Episode: Water and waterways

Primary

Year F-2

Year 3-4

Year 5-6

Video

Science

Geography

Stormwater

Waterways

Hard surfaces like roads and footpaths in our cities stop rain from soaking into the ground. This water must go somewhere, and a network of stormwater pipes has been built across our cities to remove this excess water when it rains.

Stormwater pipes are different to the pipes in our homes. When it rains, water in our streets flows into stormwater drains, along with any rubbish or pollutants in the street.

Questions from the video: Look and learn challenge

Watch the water when it rains?
Does it go down a drain in your street?
What’s in the water as it runs down the drain?
How is this drain different from the drains in your kitchen sink, or bathroom?

Learning outcomes

Year F-2

Describe the observable weather of a place and seasonal changes using the water cycle
Know that water is a valuable resource and describe how it is used at school and in the home
Know that water can be recycled and describe ways to reduce use and save more water
Know that water is an important resource and we need to conserve it
Describe how our water supply supports people's lives

Year 3&4

Explain how water can be a liquid, solid or gas using the natural water cycle
Understand the different sources and 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

Year 5&6

Understand the connection between weather and climate and the water cycle
Explain how water behaves in different ways (liquid, solid or gas) using the natural water cycle
Understand that water scarcity is a major threat to the sustainability of people places
Understand how water resources are used and how they are managed
Know that the sustainability of Melbourne requires water and treatment of wastewater

Things to think about

Have you ever wondered how litter ends up in your local waterway or beach?
Why you shouldn’t swim in the ocean or sea after heavy rainfall
List the things you can do to stop litter.

Activities

Activity 1

Create a map of your school and local surrounding area
Locate all the stormwater drains within a 250-meter radius of the school and draw them on your map.
Locate waterways (rivers, creeks or lakes) in the local area, and add these to your map
Draw a route any rubbish from your school may take – from the stormwater drain to the local waterway.
Remember to use basic cartographic conventions including map symbols and north point.