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Theme 1: Water & Catchments

Topic: The Water Cycle

Water facts!

Water covers two-thirds of the Earth's surface. Of the water on Earth, 97% is salt water and is stored in seas and oceans. This means that only 3% of water on earth is fresh! Of this, most is locked up in icebergs and glaciers and inaccessible for human use. This leaves less than 1% of the water of earth for people, plants and animals to use.

Is there a limited amount of water?

The water that is currently on earth is the same water that has always been here. The amount never changes, as it cannot escape beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Water is continuously cycled between three different states of matter.

What are the three states in which water exists?

Liquid: water (as we see it from taps and in rivers etc.)

Solid: ice (icecaps, snow, hail, glaciers and in the freezer)

Gas: water vapour (invisible)

How does water change its state within the water cycle?

Water changes between these 3 states of matter throughout the water cycle using the following processes:

  • Evaporation - Here water moves from the surface of the earth into the atmosphere. Heat from the sun evaporates water from the ocean and other bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes and puddles. This evaporated water is called vapour and it rises into the air and is then transported by the wind.
  • Transpiration - This is the other process whereby water moves from earth to the atmosphere. Trees, shrubs, grasses and other plants all need water to survive. They take up water from the soil by their roots so that they can grow. Just like in the process of evaporation, the sun creates heat which transpires water into the air through tiny holes in the underside of leaves.
  • Condensation - Under certain conditions the water vapour stored in the atmosphere begins to form tiny droplets of liquid water. These droplets are so small that they float in the sky and we see them as clouds. This process is called condensation. Another form of condensation is the formation of water droplets or ice crystals directly on cold surfaces. Examples of condensation on cold surfaces include: water droplets fogging up your bathroom mirror, and dew or frost forming on the ground.
  • Precipitation - Precipitation occurs when the water droplets in clouds begin to merge together and become too heavy to stay in the sky. They begin to fall as rain onto the Earth’s surface or if it is cooler, hail, sleet, or snow fall to the ground. The water cycle then begins over again.

Student Activity Ideas

  • List all the things in the classroom that contain water. How did the water get there?
  • Look at a map or globe of the world, how much of the earth's surface is water?
    Try this demonstration:
    1. Start with a container filled with 1 litre of water. This represents the earth's total water.
    2. Using that water, measure 30 ml and empty into another container. This represents the proportion that is freshwater.
    3. Take 10 ml from the second container and empty into a third. This represents the water available for us to use.
    4. Container 1 = salt water; container 2 = inaccessible freshwater; container 3 = water available to us.
    5. What is the message?
      • We have to use the little portion of water we have very wisely!
  • Brainstorm what we use water for at home and at school. Of these uses, how many are essential and how many are for recreation or other purposes?
  • Measure or estimate how much water we use in a day. The following website has a water use calculator: www.watercorporation.com.au/savingwater/savingwater_calculator.cfm?rootparent=savingwater
  • Write a list of animals that live in and near water. Choose one to research and draw.
  • Examine rainfall maps of Australia/world to see the variation between arid and wet regions - www.bom.gov.au/cgibin/climate/rainmaps.cgi?page=map&variable=totals&period=12month&area=aus
    Discuss how this affects lifestyles/landscape.
  • Discuss what happens when there is too little (drought) or too much (flood) water in a place. Write a drought or flood story.

Enquiry Learning

  • Precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, water vapour, and clouds. What role do they play in the water cycle?
  • How does water move across the landscape before it collects in watercourses (surface water)?
  • How does water move under the ground (groundwater)?
  • How does water move through creeks, rivers, lakes etc (watercourse water)?
  • What is the point where fresh water interacts with seawater (estuaries)?
  • What is the role of the oceans in the water cycle?

