Super Sewage and water cycle exploration

Primary

Year 3-4

Lesson plan

Science

Geography

Water cycle

Wastewater

These lessons can be used to compliment the Western Treatment Plant and the water cycle excursion. The lessons outline key content and concepts that will enhance your student’s learning experience. Students will learn about the water cycle and what happens to their wastewater when it goes down the drain.

There are different resources for you to use pre-visit and post-visit. The lessons get students to explore the theme: sewage is not waste, but an important resource that can be re-used in many ways. 

Learn more about the Western Treatment Plant and the water cycle excursion.

Cartoon poos gather around the words 'Super Sewage', with a pipe and ocean in the background

Learning outcomes

Explain how water can be a liquid, solid or gas using the natural water cycle
Understand the different uses of water and that wastewater can be recycled
Identify where tap water comes from and know what happens when it goes down the drain
Identify the importance of water to sustaining the lives of people

Classroom and teacher resources

Pre-visit

To help your students prepare for their visit and get the most out of it, you can get them to complete the following activities.

Watch: The Story of Water: The water cycle
Complete the water cycle worksheet, see downloads
Get students to draw a ‘Know’, ‘Find out’, ‘Learnt’ table and get them to complete the ‘Know’, ‘Find out’ columns

Know	Find out	Learnt

During your visit

Write down your observations when you tour the site – See, Smell and Hear.

Post-visit

Task 1: Conclusion and reflection

Reinforce learning & reflection and watch The Story of Water: Wastewater treatment.
Get students to complete the ‘Learnt’ column of their ‘Know’, ‘Find out’, ‘Learnt’ table.
Students write a short reflection on what they learnt at the Western Treatment Plant.

Task 2: Make a Pipe Promise

Print out the pipe promise
Think about one or two things you can do to keep our pipes flowing and write it down
Join up all the pipes and put them up in your classroom