Most of us take water for granted. Water comes out of taps, it goes down drains and in between, we use it to brush our teeth or do the dishes.
With a little imagination, however, water can become a fascinating topic for pupils. The Eco-Schools programme aims to help pupils understand what water really means to people and to the planet - and to discover the true cost of water use at school and at home.
Use the icons below to find out more. Our Summer 2006 newsletter also contains further information on this topic.
The big picture
Water is a crucial aspect of our lives. We use it not just for drinking
and washing, but also for industry, agriculture and making almost any
kind of product, from hamburgers and tin cans to newspapers and cars.
Our demand for water has grown to the point that the natural water cycle can no longer keep up. Pollution - mainly caused by sewage leaks and chemical discharges - has made clean water a rare and valuable commodity. Human activities such as dam building, altering the natural courses of rivers and construction projects on flood plains have had severe impacts on many important global ecosystems. Climate change may also be contributing to making water a scarcer resource and drought is becoming a common occurrence in some parts of the world.
Water in Scotland
Water organisations have an important role to play in managing, treating and distributing supplies to make sure that our demand for clean, fresh water is satisfied. Water itself doesn't cost money - but we pay water companies for recycling water to supplement the natural recycling process of evaporation and rainfall.
The more we waste water, and the more polluted natural supplies get, the harder water companies have to work to make sure we have enough of the clean water we need - which means bigger water bills.
It's important to remember, however, that the true cost of water, like the true cost of energy, can't be counted in pounds and pence. The health and well-being of humans, wildlife and ultimately, Planet Earth itself, is priceless.
Water and schools
Use the Eco-Schools Scotland Environmental Review to help determine the current water situation in your school. The Eco-Schools Scotland Guide contains lots of additional ideas and activities for schools to use when investigating the topic of water.
The Useful Local Contacts section of this website also contains further helpful information, and our Activities pages have additional ideas for you to try.
Has your school had a great idea for reducing water consumption? If so, why not share it with everyone in our Forum?
Water - Eco-Schools Objectives and Learning Outcomes
Objectives
- Raise awareness that simple actions can substantially cut down water use.
- Help pupils and the wider community understand that conserving water is vital to our future.
- Raise awareness about the link between clean water and good health, especially in a world context.
Learning Outcomes
Though work on water, pupils should be enabled to:
- understand and act upon the principles of sustainable management of water.
- understand the water cycle.
- carry out calculations using a variety of strategies and techniques.
- collect, interpret and present information, using ICT where appropriate.
- present findings to others in a way that will persuade them to change their attitudes or behaviour.
- work co-operatively with others.
