Take learning about the world of water to the next level through our creative lessons and activities that will help your secondary students develop their critical thinking and equip them to become water-wise citizens of the world.
Included in this section are activities and lessons appropriate for Grade 7 through Grade 10 classrooms. Scroll over each lessons to learn more, click to view and print.
A Walk For Water
A group walk and discussion about the role of women as water collectors in developing countries.
Water and Geography
A multi-step activity designed to teach students about water, initiate discussion about water and developing countries, and to have students make a group presentation about a specific African country of their choice.
– Also include: Water and Geography – Handout & Water and Geography – Quiz
Where Do You Stand
An activity to stimulate discussion on the issue of global access to clean water, with the option to take action.
1.1 In Search of Water
An introductory activity to highlight a variety of facts about water.
– Also include: in search of water – spending water worksheet & in search of water – quick facts teacher reference
1.2 The quest for water
A kinesthetic activity where students search for bodies of water in the classroom. Also include: the quest for water – bodies of water cards
1.3 Bringing Water Home
A cooperative game where students need to transport water to a given location.
1.4 Water Usage Log
Students will discover the uses of water in their daily lives and why water is important in their daily lives. They will track their personal and family use of water over the course of two days, and compare and graph their results. They will also identify the activities, which use the most amounts of water, and begin thinking in terms of reducing wastes of water!
- Also include: Water Usage Log – Water Log
1.5 Spending Water
This game helps students determine uses of water as necessities or luxuries, and compare their lives in Canada with other countries around the world. Since water is not wholly a renewable resource, this activity also stresses the importance of long-term use and availability of water. This activity is open-ended to engage students in their own learning, and uses a practical problem-solving in small groups.
– Also include: Spending Water – Water Usage Chart & Spending Water – Global Distribution of Water & Spending Water – Game Cards
Grade 8 – Unit 2
2.1 How Does Pollution Affect Nature
Plant growth is studied in the presence of 4 different types of pollutants, while making the connections between our food supply and the importance of clean water.
– Also include: How does pollution affect nature – science report & How does pollution affect nature – scaled rubric
2.2 Water Filtration and Purification
Students will conduct a series of experiments to simulate water filtration and purification techniques; these will also be linked to conditions of water (man-made or natural). The experimentation will provide concrete, practical exposure to issues of the availability of clean drinking water, and the different processes involved to make water safe for human consumption.
2.3 Water Around the World
This class project introduces students to water usage, and to data gathering and analysis. The Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) has set-up an Internet-based collaborative project which allows students to share information about water usage with other students from around the world. Students and others in their household will collect data for one week and use the information to determine the average daily water use per person. This data will be submitted to a world-wide data base to compare their average to others around the world.
– Also include: Water around the world – family water tally & Water around the world – Daily average water use
2.4 Water Cycling
Students create a pictoral representation of the key features of the water cycle.
– Also include: Water Cycling – Water cycle handout
2.5 Bodies of Water
Students will research the different types of bodies of water and share this information with classmates to complete a worksheet.
– Also include: Different bodies of water – your body of water handout & different bodies of water – can you tell the difference
2.6 How Salty is Your Water?
A comparison of the availability of fresh water (liquid and frozen) and salt water on the globe using a map of the world.
– Also include: Salt Water – handout
Grade 8 – Unit 3
3.1 Rain Pain
A study of the effects of acid rain on seed germination.) Saved as: Grade 8 – 3.1 Rain Pain
– Also include: Rain Pain – Handout & Rain Pain – Marking Scheme
3.2 A Drop in the Ocean
A simulation of the effect of melting icebergs on global water levels, along with calculations to emphasize observations.
Also need to include: A drop in the ocean – glacier math challenge & A drop in the ocean – handout
3.3 Saving Water
Buckets of water provide a model for the comparison between efficient and wasteful water uses as students “use” water in daily activities.
– Also include: Saving water – water spending tickets & Saving Water – Water comparison chart
Foreign Aid
A group project during which students must evaluate several Canadian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) using criteria developed by the group.
– Also need to include: Foreign Aid Suggest list of NGOs & Foreign Aid rubric for presentation & Foreign Aid assignment guidelines
Is There Enough Water?
Students will read and evaluate an article on the issue of water scarcity. Students will discuss possible solutions to this looming crisis.
Big Issues to Fill
An introduction to the issue of world water conservation by way of a quiz and an essay. Students will identify the issues arising from water management, as well as the issue most likely to be a catalyst for change.
– Also include: Big Issues to Fill – quiz handout & Big Issues to Fill – grading rubric
