www.thameswater.co.uk
Introduction
www.thameswater.co.uk
www.thameswater.co.uk
Further information and
Resources
Welcome to Bag it and Bin it! a cross-curricular resource
for primary schools from Thames Water. Our aim is to
educate children about water, waste and related issues
through a variety of fun, practical activities linked to different
areas of the curriculum with focus on Science, English and
Mathematics.
Further information and downloadable resources can be found on
the following web sites:
The key theme of this resource,
which has been developed
in association with education
professionals, is waste water
treatment. It is designed to provide
teachers with a toolkit containing
information, ideas and classroom
activities, appropriate for use with
children aged 7-11 years.
Since November 2004 we have had one of the driest periods
since records began. As part of an on going campaign to help
raise awareness that everyone can do their bit to help! The Water
Wise Assembly – Help us to Beat the Drought resource has been
developed. Available free of charge, on request, the
resource is most suitable for KS2 pupils but
can be adapted to suit the requirements
of older and younger pupils.
Bag it and Bin it! has
been developed to be used in
conjunction with the Thames Water
DVD resource for Key Stage 2,
‘Aquabatics – An Introduction to
the Water Business’. This covers a
range of water topics, including the
water cycle, water treatment and
distribution, the sewerage system
and sewage treatment, amongst
other areas. By watching the DVD
and participating in some or all of
the activities contained within this
pack, we hope children will gain a
deeper understanding of their own
actions and how this can impact on
the environment.
It is also our aim to raise awareness
of the ways in which children and
their family’s behaviour can be more
environmentally responsible with
regards to the disposal of household
waste. The pack therefore includes
a homework activity, designed to
promote family involvement and
discussion, relating to the types of
materials we flush down the toilet or
sink on a daily basis. Thames Water
recognises that good habits started
now will become a way of life for
the future and we hope schools will
support us by encouraging children
to participate in our Bag it and
Bin it! home survey.
Bag it and Bin it – The Facts
Thames Water supplies clean water to over
8 million people. In addition, each day we
collect almost 3,000 million litres of sewage
from 13 million customers. We manage
around 67,000 km of sewers in the UK
alone – that’s enough to go round the world
twice!
Our wastewater system is among the best
in Europe, but people pull the chain on all
kinds of waste that was never intended to
reach public drains.
Did you know that we remove 25,000
tonnes of debris from our sewerage system
every year? That’s enough to fill a football
stadium! Disposable nappies, cotton buds,
razor blades, plastic wrappings and sanitary
products are just a few of the household
items regularly flushed down the toilet.
Many of these items won’t decompose
naturally and can harm the environment,
as well as cause problems with people’s
drains.
But it is not just about what goes down
the toilet! Thames Water also clears 1,000
tonnes of fat, oil and grease every year from
its sewers. Much of this is tipped down
the sink after cooking, and this causes
blockages and sewer flooding.
Disposable products are an everyday part
of life. They are easy and convenient to use
and easy and convenient to dispose of. But
they should not be flushed away or poured
down the sink. Thames Water supports
the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ message that aims
to raise awareness of the consequences
of disposing of inappropriate solid waste
down the toilet or drains. That’s why we’re
helping our customers to make informed,
responsible judgements about what they
can safely flush away and to become part of
the solution by following the simple disposal
codes: Don’t Flush It …Bag It & Bin It and
Stop and Think – Not Down the Sink!
Guidance about the types of household
materials that should not be flushed down
toilets or emptied into drains, along with
alternative methods of disposal are provided
in the enclosed consumer leaflet. Further
information can also be found at www.
thameswater.co.uk
Thames Water Education
www.waterinschools.com
Thames Water
www.thameswater.co.uk
Bag it and Bin it www.bagandbin.org
The Water Family
www.thewaterfamily.co.uk
The Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Water UK
www.water.org.uk
Help us to Beat the Drought – Assembly Pack (FREE)
Teacher’s Guide
Contents
n
Aquabatics – An Introduction
to the Water Business DVD
(should you wish to obtain further
copies of this resource please call
our Education Helpline on 0870 240
1640)
The DVD can be viewed
in one showing and/or in
sections, depending on your
planned lesson focus. The
topics covered are:
•
Introducing Thames Water
•
Natural Water Cycle
•
Water treatment
•
Water distribution
•
Sewage treatment
•
Bag it and Bin it
•
Water conservation
•
Water through the ages
•
WaterAid
The DVD icon appears in the teacher’s
notes where it is recommended to
support specific activities.
n Teacher’s Guide, providing
information and a range of suggested
activities on the theme of water,
water treatment and waste disposal.
Curriculum links and references
to the appropriate sections of the
Aquabatics DVD are also included.
n Pupil Activity Sheets for use in
Key Stage 2 Science, Literacy and
Numeracy, with guidance on their
use.
n ‘Bag it and Bin it’ Survey
homework activity, along with an
informative letter to parents.
n ‘Bag it and Bin it’ Consumer
Information Leaflet (if you would
like to receive additional copies of
this leaflet to hand out to your pupils
please call our Customer Centre
0845 9200 800)
GAP (Global Action Plan) project
We are delighted to announce our joint initiative working with Global
Action Plan, the practical environmental charity that helps people to
make positive changes at home, at work, at school and in the wider
community.
From September 2006 Global Action Plan’s work with Thames
Water will be based on their practical environmental programme
Action at School that helps schools to save resources and money.
In the Liquid Assets project, Global Action Plan will train an Action
Team of students and teachers (from 100 selected schools) to
understand the environmental impact of their actions with water.
The team will engage their school community and encourage them
to save water at school and at home.
The pack comprises all you need
to prepare and present an
entertaining and thought
provoking assembly that
facilitates and encourages
pupil participation. It
includes pupil stimulus and
task sheets, along with
home-based activity and
curriculum-linked follow-up
activity suggestions on the
themes of water for science,
geography and history.
Water Matters –
Aquabatics water
conservation module (FREE)
The second in our series of resource
modules that uses the Aquabatics DVD as
the stimulus to a number of motivational and
fun activities for KS 2 pupils. Water Matters focuses
on the important theme of water conservation. Available from
Winter 2006 the pack will include comprehensive teacher guide and
curriculum linked pupil task sheets.
To register to receive your schools free copies please call
0870 240 1640
Environmental education… serious fun!
A series of four books specially written by leading author Caren
Trafford. Each book highlights environmental issues in a serious,
informative and fun way – ideal in supporting assisted reading. For
more information about the books visit www.planetkids.biz
Where does the Poo go ...when you Flush?
Water the Amazing Journey
A Worm’s Eye View ...the History of the World
World-wide Waste ...it’s not a load of Rubbish
Books retail at £6.50 each. To order single or class set copies go to
www.planetkids.biz and open UK order form.
Community Speaker Programme
If you would like the opportunity to find out more about Thames Water
and what we do, we can offer you the chance to meet a member of
the team through the Community Speaker Programme.
Our specially trained employees would be delighted to come to your
school and work with you and your pupils in providing fun sessions
on a range of issues to do with the water business, including:
n The Water Cycle and Water Treatment
n World Water Issues and the Environment
n WaterAid, the principal charity supported by Thames Water,
which works with communities across Africa and Asia to
provide safe water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education.
To arrange a visit from a Thames Water speaker, please email
[email protected]. To avoid disappointment we would
ask for a minimum of 4 weeks notice.
www.thameswater.co.uk
Introduction
www.thameswater.co.uk
www.thameswater.co.uk
Further information and
Resources
Welcome to Bag it and Bin it! a cross-curricular resource
for primary schools from Thames Water. Our aim is to
educate children about water, waste and related issues
through a variety of fun, practical activities linked to different
areas of the curriculum with focus on Science, English and
Mathematics.
Further information and downloadable resources can be found on
the following web sites:
The key theme of this resource,
which has been developed
in association with education
professionals, is waste water
treatment. It is designed to provide
teachers with a toolkit containing
information, ideas and classroom
activities, appropriate for use with
children aged 7-11 years.
Since November 2004 we have had one of the driest periods
since records began. As part of an on going campaign to help
raise awareness that everyone can do their bit to help! The Water
Wise Assembly – Help us to Beat the Drought resource has been
developed. Available free of charge, on request, the
resource is most suitable for KS2 pupils but
can be adapted to suit the requirements
of older and younger pupils.