Internet Resources

Type Description Resources Covering the Topic
Easy
  • The Water Cycle.
  • Very simple diagram and explanation.
 NAB Catchment Board
www.nabcatchment.net/publications/
factsheets/
  • Earths Water Topics.
  • To look carefully at the water cycle you may need to go no further than this site.
 United States Geological Survey
wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/mearthall.html
  • The Water Cycle.
  • Follow Cloudia Raindrop’s adventures through the water cycle.
 Yarra Valley Water
www.yvw.com.au/newed/juniors.html
  • Water Wonders - The Water Cycle.
  • Comprehensive look at the components of the water cycle.
 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/
earth/groundwater/watercycle.htm
  • Water Cycle information plus lots more – can choose primary, secondary and tertiary resources.
 Melbourne Water
www.education.melbournewater.com.au
  • The water cycle – discussion ideas, lesson plans and activities.
 Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board
www.onkaparinga.net/education/
folder_1.shtml#cycle
  • The Three States of Water.
  • Information and Lesson Ideas.
  • PDF download.
 Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board
www.onkaparinga.net/education/
downloads/folder_1/
9i_three_states.pdf
More Comprehensive
  • Water Cycle Resource Sheet.
  • Downloadable PDF file for printing.
 Queensland Department of Natural Resources
www.nrm.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/
education/modules/primary/
water_cycles_catchments/
resourcesheet1.html
  • Water Science for Schools.
  • Comprehensive site with activities, quizzes, lessons, and facts in a well organised format. Follow a drip through the water cycle.
 United States Geological Survey
wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/mearth.html
  • Wastewater systems in South Australia.
 SA Water
www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/
Education/OurWastewaterSystems/
  • Water Supply in SA - facts and history.
 SA Water
www.sawater.com.au/SAWater/
Education/OurWaterSystems/

Activities

Band Activity Contact
Early Years
  • Extensive resources for Primary Schools in water education, including water cycle activities.
 Gould League
www.gould.edu.au/
  • The Water Cycle.
  • Follow Cloudia Raindrop’s adventures through the water cycle.
 Yarra Valley Water
www.yvw.com.au/newed/juniors.html
  • Lots of classroom activities that stress the limited nature and importance of water in the world.
 National Geographic.com
magma.nationalgeographic.com/
education/gaw/frwater/
frwater_k4_teacher.html
Primary Years
  • Water Wonders - The Water Cycle.
  • A comprehensive look at the components of the water cycle.
 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/
earth/groundwater/watercycle.htm
  • Extensive resources for Primary Schools in water education, including water cycle activities.
 Gould League
www.gould.edu.au/
  • Lots of classroom activities that stress the limited nature and importance of water in the world.
 National Geographic.com
magma.nationalgeographic.com/
education/gaw/frwater/
frwater_k4_teacher.html
  • The Water Cycle.
  • Follow Cloudia Raindrop’s adventures through the water cycle.
 Yarra Valley Water
www.yvw.com.au/newed/juniors.html
  • Comprehensive range of teacher resources and student activities about water, including how to plan lessons.
 Melbourne Water: Our Water Our Future
www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/ourwater/
education/Teachers/index.htm
  • The water cycle – discussion ideas, lesson plans and activities.
 Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board
www.onkaparinga.net/education/
folder_1.shtml#cycle
Middle and Senior Years
  • A comprehensive site with activities, quizzes, lessons and facts in a well organised format.
  • Follow a drip through the water cycle.
 Water Science for Schools
United States Geological Survey
wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/mearth.html
  • Every Drop Counts.
  • Extensive resources for Secondary Schools in water education, including developing plans for dealing with water issues in the school.
 Gould League
www.gould.edu.au/
  • Comprehensive range of teacher resources and student activities about water, including how to plan lessons.
 Melbourne Water: Our Water Our Future
www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/ourwater/
education/Teachers/index.htm

Who Can Help?

Organisation Who Can Help?
Catchment Water Management Boards

Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): North Adelaide & Barossa

Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Onkaparinga

Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Torrens

Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): Patawalonga

Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): River Murray

Catchment Water Management Boards (CWMB): South East
River Murray Urban Users

River Murray Urban Users Committee (RMUUC)

River Murray Schools Education Program - River Murray Urban Users Committee
SA Water SA Water
Waterwatch SA

Waterwatch State Office

Waterwatch: Broughton Wakefield

Waterwatch: KESAB Patawalonga & Torrens

Waterwatch: North Adelaide & Barossa

Waterwatch: River Murray (Upper)

Waterwatch: River Murray (Lower)

Waterwatch: South East

Onkaparinga Waterwatch Network
WaterWise WaterWise