Uses of Water - Water for Life
1. Fascinating Facts
6/7 Drinking Water Survey
Aims:
• To introduce pupils to key facts about water and the body
• To undertake a survey to identify how much water they drink
• To experience presenting results through graphs
• To make pupils aware of the importance of drinking water
Materials:
• Worksheet 1
• Worksheet 6
• Worksheet 7
Method:
• Ask pupils to estimate the percentages of water in their body, their brain,
bones and skin
• Hand out Fascinating Facts and compare their answers with this
• Emphasise importance of drinking water and carry out activity on Worksheet 6
• Hand. out Worksheet 7 to pupils and explain that you would
like them all to keep a record of how much water they drink over seven
days. Fruit juice and fizzy drinks do not count - only tap or bottled water
• Once the survey is complete display individual graphs and use this to
create a class graph which shows particular aspects of the survey e.g.
how many pupils drink less than 6-8 glasses each day
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 1
Fascinating Facts
F
We all need water to keep us alive.
F The body is made up of two thirds water.
F The brain is 85% water.
F Bones are made up of 33% water.
F Healthy skin is 70% water.
F The kidneys help to control the amount of water in the body
by making less urine when we sweat and more when we
don't sweat very much.
F That is why we go to the toilet more on a cold day than a
warm day!
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Uses of Water - Water for Life
2. Everything needs water to live plants too!
Aims:
• To investigate through an experiment how plants use water to live
• To enable pupils to recognise the importance of water to life
Materials:
• Copy of Worksheet 2 at appropriate level for each group
• One cut white carnation or stick of celery, a clear vase or jar, red food
colouring for each group
Method:
• Decide whether you will conduct the experiment as a class in small
groups or organise small groups to do it at different times during the
day
• As it takes a number of days for the experiment, it may be appropriate
to start it at the beginning of the week
• Hand out Worksheet 2 and equipment to each group
• Discuss the experiment with the pupils, check understanding
• Pupils set up experiment and design their recording instruments
• Following completion, pupils write up their experiment
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 2
Try this experiment. See if you can
work out just what the water does.
How to find out:
1. Fill the vase/jar with water.
2. Add the food colouring drop by drop until the water has turned
bright red.
3. Place the cut carnation or celery in the vase.
4. Observe the carnation's petals or celery leaves daily.
You will need:
-one cut white
-carnation or a stick
of celery with lots
of leaves.
-a clear vase or jar
-red food colouring
5. Use diagrams to record what you notice.
To get a better result:
• Make sure you cut the stem of the carnation or the stick of celery
diagonally.
• When you are ready to put the carnation or celery in the vase turn
on the tap. Hold the cut stem under the running water then put it
immediately in the jar.
Write a short report about your experiment.
Remember to say:
1. What you used.
2. What you did.
3. What happened.
4. What conclusions you came to.
Include your diagrams in your report.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Uses of Water - Water for Life
3. Water in Fruit
Aims:
• For pupils to investigate how much water fresh fruit contains
• To practice measuring and recording skills
Materials:
• Copy of Worksheet 3 at appropriate level for each group
• One orange, lemon, grapefruit, sharp knife, squeezer, 3 plastic beakers
and a measuring jug for each group
Method:
• The experiment could take place at the front of the class with pupil
assistance or in small groups at different times during the day/week
with a class briefing and discussion beforehand
• Show pupils fresh fruit and explain that each of these contain water but
it is difficult to tell by looking at them. To find out how much juice it will
have to squeezed
• Carry out the experiment with the whole class or set small groups to
work, handing out equipment and worksheet at appropriate level
• Pupils write up their experiment using the outline provided on the
worksheet
• The supermarket research can be set as a homework activity
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 3
How much water does fruit contain?
How to find out:
1. Cut the orange in half.
2. Using the squeezer, squeeze the juice from both halves and put
it into a plastic beaker.
3. Repeat this with the other fruits.
4. Measure how much juice comes from each fruit.
You will need:
- one orange
- one lemon
- one grapefruit
- a sharp knife
- a squeezer
- 3 plastic beakers
- a measuring jug
Write up your experiment:
Start like this:
1. What we used.
2. What we did.
3. What happened.
Show your results on a graph.
Other things to do.
Look at the range of fruit juices on sale in supermarkets. Look at
the back of the cartons and check the water content in each. Find
the fruit juice which contains the largest percentage of water.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 3
How much water does fruit contain?
How to find out:
1. Cut the orange in half.
2. Using the squeezer, squeeze the juice from both halves and put
it into a plastic beaker.