Bag it and Bin it! has
been developed to be used in
conjunction with the Thames Water
DVD resource for Key Stage 2,
‘Aquabatics – An Introduction to
the Water Business’. This covers a
range of water topics, including the
water cycle, water treatment and
distribution, the sewerage system
and sewage treatment, amongst
other areas. By watching the DVD
and participating in some or all of
the activities contained within this
pack, we hope children will gain a
deeper understanding of their own
actions and how this can impact on
the environment.
It is also our aim to raise awareness
of the ways in which children and
their family’s behaviour can be more
environmentally responsible with
regards to the disposal of household
waste. The pack therefore includes
a homework activity, designed to
promote family involvement and
discussion, relating to the types of
materials we flush down the toilet or
sink on a daily basis. Thames Water
recognises that good habits started
now will become a way of life for
the future and we hope schools will
support us by encouraging children
to participate in our Bag it and
Bin it! home survey.
Bag it and Bin it – The Facts
Thames Water supplies clean water to over
8 million people. In addition, each day we
collect almost 3,000 million litres of sewage
from 13 million customers. We manage
around 67,000 km of sewers in the UK
alone – that’s enough to go round the world
twice!
Our wastewater system is among the best
in Europe, but people pull the chain on all
kinds of waste that was never intended to
reach public drains.
Did you know that we remove 25,000
tonnes of debris from our sewerage system
every year? That’s enough to fill a football
stadium! Disposable nappies, cotton buds,
razor blades, plastic wrappings and sanitary
products are just a few of the household
items regularly flushed down the toilet.
Many of these items won’t decompose
naturally and can harm the environment,
as well as cause problems with people’s
drains.
But it is not just about what goes down
the toilet! Thames Water also clears 1,000
tonnes of fat, oil and grease every year from
its sewers. Much of this is tipped down
the sink after cooking, and this causes
blockages and sewer flooding.
Disposable products are an everyday part
of life. They are easy and convenient to use
and easy and convenient to dispose of. But
they should not be flushed away or poured
down the sink. Thames Water supports
the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ message that aims
to raise awareness of the consequences
of disposing of inappropriate solid waste
down the toilet or drains. That’s why we’re
helping our customers to make informed,
responsible judgements about what they
can safely flush away and to become part of
the solution by following the simple disposal
codes: Don’t Flush It …Bag It & Bin It and
Stop and Think – Not Down the Sink!
Guidance about the types of household
materials that should not be flushed down
toilets or emptied into drains, along with
alternative methods of disposal are provided
in the enclosed consumer leaflet. Further
information can also be found at www.
thameswater.co.uk
Thames Water Education
www.waterinschools.com
Thames Water
www.thameswater.co.uk
Bag it and Bin it www.bagandbin.org
The Water Family
www.thewaterfamily.co.uk
The Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Water UK
www.water.org.uk
Help us to Beat the Drought – Assembly Pack (FREE)
Teacher’s Guide
Contents
n
Aquabatics – An Introduction
to the Water Business DVD
(should you wish to obtain further
copies of this resource please call
our Education Helpline on 0870 240
1640)
The DVD can be viewed
in one showing and/or in
sections, depending on your
planned lesson focus. The
topics covered are:
•
Introducing Thames Water
•
Natural Water Cycle
•
Water treatment
•
Water distribution
•
Sewage treatment
•
Bag it and Bin it
•
Water conservation
•
Water through the ages
•
WaterAid
The DVD icon appears in the teacher’s
notes where it is recommended to
support specific activities.
n Teacher’s Guide, providing
information and a range of suggested
activities on the theme of water,
water treatment and waste disposal.
Curriculum links and references
to the appropriate sections of the
Aquabatics DVD are also included.
n Pupil Activity Sheets for use in
Key Stage 2 Science, Literacy and
Numeracy, with guidance on their
use.
n ‘Bag it and Bin it’ Survey
homework activity, along with an
informative letter to parents.
n ‘Bag it and Bin it’ Consumer
Information Leaflet (if you would
like to receive additional copies of
this leaflet to hand out to your pupils
please call our Customer Centre
0845 9200 800)
GAP (Global Action Plan) project
We are delighted to announce our joint initiative working with Global
Action Plan, the practical environmental charity that helps people to
make positive changes at home, at work, at school and in the wider
community.
From September 2006 Global Action Plan’s work with Thames
Water will be based on their practical environmental programme
Action at School that helps schools to save resources and money.
In the Liquid Assets project, Global Action Plan will train an Action
Team of students and teachers (from 100 selected schools) to
understand the environmental impact of their actions with water.
The team will engage their school community and encourage them
to save water at school and at home.
The pack comprises all you need
to prepare and present an
entertaining and thought
provoking assembly that
facilitates and encourages
pupil participation. It
includes pupil stimulus and
task sheets, along with
home-based activity and
curriculum-linked follow-up
activity suggestions on the
themes of water for science,
geography and history.
Water Matters –
Aquabatics water
conservation module (FREE)
The second in our series of resource
modules that uses the Aquabatics DVD as
the stimulus to a number of motivational and
fun activities for KS 2 pupils. Water Matters focuses
on the important theme of water conservation. Available from
Winter 2006 the pack will include comprehensive teacher guide and
curriculum linked pupil task sheets.
To register to receive your schools free copies please call
0870 240 1640
Environmental education… serious fun!
A series of four books specially written by leading author Caren
Trafford. Each book highlights environmental issues in a serious,
informative and fun way – ideal in supporting assisted reading. For
more information about the books visit www.planetkids.biz
Where does the Poo go ...when you Flush?
Water the Amazing Journey
A Worm’s Eye View ...the History of the World
World-wide Waste ...it’s not a load of Rubbish
Books retail at £6.50 each. To order single or class set copies go to
www.planetkids.biz and open UK order form.
Community Speaker Programme
If you would like the opportunity to find out more about Thames Water
and what we do, we can offer you the chance to meet a member of
the team through the Community Speaker Programme.
Our specially trained employees would be delighted to come to your
school and work with you and your pupils in providing fun sessions
on a range of issues to do with the water business, including:
n The Water Cycle and Water Treatment
n World Water Issues and the Environment
n WaterAid, the principal charity supported by Thames Water,
which works with communities across Africa and Asia to
provide safe water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education.
To arrange a visit from a Thames Water speaker, please email
[email protected]. To avoid disappointment we would
ask for a minimum of 4 weeks notice.
www.thameswater.co.uk
Introduction
www.thameswater.co.uk
www.thameswater.co.uk
Further information and
Resources
Welcome to Bag it and Bin it! a cross-curricular resource
for primary schools from Thames Water. Our aim is to
educate children about water, waste and related issues
through a variety of fun, practical activities linked to different
areas of the curriculum with focus on Science, English and
Mathematics.
Further information and downloadable resources can be found on
the following web sites:
The key theme of this resource,
which has been developed
in association with education
professionals, is waste water
treatment. It is designed to provide
teachers with a toolkit containing
information, ideas and classroom
activities, appropriate for use with
children aged 7-11 years.
Since November 2004 we have had one of the driest periods
since records began. As part of an on going campaign to help
raise awareness that everyone can do their bit to help! The Water
Wise Assembly – Help us to Beat the Drought resource has been
developed. Available free of charge, on request, the
resource is most suitable for KS2 pupils but
can be adapted to suit the requirements
of older and younger pupils.
Bag it and Bin it! has
been developed to be used in
conjunction with the Thames Water
DVD resource for Key Stage 2,
‘Aquabatics – An Introduction to
the Water Business’. This covers a
range of water topics, including the
water cycle, water treatment and
distribution, the sewerage system
and sewage treatment, amongst
other areas. By watching the DVD
and participating in some or all of
the activities contained within this
pack, we hope children will gain a
deeper understanding of their own
actions and how this can impact on
the environment.
It is also our aim to raise awareness
of the ways in which children and
their family’s behaviour can be more
environmentally responsible with
regards to the disposal of household
waste. The pack therefore includes
a homework activity, designed to
promote family involvement and
discussion, relating to the types of
materials we flush down the toilet or
sink on a daily basis. Thames Water
recognises that good habits started
now will become a way of life for
the future and we hope schools will
support us by encouraging children
to participate in our Bag it and
Bin it! home survey.
Bag it and Bin it – The Facts
Thames Water supplies clean water to over
8 million people. In addition, each day we
collect almost 3,000 million litres of sewage
from 13 million customers. We manage
around 67,000 km of sewers in the UK
alone – that’s enough to go round the world
twice!
Our wastewater system is among the best
in Europe, but people pull the chain on all
kinds of waste that was never intended to
reach public drains.
