there are many: give the learners the opportunity to talk to people at home and to find examples: it creates a consciousness in the community of this problem):
Waste/indiscriminate use
Pollution
Water cycle
4. Destruction of indigenous vegetation
Large-scale overgrazing (desert forming)
Indiscriminate change of the natural flow of water
Destruction of the ozone layer, pollution: global warming, warming of the oceans, rainfall patterns disturbed
Indiscriminate establishing of plantations (in areas with plentiful water)
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Last edited by Siyavula Uploaders on Mar 14, 2009 7:00 am -0500.