3. Repeat this with the other fruits.
4. Measure how much juice comes from each fruit.
You will need:
- one orange
- one lemon
- one grapefruit
- a sharp knife
- a squeezer
- 3 plastic beakers
- a measuring jug
Try to answer these questions.
1. Which fruit contained the most water?
2. Which fruit contained the least water?
3. Draw a bar chart to show this.
Other things to do.
Look at the range of fruit juices on sale in supermarkets. Look at
the back of the cartons and check the water content in each. Find
the fruit juice which contains the largest percentage of water.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Uses of Water - Water for Life
4. Water and our body
Aims:
• To improve pupils' independent research skills
• To improve pupils' knowledge of water and the body
Materials:
• Copy of Worksheet 4 for each pupil/group
• Internet access, reference books
• Packets of cream crackers
• Stopwatch or timer
Method:
• Decide whether pupils will do this individually or in groups
• Hand out Worksheet 4 and discuss and set deadlines for completion
• Review answers and times for eating the cream crackers
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 4
Water and our body
Make short notes on the following points:
1. Find out why our eyes water when we get something in them.
2. What percentage of our body is made up of water?
3. How do we know we are thirsty?
4. How much water do we need every day?
5. What percentage of blood is made up of water?
6. What is saliva? Why do we need saliva?
Try this:
Eat two cream crackers without taking a drink of water. I bet you
can't do it in less than two minutes!
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Uses of Water - Water for Life
5. Fascinating Facts
Aims:
• To introduce pupils to how water works within the body
• For pupils to undertake independent research tasks
Materials:
• Copy of Worksheet 5 for each pupil
• Internet access to appropriate web site and reference books
Method:
• Hand out worksheet to each pupil and discuss the task and set a
deadline for completion
• Guide pupils to appropriate sources of information
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 5
Fascinating Facts
F
F The water you take into your body passes into your blood. It
forms part of the blood which is called plasma. The blood
takes food and oxygen to all parts of our body which keeps
us alive.
F Our body produces a lot of waste chemicals and these are
removed by the kidneys.
Water is essential for the kidneys to work.
Find out more.
Find out as much information as you can about the kidneys. Write
up your findings and include drawings and diagrams.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 5
Fascinating Facts
F
F The water that you take into your body through food and
drink passes into your blood. It forms part of the blood called
plasma.
F The blood takes food and oxygen to all parts of our body
and this keeps us alive.
F Our body produces a lot of waste chemicals and these are
taken away by the kidneys. We need to drink water so that
the kidneys will work.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 6
Drinking water
Drinking Record Form
Colour in the big glass each time you have a drink of water today.
Each line = one glass of water.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 7
Water Survey
Name
Name:
Keep a record of how many glasses of water you drink
each day for seven days. Ask other members of your family to do
it too.
Are you drinking enough?
Aim to drink at least 6 - 8 glasses per day.
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Uses of Water - Water for Life
8a/b. Drinking Water Quiz
9. Wordsearch
Aims:
• To check pupils' knowledge about the importance of drinking water
• To reinforce the vocabulary that they have been using
Materials:
• Worksheet 8a/b - Drinking Water Quiz
• Worksheet 9
- Wordsearch
Method:
• The quiz and wordsearch can be used in class or as a homework task
• Hand out a copy of quiz and wordsearch to each pupil to complete
• Alternatively ask them to design their own and try them out on a friend
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 8a
Drinking Water Quiz
True or False?
Are the following statements True or False?
Circle the answer.
1. Drinking water will help give you healthier skin.
True
False
2. You work better at school when you drink water
throughout the day.
True
False
3. Water contains no natural minerals which will help your body.
True
False
4. Drinking water before, during and after exercise can help you to
prevent tiredness and cramps.
True
False
5. Drinking water will not help boost your energy levels.
True
False
Now check your answers with the Answer Sheet.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 8b
Drinking Water Quiz
Answer Sheet
1. True.
Your skin needs water to stop it drying out and preventing spots.
Healthy skin is 70% water.
2. True.
Research results have shown that you can work better at school when
you drink water throughout the day.
3. False.
Water contains natural minerals, like calcium which helps keep your
bones, hair and teeth healthy. Water has no sugar
in it so it does no damage to your teeth.
4. True.
Healthy and hydrated muscle tissue is around 75% water.
5. False.
Water helps to boost your energy levels and keep you mentally alert.
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
© Scottish Water 2004
Savingfor
Water
Water
Life - Worksheet 9
Wordsearch
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minerals
exercise
skin
calcium
www.scottishwater.co.uk/education
kidneys
body
water
healthy
brain
bones
© Scottish Water 2004