Did you know that we remove 25,000
tonnes of debris from our sewerage system
every year? That’s enough to fill a football
stadium! Disposable nappies, cotton buds,
razor blades, plastic wrappings and sanitary
products are just a few of the household
items regularly flushed down the toilet.
Many of these items won’t decompose
naturally and can harm the environment,
as well as cause problems with people’s
drains.
But it is not just about what goes down
the toilet! Thames Water also clears 1,000
tonnes of fat, oil and grease every year from
its sewers. Much of this is tipped down
the sink after cooking, and this causes
blockages and sewer flooding.
Disposable products are an everyday part
of life. They are easy and convenient to use
and easy and convenient to dispose of. But
they should not be flushed away or poured
down the sink. Thames Water supports
the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ message that aims
to raise awareness of the consequences
of disposing of inappropriate solid waste
down the toilet or drains. That’s why we’re
helping our customers to make informed,
responsible judgements about what they
can safely flush away and to become part of
the solution by following the simple disposal
codes: Don’t Flush It …Bag It & Bin It and
Stop and Think – Not Down the Sink!
Guidance about the types of household
materials that should not be flushed down
toilets or emptied into drains, along with
alternative methods of disposal are provided
in the enclosed consumer leaflet. Further
information can also be found at www.
thameswater.co.uk
Thames Water Education
www.waterinschools.com
Thames Water
www.thameswater.co.uk
Bag it and Bin it www.bagandbin.org
The Water Family
www.thewaterfamily.co.uk
The Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Water UK
www.water.org.uk
Help us to Beat the Drought – Assembly Pack (FREE)
Teacher’s Guide
Contents
n
Aquabatics – An Introduction
to the Water Business DVD
(should you wish to obtain further
copies of this resource please call
our Education Helpline on 0870 240
1640)
The DVD can be viewed
in one showing and/or in
sections, depending on your
planned lesson focus. The
topics covered are:
•
Introducing Thames Water
•
Natural Water Cycle
•
Water treatment
•
Water distribution
•
Sewage treatment
•
Bag it and Bin it
•
Water conservation
•
Water through the ages
•
WaterAid
The DVD icon appears in the teacher’s
notes where it is recommended to
support specific activities.
n Teacher’s Guide, providing
information and a range of suggested
activities on the theme of water,
water treatment and waste disposal.
Curriculum links and references
to the appropriate sections of the
Aquabatics DVD are also included.
n Pupil Activity Sheets for use in
Key Stage 2 Science, Literacy and
Numeracy, with guidance on their
use.
n ‘Bag it and Bin it’ Survey
homework activity, along with an
informative letter to parents.
n ‘Bag it and Bin it’ Consumer
Information Leaflet (if you would
like to receive additional copies of
this leaflet to hand out to your pupils
please call our Customer Centre
0845 9200 800)
GAP (Global Action Plan) project
We are delighted to announce our joint initiative working with Global
Action Plan, the practical environmental charity that helps people to
make positive changes at home, at work, at school and in the wider
community.
From September 2006 Global Action Plan’s work with Thames
Water will be based on their practical environmental programme
Action at School that helps schools to save resources and money.
In the Liquid Assets project, Global Action Plan will train an Action
Team of students and teachers (from 100 selected schools) to
understand the environmental impact of their actions with water.
The team will engage their school community and encourage them
to save water at school and at home.
The pack comprises all you need
to prepare and present an
entertaining and thought
provoking assembly that
facilitates and encourages
pupil participation. It
includes pupil stimulus and
task sheets, along with
home-based activity and
curriculum-linked follow-up
activity suggestions on the
themes of water for science,
geography and history.
Water Matters –
Aquabatics water
conservation module (FREE)
The second in our series of resource
modules that uses the Aquabatics DVD as
the stimulus to a number of motivational and
fun activities for KS 2 pupils. Water Matters focuses
on the important theme of water conservation. Available from
Winter 2006 the pack will include comprehensive teacher guide and
curriculum linked pupil task sheets.
To register to receive your schools free copies please call
0870 240 1640
Environmental education… serious fun!
A series of four books specially written by leading author Caren
Trafford. Each book highlights environmental issues in a serious,
informative and fun way – ideal in supporting assisted reading. For
more information about the books visit www.planetkids.biz
Where does the Poo go ...when you Flush?
Water the Amazing Journey
A Worm’s Eye View ...the History of the World
World-wide Waste ...it’s not a load of Rubbish
Books retail at £6.50 each. To order single or class set copies go to
www.planetkids.biz and open UK order form.
Community Speaker Programme
If you would like the opportunity to find out more about Thames Water
and what we do, we can offer you the chance to meet a member of
the team through the Community Speaker Programme.
Our specially trained employees would be delighted to come to your
school and work with you and your pupils in providing fun sessions
on a range of issues to do with the water business, including:
n The Water Cycle and Water Treatment
n World Water Issues and the Environment
n WaterAid, the principal charity supported by Thames Water,
which works with communities across Africa and Asia to
provide safe water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education.
To arrange a visit from a Thames Water speaker, please email
[email protected]. To avoid disappointment we would
ask for a minimum of 4 weeks notice.
Water and the
Curriculum
This resource provides a variety of activities on the theme of
water and waste water treatment as part of the human water
cycle. It can be used either:
n as a stand-alone resource when covering the topic of
water/waste water
n individual activities can be selected to support specific
curriculum areas
Curriculum Links
Science
Sc1 – Scientific enquiry
Ideas and evidence in Science
1b
Investigative Skills
2a, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2h, 2j
www.thameswater.co.uk
Science Activities
Science Activity 1 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
Which of these materials should not be flushed down the toilet?
Follow up
‘Biodegradable’ Materials
How could they be disposed of safely?
Some people don’t think about, or think it is okay
to flush away a range of materials that simply won’t
decompose naturally. Every year Thames Water removes 25,000
tonnes of rubbish from its sewers – that’s enough to fill a football
stadium.
It can take anything from a few minutes to 36 hours for waste water
from your home to arrive at the Thames Water treatment plant.
What materials will Thames Water need to remove from the water
during the treatment process? Sort these materials into two lists;
biodegradable and non biodegradable.
Discuss the filtered liquids. Do they look different to the unfiltered
water? How?
In this investigation, children are asked to observe what happens
to three different materials when they are immersed in water. It
provides an ideal opportunity for children to set up an investigation
that requires observations and data collection over a period of time.
Science Activity 2 * DVD – Sewage Treatment
n Discuss differences between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials. Over a period of time biodegradable
materials decompose (ie breakdown), by biological means
(helped by the action of bacteria and fungi) into the raw
materials of nature, releasing nutrients that are then recycled
by the ecosystem. Most naturally occurring materials such as
wool and wood or materials that are derived from them, such
as paper, are biodegradable.
n Before setting up their investigation, ask the children to
predict what will happen to each material and to discuss their
ideas in small groups.
Sc3 Materials and their
properties
Changing Materials
2a, 2d, 2e, 2f
Separating mixtures of materials
3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e
n Agree how often observations will be made and how long the
investigation will continue to run for.
n Discuss how children will record their observations.
Mathematics/Numeracy
Follow up
Ma2 Number
With the children develop and discuss some questions arising from
this investigation. For example:
Using and applying number
Calculations
Solving numerical problems
1b, 1d
3a, 3j
4a, 4b, 4c
Ma4 Handling data
Using and applying handling
data
1a, 1f
Processing, representing and
interpreting data
2b, 2c, 2f
English/Literacy
En2 Reading
Reading for information
3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3g
Non-fiction and non-literary
texts
5b, 5c, 5d, 5f
En3 Writing
Composition
Planning and drafting
1a, 1c, 1e
2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e
Standard English
6a
Language Structure
7b
Breadth of Study
9b, 9c, 11, 12
www.thameswater.co.uk
Did any materials degrade more quickly than others?
Did any degrade immediately?
Were there any materials which did not appear to degrade at all?
What do you think would happen to other materials, eg. plastics,
fabric, metal?
How Can Filters Make Dirty Water Clean?
We use water daily in many ways. It comes from
different sources and it is treated in different ways.
Waste water that we collect has to be treated and cleaned before
being returned to the environment. Part of this treatment and
cleaning process is the removal of solid particles. This activity
provides the children with the opportunity to observe what happens
when dirty water is filtered using different techniques.
n Begin by asking the children to discuss what goes down the
drain and where it comes from, ie. water that has been used
for different purposes, various waste materials, eg. food, lolly
sticks and runoff from roads and so on.
n Explain that the children are going to create their own dirty
water which they will then attempt to ‘clean’ through the
process of filtration.
n Demonstrate how to create a sample of typical dirty water;
children can then work in groups to create their own similar
samples.
Gloves should be provided for children when handling the
dirty water. All children must wash their hands on completion
of the investigation.
It is important that pupils compare the filtered water using
observation only. They should not be allowed to taste or drink
the water used in the investigation.
Literacy Activities Overview
n Use the Aquabatics DVD as a stimulus for an
information topic on the natural or human water
cycle. Children could also be provided with copies of
fact files downloaded from www.waterinschools.com or be
asked to carry out their own research on the selected topic.
They should use this information to create an information
text on the various stages of the water cycle or waste water
treatment process. This could be presented in a variety of
formats, eg. non-chronological report, flow diagram, booklet,
comic strip etc.
n Show children the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ section from
the Aquabatics DVD. Further information can be
downloaded from www.waterinschools.com and
www.bagandbin.org. Ask children to write a piece
of persuasive writing encouraging people to dispose
of materials by ‘bagging and binning’ them, rather than
using the toilet as a wet dustbin. Children should consider
the threat to the environment, such as the risk of sewers
flooding due to blockages, as well as the problems caused
at the waste water treatment works and in the sewer pipes
by the disposal of inappropriate solid waste down toilets and
sinks. The writing could take the form of a letter, magazine
or newspaper article, or might be a leaflet aimed at other
children, in support of the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ campaign.
Posters could also be produced and displayed in the toilet
and sink areas around the school.
n Use the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ homework survey results as the
basis for a class discussion about what we flush into the
sewerage system. Ask children to share and compare their
results. Discuss why many of these materials should not be
flushed down the toilet or emptied into the sinks. Ask the
children to suggest other ways to dispose of this type of
waste.
n Ask children to carry out their own research on the Internet
about the harmful environmental impact of irresponsible
waste disposal. Some suggestions for appropriate websites
are provided in this pack. Children could then work in groups
to produce fact sheets about what can/cannot be disposed
of into the sewerage system and what to do with household
waste. They could also use this information as a basis for the
creation of an advertising campaign to persuade people to
think about what they flush away.
How effective do the children think the different filters are?
Agitating an insoluble substance with water scatters the particles
through the water and forms a mixture called a suspension. Ask
the children to identify which mixtures formed solutions and which
formed a suspension.
Numeracy Activities Overview
Show the children some cooking oil. Explain that it is a liquid form
of fat. Ask them what they think will happen when it is added to
the water. Demonstrate this and discuss the results.
Numeracy Activity 1
Bag it and Bin it Survey
Bag it and Bin it
Science Activity 4 * DVD – Sewage Treatment
Solubility
+ Bag it and Bin it
This maths task involves the collection and interpretation of
data about what people flush down their toilets and drains. It is
a homework task which encourages parents to work with their
children to complete the data sheet. Graph paper should also be
provided to the children so that once they have collected their
data they can display it using a graph or chart.
Inconsiderate disposal of waste products can
cause blockages in the wastewater system, which can result in
wastewater flooding roads and properties, as well as spilling into
rivers and streams. Products often disposed of down the drains
without thinking and which cause problems include vegetable
peelings, cooking fat, oil and greases, car engine oil, garden
chemicals, drugs and medicines.
Separating Mixtures
Follow up
This investigation follows on from Science Activity
3 and gives children the opportunity to consolidate their
understanding of the process of separating and purifying
solutions.
Children should be encouraged to return their survey in order
that all the results can be combined.
Can the children suggest any ways of improving their filters?
Science Activity 3 * DVD – Sewage Treatment +
n Discuss with the children why porridge oats can be
separated from water using a sieve but talcum powder
cannot.
This investigation gives children the opportunity to identify changes
that occur when different solids are added to water and to identify
when a solid has dissolved and when it has not.
Follow up
Did all the substances dissolve at the same rate?
Ask the children to consider how they could make them dissolve
faster.
n Ask children to discuss their graph(s) and what they show
and then make a statement about their findings.
Numeracy Activity 2 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
n Introduce the idea of finer and finer grids which stop tiny
particles from getting through. Encourage children to look
at a filter paper through a magnifier to see that it is a fibrous
material.
n Ask what happens to coffee powder when mixed with water.
Let them try it out and watch it dissolve.
n Allow them to test each substance and record their results.
n The information can then be presented in a class chart/
graph.
n Encourage children to choose appropriate apparatus to
retrieve the talcum powder. Prompt them to consider how
sieving works and to relate this to particle size.
n Begin by asking the children to consider what happens to
sugar when it’s put into a cup of tea. Where does it go?
n Ask the children to predict what will happen to the different
solids when mixed with water.
n Children could work in groups or as a class to tally all the
results of the survey.
Follow up
Waste Water Work Out
Before tackling this fun problem-solving worksheet,
children should be informed of the issues it covers, by
watching the appropriate section of the Aquabatics DVD.
Discuss the results of the investigation and evaluate the choice of
equipment.
Answers to the problems are provided below. Fast finishers
could create their own problems on the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ theme,
to challenge their friends.
What characteristics does the material need to have to work
effectively? If necessary demonstrate using filter paper.
Answers
Discuss why filtering cannot separate a soluble mixture.
Introduce and discuss the terms soluble and insoluble.
Ask the children to consider the everyday uses people have for
filters, eg. washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines. How
does this relate to the waste water treatment process?
Literacy Activity Sheet 1
Literacy Activity Sheet 2 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
How to Make a Fat Ball for Birds
Provide children with copies of the instructions on the Activity Sheet
to read. Ask the children to identify the features:
n Short sentences
n Imperative verbs
n Clear vocabulary
n Logical order
List the features on a flip chart. Ask the children to discuss how good
the instructions are. How could they be improved?
Teachers may like to provide children with the opportunity to carry
out a practical activity in class or as homework and to follow these
instructions to make a fat ball. This would help them to evaluate the
instructions and suggest ways of improving them. Children should be
encouraged to collect used fat from home to make their fat balls.
Ask the children to write their own set of instructions for an activity
with which they are familiar. Remind them to consider:
n How to lay out the instructions to make them clear (bullet
points, numbers etc)
n How to use simple sentences to convey information clearly
n The use of imperative verbs
n The use of suitable adjectives to qualify these verbs.
Waste Water Word Search
A fun activity to raise awareness of the types of
materials which should not be flushed down toilets
and drains. The second part of the activity will
demonstrate that there is really only one item that
should legitimately be flushed. The answers are given below.
B
A
N
D
A
G
W
E
C
S
O
T
T
O
S
N
E
W
U
O
S
O
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L
I
E
C
L
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O
R
A
Z
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K
S
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S
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N
V
L
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I
L
G
E
F
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R
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A
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S
L
D
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A
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P
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E
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I
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N
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I
A
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L
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I
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B
O
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I
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L
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U
A
B
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O
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O
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W
V
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T
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I
C
W
R
A
P
P
E
R
S
L
C
P
L
A
S
T
E
R
S
Cotton Buds
1. a day = 14,285
2. a month = (week x 4) =
400,000
3. a year (week x 52) =
5,500,000
Or month (month x 12) =
4,800,000
Family of 4
1. a day = 8
2. a week = 56
3. a month = 224
4. a year = (week x 52) =
2912 or (month x 12) =
2,688
Wasteits by one
1. a day = 24
2. a week = 168
Wasteits by 20
1. a day = 480
2. a week = 3,360
3. a month = 1,344 boxes
Wasteits boxes of 100
1. a day = 48 boxes
2. a week = 336 boxes
3. a month = (week x 4) =
1344
Tonnes of rubbish
1. a day = 68 tonnes
2. a week =480 tonnes
3. a month = 2083 tonnes
4. 5 years = 125,000 tonnes
St Joseph’s Hospital
1. 60 babies
2. 20 packs
Nappies – 3 days
1. 27,021 nappies
2. 9007 average
Tights
1. a week = 190,715
2. a month = (week x 4) =
762,860
Water and the
Curriculum
This resource provides a variety of activities on the theme of
water and waste water treatment as part of the human water
cycle. It can be used either:
n as a stand-alone resource when covering the topic of
water/waste water
n individual activities can be selected to support specific
curriculum areas
Curriculum Links
Science
Sc1 – Scientific enquiry
Ideas and evidence in Science
1b
Investigative Skills
2a, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2h, 2j
www.thameswater.co.uk
Science Activities
Science Activity 1 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
Which of these materials should not be flushed down the toilet?
Follow up
‘Biodegradable’ Materials
How could they be disposed of safely?
Some people don’t think about, or think it is okay
to flush away a range of materials that simply won’t
decompose naturally. Every year Thames Water removes 25,000
tonnes of rubbish from its sewers – that’s enough to fill a football
stadium.
It can take anything from a few minutes to 36 hours for waste water
from your home to arrive at the Thames Water treatment plant.
What materials will Thames Water need to remove from the water
during the treatment process? Sort these materials into two lists;
biodegradable and non biodegradable.
Discuss the filtered liquids. Do they look different to the unfiltered
water? How?
In this investigation, children are asked to observe what happens
to three different materials when they are immersed in water. It
provides an ideal opportunity for children to set up an investigation
that requires observations and data collection over a period of time.
Science Activity 2 * DVD – Sewage Treatment
n Discuss differences between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials. Over a period of time biodegradable
materials decompose (ie breakdown), by biological means
(helped by the action of bacteria and fungi) into the raw
materials of nature, releasing nutrients that are then recycled
by the ecosystem. Most naturally occurring materials such as
wool and wood or materials that are derived from them, such
as paper, are biodegradable.
n Before setting up their investigation, ask the children to
predict what will happen to each material and to discuss their
ideas in small groups.
Sc3 Materials and their
properties
Changing Materials
2a, 2d, 2e, 2f
Separating mixtures of materials
3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e
n Agree how often observations will be made and how long the
investigation will continue to run for.
n Discuss how children will record their observations.
Mathematics/Numeracy
Follow up
Ma2 Number
With the children develop and discuss some questions arising from
this investigation. For example:
Using and applying number
Calculations
Solving numerical problems
1b, 1d
3a, 3j
4a, 4b, 4c
Ma4 Handling data
Using and applying handling
data
1a, 1f
Processing, representing and
interpreting data
2b, 2c, 2f
English/Literacy
En2 Reading
Reading for information
3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3g
Non-fiction and non-literary
texts
5b, 5c, 5d, 5f
En3 Writing
Composition
Planning and drafting
1a, 1c, 1e
2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e
Standard English
6a
Language Structure
7b
Breadth of Study
9b, 9c, 11, 12
www.thameswater.co.uk
Did any materials degrade more quickly than others?
Did any degrade immediately?
Were there any materials which did not appear to degrade at all?
What do you think would happen to other materials, eg. plastics,
fabric, metal?
How Can Filters Make Dirty Water Clean?
We use water daily in many ways. It comes from
different sources and it is treated in different ways.
Waste water that we collect has to be treated and cleaned before
being returned to the environment. Part of this treatment and
cleaning process is the removal of solid particles. This activity
provides the children with the opportunity to observe what happens
when dirty water is filtered using different techniques.
n Begin by asking the children to discuss what goes down the
drain and where it comes from, ie. water that has been used
for different purposes, various waste materials, eg. food, lolly
sticks and runoff from roads and so on.
n Explain that the children are going to create their own dirty
water which they will then attempt to ‘clean’ through the
process of filtration.
n Demonstrate how to create a sample of typical dirty water;
children can then work in groups to create their own similar
samples.
Gloves should be provided for children when handling the
dirty water. All children must wash their hands on completion
of the investigation.
It is important that pupils compare the filtered water using
observation only. They should not be allowed to taste or drink
the water used in the investigation.
Literacy Activities Overview
n Use the Aquabatics DVD as a stimulus for an
information topic on the natural or human water
cycle. Children could also be provided with copies of
fact files downloaded from www.waterinschools.com or be
asked to carry out their own research on the selected topic.
They should use this information to create an information
text on the various stages of the water cycle or waste water
treatment process. This could be presented in a variety of
formats, eg. non-chronological report, flow diagram, booklet,
comic strip etc.
n Show children the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ section from
the Aquabatics DVD. Further information can be
downloaded from www.waterinschools.com and
www.bagandbin.org. Ask children to write a piece
of persuasive writing encouraging people to dispose
of materials by ‘bagging and binning’ them, rather than
using the toilet as a wet dustbin. Children should consider
the threat to the environment, such as the risk of sewers
flooding due to blockages, as well as the problems caused
at the waste water treatment works and in the sewer pipes
by the disposal of inappropriate solid waste down toilets and
sinks. The writing could take the form of a letter, magazine
or newspaper article, or might be a leaflet aimed at other
children, in support of the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ campaign.
Posters could also be produced and displayed in the toilet
and sink areas around the school.
n Use the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ homework survey results as the
basis for a class discussion about what we flush into the
sewerage system. Ask children to share and compare their
results. Discuss why many of these materials should not be
flushed down the toilet or emptied into the sinks. Ask the
children to suggest other ways to dispose of this type of
waste.
n Ask children to carry out their own research on the Internet
about the harmful environmental impact of irresponsible
waste disposal. Some suggestions for appropriate websites
are provided in this pack. Children could then work in groups
to produce fact sheets about what can/cannot be disposed
of into the sewerage system and what to do with household
waste. They could also use this information as a basis for the
creation of an advertising campaign to persuade people to
think about what they flush away.
How effective do the children think the different filters are?
Agitating an insoluble substance with water scatters the particles
through the water and forms a mixture called a suspension. Ask
the children to identify which mixtures formed solutions and which
formed a suspension.
Numeracy Activities Overview
Show the children some cooking oil. Explain that it is a liquid form
of fat. Ask them what they think will happen when it is added to
the water. Demonstrate this and discuss the results.
Numeracy Activity 1
Bag it and Bin it Survey
Bag it and Bin it
Science Activity 4 * DVD – Sewage Treatment
Solubility
+ Bag it and Bin it
This maths task involves the collection and interpretation of
data about what people flush down their toilets and drains. It is
a homework task which encourages parents to work with their
children to complete the data sheet. Graph paper should also be
provided to the children so that once they have collected their
data they can display it using a graph or chart.
Inconsiderate disposal of waste products can
cause blockages in the wastewater system, which can result in
wastewater flooding roads and properties, as well as spilling into
rivers and streams. Products often disposed of down the drains
without thinking and which cause problems include vegetable
peelings, cooking fat, oil and greases, car engine oil, garden
chemicals, drugs and medicines.
Separating Mixtures
Follow up
This investigation follows on from Science Activity
3 and gives children the opportunity to consolidate their
understanding of the process of separating and purifying
solutions.
Children should be encouraged to return their survey in order
that all the results can be combined.
Can the children suggest any ways of improving their filters?
Science Activity 3 * DVD – Sewage Treatment +
n Discuss with the children why porridge oats can be
separated from water using a sieve but talcum powder
cannot.
This investigation gives children the opportunity to identify changes
that occur when different solids are added to water and to identify
when a solid has dissolved and when it has not.
Follow up
Did all the substances dissolve at the same rate?
Ask the children to consider how they could make them dissolve
faster.
n Ask children to discuss their graph(s) and what they show
and then make a statement about their findings.
Numeracy Activity 2 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
n Introduce the idea of finer and finer grids which stop tiny
particles from getting through. Encourage children to look
at a filter paper through a magnifier to see that it is a fibrous
material.
n Ask what happens to coffee powder when mixed with water.
Let them try it out and watch it dissolve.
n Allow them to test each substance and record their results.
n The information can then be presented in a class chart/
graph.
n Encourage children to choose appropriate apparatus to
retrieve the talcum powder. Prompt them to consider how
sieving works and to relate this to particle size.
n Begin by asking the children to consider what happens to
sugar when it’s put into a cup of tea. Where does it go?
n Ask the children to predict what will happen to the different
solids when mixed with water.
n Children could work in groups or as a class to tally all the
results of the survey.
Follow up
Waste Water Work Out
Before tackling this fun problem-solving worksheet,
children should be informed of the issues it covers, by
watching the appropriate section of the Aquabatics DVD.
Discuss the results of the investigation and evaluate the choice of
equipment.
Answers to the problems are provided below. Fast finishers
could create their own problems on the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ theme,
to challenge their friends.
What characteristics does the material need to have to work
effectively? If necessary demonstrate using filter paper.
Answers
Discuss why filtering cannot separate a soluble mixture.
Introduce and discuss the terms soluble and insoluble.
Ask the children to consider the everyday uses people have for
filters, eg. washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines. How
does this relate to the waste water treatment process?
Literacy Activity Sheet 1
Literacy Activity Sheet 2 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
How to Make a Fat Ball for Birds
Provide children with copies of the instructions on the Activity Sheet
to read. Ask the children to identify the features:
n Short sentences
n Imperative verbs
n Clear vocabulary
n Logical order
List the features on a flip chart. Ask the children to discuss how good
the instructions are. How could they be improved?
Teachers may like to provide children with the opportunity to carry
out a practical activity in class or as homework and to follow these
instructions to make a fat ball. This would help them to evaluate the
instructions and suggest ways of improving them. Children should be
encouraged to collect used fat from home to make their fat balls.
Ask the children to write their own set of instructions for an activity
with which they are familiar. Remind them to consider:
n How to lay out the instructions to make them clear (bullet
points, numbers etc)
n How to use simple sentences to convey information clearly
n The use of imperative verbs
n The use of suitable adjectives to qualify these verbs.
Waste Water Word Search
A fun activity to raise awareness of the types of
materials which should not be flushed down toilets
and drains. The second part of the activity will
demonstrate that there is really only one item that
should legitimately be flushed. The answers are given below.
B
A
N
D
A
G
W
E
C
S
O
T
T
O
S
N
E
W
U
O
S
O
S
L
I
E
C
L
E
O
R
A
Z
O
O
K
S
I
D
E
S
T
N
V
L
O
S
I
L
G
E
F
N
R
E
A
N
T
I
E
E
P
S
A
O
E
S
L
D
B
P
L
A
S
T
T
N
I
A
P
F
A
L
O
A
P
E
P
T
O
E
E
P
R
E
I
G
I
P
E
N
N
C
I
A
L
I
L
L
I
D
A
B
O
K
E
N
R
D
M
T
T
O
P
S
T
I
E
L
I
O
T
U
A
B
T
L
E
O
G
O
E
W
V
N
O
T
T
O
T
I
C
W
R
A
P
P
E
R
S
L
C
P
L
A
S
T
E
R
S
Cotton Buds
1. a day = 14,285
2. a month = (week x 4) =
400,000
3. a year (week x 52) =
5,500,000
Or month (month x 12) =
4,800,000
Family of 4
1. a day = 8
2. a week = 56
3. a month = 224
4. a year = (week x 52) =
2912 or (month x 12) =
2,688
Wasteits by one
1. a day = 24
2. a week = 168
Wasteits by 20
1. a day = 480
2. a week = 3,360
3. a month = 1,344 boxes
Wasteits boxes of 100
1. a day = 48 boxes
2. a week = 336 boxes
3. a month = (week x 4) =
1344
Tonnes of rubbish
1. a day = 68 tonnes
2. a week =480 tonnes
3. a month = 2083 tonnes
4. 5 years = 125,000 tonnes
St Joseph’s Hospital
1. 60 babies
2. 20 packs
Nappies – 3 days
1. 27,021 nappies
2. 9007 average
Tights
1. a week = 190,715
2. a month = (week x 4) =
762,860
Water and the
Curriculum
This resource provides a variety of activities on the theme of
water and waste water treatment as part of the human water
cycle. It can be used either:
n as a stand-alone resource when covering the topic of
water/waste water
n individual activities can be selected to support specific
curriculum areas
Curriculum Links
Science
Sc1 – Scientific enquiry
Ideas and evidence in Science
1b
Investigative Skills
2a, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2h, 2j
www.thameswater.co.uk
Science Activities
Science Activity 1 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
Which of these materials should not be flushed down the toilet?
Follow up
‘Biodegradable’ Materials
How could they be disposed of safely?
Some people don’t think about, or think it is okay
to flush away a range of materials that simply won’t
decompose naturally. Every year Thames Water removes 25,000
tonnes of rubbish from its sewers – that’s enough to fill a football
stadium.
It can take anything from a few minutes to 36 hours for waste water
from your home to arrive at the Thames Water treatment plant.
What materials will Thames Water need to remove from the water
during the treatment process? Sort these materials into two lists;
biodegradable and non biodegradable.
Discuss the filtered liquids. Do they look different to the unfiltered
water? How?
In this investigation, children are asked to observe what happens
to three different materials when they are immersed in water. It
provides an ideal opportunity for children to set up an investigation
that requires observations and data collection over a period of time.
Science Activity 2 * DVD – Sewage Treatment
n Discuss differences between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable materials. Over a period of time biodegradable
materials decompose (ie breakdown), by biological means
(helped by the action of bacteria and fungi) into the raw
materials of nature, releasing nutrients that are then recycled
by the ecosystem. Most naturally occurring materials such as
wool and wood or materials that are derived from them, such
as paper, are biodegradable.
n Before setting up their investigation, ask the children to
predict what will happen to each material and to discuss their
ideas in small groups.
Sc3 Materials and their
properties
Changing Materials
2a, 2d, 2e, 2f
Separating mixtures of materials
3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e
n Agree how often observations will be made and how long the
investigation will continue to run for.
n Discuss how children will record their observations.
Mathematics/Numeracy
Follow up
Ma2 Number
With the children develop and discuss some questions arising from
this investigation. For example:
Using and applying number
Calculations
Solving numerical problems
1b, 1d
3a, 3j
4a, 4b, 4c
Ma4 Handling data
Using and applying handling
data
1a, 1f
Processing, representing and
interpreting data
2b, 2c, 2f
English/Literacy
En2 Reading
Reading for information
3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3g
Non-fiction and non-literary
texts
5b, 5c, 5d, 5f
En3 Writing
Composition
Planning and drafting
1a, 1c, 1e
2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e
Standard English
6a
Language Structure
7b
Breadth of Study
9b, 9c, 11, 12
www.thameswater.co.uk
Did any materials degrade more quickly than others?
Did any degrade immediately?
Were there any materials which did not appear to degrade at all?
What do you think would happen to other materials, eg. plastics,
fabric, metal?
How Can Filters Make Dirty Water Clean?
We use water daily in many ways. It comes from
different sources and it is treated in different ways.
Waste water that we collect has to be treated and cleaned before
being returned to the environment. Part of this treatment and
cleaning process is the removal of solid particles. This activity
provides the children with the opportunity to observe what happens
when dirty water is filtered using different techniques.
n Begin by asking the children to discuss what goes down the
drain and where it comes from, ie. water that has been used
for different purposes, various waste materials, eg. food, lolly
sticks and runoff from roads and so on.
n Explain that the children are going to create their own dirty
water which they will then attempt to ‘clean’ through the
process of filtration.
n Demonstrate how to create a sample of typical dirty water;
children can then work in groups to create their own similar
samples.
Gloves should be provided for children when handling the
dirty water. All children must wash their hands on completion
of the investigation.
It is important that pupils compare the filtered water using
observation only. They should not be allowed to taste or drink
the water used in the investigation.
Literacy Activities Overview
n Use the Aquabatics DVD as a stimulus for an
information topic on the natural or human water
cycle. Children could also be provided with copies of
fact files downloaded from www.waterinschools.com or be
asked to carry out their own research on the selected topic.
They should use this information to create an information
text on the various stages of the water cycle or waste water
treatment process. This could be presented in a variety of
formats, eg. non-chronological report, flow diagram, booklet,
comic strip etc.
n Show children the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ section from
the Aquabatics DVD. Further information can be
downloaded from www.waterinschools.com and
www.bagandbin.org. Ask children to write a piece
of persuasive writing encouraging people to dispose
of materials by ‘bagging and binning’ them, rather than
using the toilet as a wet dustbin. Children should consider
the threat to the environment, such as the risk of sewers
flooding due to blockages, as well as the problems caused
at the waste water treatment works and in the sewer pipes
by the disposal of inappropriate solid waste down toilets and
sinks. The writing could take the form of a letter, magazine
or newspaper article, or might be a leaflet aimed at other
children, in support of the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ campaign.
Posters could also be produced and displayed in the toilet
and sink areas around the school.
n Use the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ homework survey results as the
basis for a class discussion about what we flush into the
sewerage system. Ask children to share and compare their
results. Discuss why many of these materials should not be
flushed down the toilet or emptied into the sinks. Ask the
children to suggest other ways to dispose of this type of
waste.
n Ask children to carry out their own research on the Internet
about the harmful environmental impact of irresponsible
waste disposal. Some suggestions for appropriate websites
are provided in this pack. Children could then work in groups
to produce fact sheets about what can/cannot be disposed
of into the sewerage system and what to do with household
waste. They could also use this information as a basis for the
creation of an advertising campaign to persuade people to
think about what they flush away.
How effective do the children think the different filters are?
Agitating an insoluble substance with water scatters the particles
through the water and forms a mixture called a suspension. Ask
the children to identify which mixtures formed solutions and which
formed a suspension.
Numeracy Activities Overview
Show the children some cooking oil. Explain that it is a liquid form
of fat. Ask them what they think will happen when it is added to
the water. Demonstrate this and discuss the results.
Numeracy Activity 1
Bag it and Bin it Survey
Bag it and Bin it
Science Activity 4 * DVD – Sewage Treatment
Solubility
+ Bag it and Bin it
This maths task involves the collection and interpretation of
data about what people flush down their toilets and drains. It is
a homework task which encourages parents to work with their
children to complete the data sheet. Graph paper should also be
provided to the children so that once they have collected their
data they can display it using a graph or chart.
Inconsiderate disposal of waste products can
cause blockages in the wastewater system, which can result in
wastewater flooding roads and properties, as well as spilling into
rivers and streams. Products often disposed of down the drains
without thinking and which cause problems include vegetable
peelings, cooking fat, oil and greases, car engine oil, garden
chemicals, drugs and medicines.
Separating Mixtures
Follow up
This investigation follows on from Science Activity
3 and gives children the opportunity to consolidate their
understanding of the process of separating and purifying
solutions.
Children should be encouraged to return their survey in order
that all the results can be combined.
Can the children suggest any ways of improving their filters?
Science Activity 3 * DVD – Sewage Treatment +
n Discuss with the children why porridge oats can be
separated from water using a sieve but talcum powder
cannot.
This investigation gives children the opportunity to identify changes
that occur when different solids are added to water and to identify
when a solid has dissolved and when it has not.
Follow up
Did all the substances dissolve at the same rate?
Ask the children to consider how they could make them dissolve
faster.
n Ask children to discuss their graph(s) and what they show
and then make a statement about their findings.
Numeracy Activity 2 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
n Introduce the idea of finer and finer grids which stop tiny
particles from getting through. Encourage children to look
at a filter paper through a magnifier to see that it is a fibrous
material.
n Ask what happens to coffee powder when mixed with water.
Let them try it out and watch it dissolve.
n Allow them to test each substance and record their results.
n The information can then be presented in a class chart/
graph.
n Encourage children to choose appropriate apparatus to
retrieve the talcum powder. Prompt them to consider how
sieving works and to relate this to particle size.
n Begin by asking the children to consider what happens to
sugar when it’s put into a cup of tea. Where does it go?
n Ask the children to predict what will happen to the different
solids when mixed with water.
n Children could work in groups or as a class to tally all the
results of the survey.
Follow up
Waste Water Work Out
Before tackling this fun problem-solving worksheet,
children should be informed of the issues it covers, by
watching the appropriate section of the Aquabatics DVD.
Discuss the results of the investigation and evaluate the choice of
equipment.
Answers to the problems are provided below. Fast finishers
could create their own problems on the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ theme,
to challenge their friends.
What characteristics does the material need to have to work
effectively? If necessary demonstrate using filter paper.
Answers
Discuss why filtering cannot separate a soluble mixture.
Introduce and discuss the terms soluble and insoluble.
Ask the children to consider the everyday uses people have for
filters, eg. washing machines, dishwashers, coffee machines. How
does this relate to the waste water treatment process?
Literacy Activity Sheet 1
Literacy Activity Sheet 2 * DVD – Bag it and Bin it
How to Make a Fat Ball for Birds
Provide children with copies of the instructions on the Activity Sheet
to read. Ask the children to identify the features:
n Short sentences
n Imperative verbs
n Clear vocabulary
n Logical order
List the features on a flip chart. Ask the children to discuss how good
the instructions are. How could they be improved?
Teachers may like to provide children with the opportunity to carry
out a practical activity in class or as homework and to follow these
instructions to make a fat ball. This would help them to evaluate the
instructions and suggest ways of improving them. Children should be
encouraged to collect used fat from home to make their fat balls.
Ask the children to write their own set of instructions for an activity
with which they are familiar. Remind them to consider:
n How to lay out the instructions to make them clear (bullet
points, numbers etc)
n How to use simple sentences to convey information clearly
n The use of imperative verbs
n The use of suitable adjectives to qualify these verbs.
Waste Water Word Search
A fun activity to raise awareness of the types of
materials which should not be flushed down toilets
and drains. The second part of the activity will
demonstrate that there is really only one item that
should legitimately be flushed. The answers are given below.
B
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Cotton Buds
1. a day = 14,285
2. a month = (week x 4) =
400,000
3. a year (week x 52) =
5,500,000
Or month (month x 12) =
4,800,000
Family of 4
1. a day = 8
2. a week = 56
3. a month = 224
4. a year = (week x 52) =
2912 or (month x 12) =
2,688
Wasteits by one
1. a day = 24
2. a week = 168
Wasteits by 20
1. a day = 480
2. a week = 3,360
3. a month = 1,344 boxes
Wasteits boxes of 100
1. a day = 48 boxes
2. a week = 336 boxes
3. a month = (week x 4) =
1344
Tonnes of rubbish
1. a day = 68 tonnes
2. a week =480 tonnes
3. a month = 2083 tonnes
4. 5 years = 125,000 tonnes
St Joseph’s Hospital
1. 60 babies
2. 20 packs
Nappies – 3 days
1. 27,021 nappies
2. 9007 average
Tights
1. a week = 190,715
2. a month = (week x 4) =
762,860
Numeracy 1 | Activity Sheet
Name _____________________________ Date____________________________________________
Bag it and Bin it Survey
Ask your family members to tell you what they think can be safely flushed down the toilet or emptied into the
drain/sink. You should put a tick by these items. Ask them if they have ever disposed of any other items in this
way. You can add these at the bottom of the table. When you have completed the table, please return it to your
teacher.
Material
Person 1
Person 2
Bandages
Plasters
Cotton wool
Cotton wool bud
Medicine
Cooking fat/Oil
Fat
Weed killer
Potato peelings
Nappies
Paint
Razor blades
Solvents
Toilet paper
Tissues
Plastic wrappers
Engine Oil
Challenge
Draw a graph or chart to display the data you have collected.
Person 3
Person 4
Numeracy 1 | Activity Sheet
Dear Parent/Carer
This homework activity is one of a series of tasks linked with a topic on water and waste
water treatment currently being undertaken by your child’s class. The aim of the task is to
collect information about how people dispose of certain types of household waste material.
Once the data has been collected it should be entered into the table on the reverse of this
letter and also be displayed on a graph or chart. Please return the completed survey to
school so that all the results can be collated and discussed in class.
The activity has been created by Thames Water, as part of the ‘Bag it and Bin it’ campaign,
which aims to raise awareness of the environmental and health consequences of
inappropriate disposal of solid waste down toilets and sinks.
Every year Thames Water removes over 25,000 tonnes of rubbish from the sewerage system.
In spite of these efforts blockages do occur, which can result in waste water flooding roads
and properties.
For further information or guidance about the types of household materials which should not
be flushed down toilets or emptied into sinks, along with alternative methods of disposal,
please log on to www.thameswater.co.uk to order leaflets or call the Thames Water
Customer Centre on 0845 9200 800.
We appreciate your support.
Thames Water
Science 1 | Activity Sheet
‘Biodegradable’ Materials
Biodegradable materials are capable of being broken down by bacteria. This process can also be described as
rotting. Some materials won’t decompose naturally and different types of materials will break down at different
rates.
You are going to find out what happens to various materials when you put them into water. This will help you
to decide what you should and shouldn’t flush down the toilet. Remember that it can take anything from a few
minutes to three days to reach the water treatment plant from your home.
Think about
What do you think will happen? Why?
How often will you look at the jars?
How often will you stir the contents of the jars?
What changes will you look for?
How will you keep a record of what happens?
You will need
• 3 large clear jars
• Toilet tissue
• Cotton wool buds
• Water
• Moist toilet wipes
The task
1. Fill the 3 jars half to three-quarters full of
cold water.
Results
Record what you see happening as soon as you have
stirred the jars.
Stir them again at regular intervals and record the
results. You could use a table, like the one below.
Day
2. Put a sheet of toilet
tissue in one jar.
3. Put a baby wipe in
another jar.
4. Into the third jar put
a cotton wool bud.
5. Stir the contents of
the jars vigorously
Type of Material
Toilet
tissue
Baby wipes
Conclusion
What happened to the materials?
What does this tell you?
Cotton
buds
Science 2 | Activity Sheet
How Can Filters Make Dirty Water Clean?
We use water everyday for many purposes; to drink, to bathe in, to wash our clothes and dirty dishes and for our
gardens. The water that we have used and disposed of must be cleaned and treated before it is returned to our
rivers. Part of this process is the removal of solid objects such as rags, wood, cotton buds and other things which
people flush away, followed by the removal of grit.
You are going to make your own simple filters to remove solid objects and particles from water.
Please DO NOT DRINK OR TASTE THE WATER YOU HAVE FILTERED as it may still contain harmful
substances and bacteria that you cannot see.
You should wear gloves when handling the dirty water and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly
after the investigation.
Activity A
You will need
• A sample of dirty
water, which your
teacher will help
you prepare
• Funnel
• Fine sand
• Gravel
• Small stones
• Large stone or
wire mesh
The task
1. Make a filter using the funnel (or cut off
the top of a lemonade bottle).
2. Put a large stone or a piece of wire mesh
in the bottom of the funnel.
3. Add a layer of small stones, one of
gravel and, finally, a layer of fine sand.
Remember to wash the sand, gravel and
stones before you put them in.
4. Draw and label a diagram of your filter.
5. Pour one sample of muddy water into
your filter and observe what happens.
6. Record your results.
Remember to wash your hands
and don’t drink any of the water!
Activity B
Another way to filter water
You will need
• Two shallow bowls
• A sample of muddy
water
• Sturdy box (to
provide a raised
platform)
• Strip of cloth
The task
1. Carefully place a shallow
bowl on top of a sturdy box
and pour in a sample of
muddy water.
2. Put one end of your strip of
cloth into the muddy water
and let the other one hang
down into the empty bowl.
3. Watch what happens.
Remember to wash your hands and
don’t drink any of the water!
Conclusion
Compare the filtered samples with each
other and with muddy water. Do they look
different?
What do your results tell you?
Can you suggest any way of improving your
filters?
Science 3 | Activity Sheet
Solubility
People throw all sorts of different solids down their kitchen sinks and toilets. This can easily lead to blockages in
the pipes which can cause flooding and other problems. In this investigation you will test a variety of materials to
find out which ones dissolve in water. This should help you consider what you can safely pour down the kitchen
sink and what needs to be disposed of in another way.
You will need
• 3 or more clear jars or beakers
• Variety of solids: salt, soil, coffee, flour, tea leaves,
porridge oats, solid fat, talcum powder, sugar
•
•
•
Cooking oil
Water
Spoon
3. Observe what
happens.
The task
1. Fill the jars or beakers
three-quarters full with
cold water.
4. Record your
results in a table.
2. Stir a heaped
teaspoon full of each
solid into a jar.
5. Separate the
solids into two
groups – soluble
and insoluble.
Type of solid
Soluble
Conclusion
How can you tell when a material has dissolved? What
do you see?
Are there any solids that it is difficult to classify as
soluble or insoluble? Wait and observe any further
changes that occur.
Can mixtures of solids and liquids be separated? How?
Insoluble
Challenge
Repeat the investigation using warm water. Does it
make a difference?
Keep adding salt to your salt solution. Is there a limit to
the amount you can add before no more will dissolve?
Science 4 | Activity Sheet
Separating Mixtures
The sewage which flows out of your home is treated before the water is returned to the river. This is part of the
Thames Water human water cycle that is part of the natural water cycle. In this activity you will investigate ways of
treating water by attempting to separate different solids from water.
You will need
• Insoluble mixtures
as prepared for
Science Activity 3
• Soluble mixtures
• Sieves
• Kitchen paper
• Funnels
• Beakers/measuring cylinders
• Filter paper
}
The task
Can you separate any of these mixtures? How?
1. Look at the porridge oats mixture, talcum
powder and fat mixtures.
2. In a group discuss how they could be
separated.
3. Test your ideas.
4. Examine the liquid you are left with after trying
to separate the mixture.
5. Now try to separate a soluble mixture.
6. Record your results in a table.
Mixture
What was left in the filter?
Porridge oats
Talcum powder
Fat
Conclusion
Review your results.
Can you explain the difference between soluble and
insoluble solids?
How does filtering work?
Can you tell whether a solid will dissolve or not just by
looking at it?
Can you find a way to separate salt from water?
What was in the container?
Literacy 1 | Activity Sheet
How to Make a Fat Ball for Birds
Thames Water takes great care to
make sure its sites are good homes
for plants, birds and animals. We’d
like you to help us to look after the
birds in our area, by following these
instructions and using left over fats
produced in your kitchen at home
to make a tasty treat for the birds in
your garden.
You will need
• Yoghurt pots
• Lollipop sticks
• String
• Mixing bowl
• Spoon
• Solid animal fat, which has
been used for cooking
purposes and which would
usually be disposed of.
Do not use oil, butter or
margarine
• A selection of the following
ingredients:
wild bird seed
raisins or any dried fruit
(not coconut)
peanuts-unsalted
any other type of nut
cheese
cake
bread crumbs
porridge oats or oatmeal
pastry-uncooked
or cooked
left over potato
cooked rice
fresh fruit
How to make it
1. Cut a wooden lollipop stick
to the size of the bottom of
your yoghurt pot.
2. Tie a length of string
around the stick.
3. Place the stick in the bottom
of the pot with the string
hanging out of it.
4. Scrape the used fat into a
mixing bowl.
5. Add the other ingredients
to the mixture and stir
it all together. (You can
use whatever you have
available at the time, in small
quantities).
6. Press the mixture into the pots, making sure that the string is still
trailing out of the top of the pot. (Alternatively you could put the
mixture into half a coconut shell or just pat it into a round or flat
shape and leave it on a bird table).
When the mixture has set, remove it from the tub and hang it in the
garden. Watch the birds enjoy it.
Literacy 2 | Activity Sheet
Name _____________________________ Date____________________________________________
Waste Water Word Search
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Here’s a challenge for you. Look carefully at this wordsearch and you’ll find the names of lots of different items
(listed below) that people flush away down their sinks and toilets. The words run backwards, forwards, up, down
and across the grid.
Bandages
Oil
Paint
Toilet paper
plasters
fat
razor blades
cooking fat
cotton wool
weed killer
solvents
engine oil
cotton wool buds
potato peel
tissues
vegetable oil
medicines
nappies
plastic wrappers
When you’ve found all these words sort them into two groups as follows:
Bag it and Bin it
Flush it
Numeracy 2 | Activity Sheet
Waste Water Work Out
Did you know that Thames Water estimates that 100,000 cotton buds are removed
from their sewage system each week. That is a lot of cotton buds. Can you work out the
following answers?
How many cotton
buds is this for:
1. a day?
2. a month?
3. a year?
“Wasteits” come
from the planet
“Amibothered”.
They each have 8
ears and eyes in
the back of their
heads. Twenty of
them came to earth
and discovered cotton
buds. They used 3
St Joseph’s b
aby hospital
used 240 cott
on buds
today. Each b
aby needs 4
cotton buds a
day.
1. How many b
abies are in
the hospital to
day?
If there were 4 people in
your family and each one
uses two cotton buds a day,
how many is that for
1. a day?
2. a week?
3. a month
4. a year?
buds a day on each
ear. How many were
used by one:
1.a day?
2.a week?
By all 20 in:
1.a day?
2.a week
Cotton buds are sold in boxes
of 100.
There are 200 “Wasteits”
living on planet “Amibothered”.
Each one will use 24 cotton
buds a day. How many boxes will
they need to take back from
earth to last for
1. a day?
2. a week?
3. a month?
Thames Water removes 25,000 tonnes of rubbish every year from their
sewage system. This is made up of things like nappies, ladies tights, razor
blades, bandages and plastic bags.
How much
rubbish is this
1. a day?
2.a week?
3.a month?
4.over 5
years?
On Monday 8,694 nappies were
flushed down the toilet. On Tuesday
7,978 nappies were flushed down and
on Wednesday 10,349 nappies were
flushed down.
1. How many nappies were flushed
down the toilet over the three
days?
2. What is the average (mean)
number of nappies flushed down
each day?
If 27,245 ladies lived
in this area and each
one flushed a pair of
tights down the toilet
each day, how many
pairs of tights is this
in
1. a week?
2. a month?