CURRICULUM RESOURCES
Year 2 | Earth and space sciences | Waterworks | NEW – fully aligned to the Australian Curriculum
Water is essential to life. As humans, we not only drink water, we use it for cooking, hygiene, recreation and agriculture. Australia is a dry continent with an expanding population, and how we use water has become increasingly important. Water is a precious resource.
The Water works unit is an ideal way to link science with literacy in the classroom. This unit provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of, and appreciation for, a precious natural resource. Through investigations, students explore how water is used, where water comes from and how to use it responsibly.
Unit at a glance (PDF)
Equipment lists (PDF)
Alignment with the Australian Curriculum: Science (PDF)
Alignment with the Australian Curriculum: English and Maths (PDF)
Indigenous curriculum links (PDF)
Indigenous Perspectives framework (PDF)
Indigenous Perspectives Teaching and learning guide
Factual and narrative texts
Useful websites
My water story (Resource sheet 3 images)
Factual texts:
Stormy weather
Pike, Katy (Go facts readers level 3 series, Blake Publishing, 2004, 12pp.)
ISBN: 1 8650 9301 7
available as a big book – ISBN: 1 8650 9303 3
Where does it come from? series: water
Pearson, Jane (Echidna Books, Harcourt Education imprint, 2005, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 7407 0895 4
Narrative texts:
Big rain coming
Germein, Katrina (Puffin, 2002, 32pp)
ISBN: 0 1435 0045 7
Set in a ‘top end' Aboriginal community, everybody is waiting for the rain to come.
Here comes the rain
Good, Claire (Scholastic Press, 1999)
ISBN: 1 86504 031 2
Kipper's rainy day
Inkpen, Mick (Hodder & Stoughton, 2001, 16pp)
ISBN: 0340774002
A ‘lift-the-flap' book in which Kipper and his friend Tiger play in the rain.
Splish, splash, splosh: a book about water
Manning, Mick & Granstrom, Brita (Franklin Watts, 1997)
ISBN: 0 7496 5686 7
Follow the adventures of a boy and his dog – ride on waves, float on clouds, travel along,and splash through sewers until you see where all water ends, and begins.
The rainy day
Milbourne, Anna and Gill, Sarah (Usborne, 2005)
ISBN: 0 7460 5212 X
Readers experience the effects of a rainy day; from cloudy skies to the 'splish, splash, splosh' of puddles and beautiful rainbows. Includes animals who need and enjoy rainy days, such as frogs, birds, worms and snails.
The wonder thing
Hathorn, Libby and Gouldthorpe, Peter (Penguin Books Australia, 1995)
ISBN: 0 670 85328 3
What is the wonder thing? In a poetic guessing game comprised of words and pictures readers can guess what the 'wonder thing' is – it resides in Nature, is vital to life and it's 'lovely as life is, for the life it will bring, splendid as rainbows, a miracle thing.' The secret is revealed on the last page.
Trial teacher suggestions:
A life like mine
Dorling Kindersley in association with UNICEF, 2002, 128pp
ISBN: 0 7894 8859 0
This book has pictures of water pumps and water needs in different countries.'
A water report series: water use; natural water
Pelusey, Michael and Jane (Macmillan Education Australia Pty Ltd, 2006, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 420 20312 6 (Water use), 1 420 20308 8 (Natural water)
How we use series: water
Ballard, Carol (Raintree imprint, Harcourt Education Ltd, 2005, 32pp)
ISBN: 1 844 43441 9
Sustainability education
The Department of Environment and Heritage's Educating for a Sustainable Future: A National Environmental Education Statement for Australian Schools documentation.
Ollie's world
An interactive sustainability resource for kids, with games and movies.
ACTEWAGL Education website
Website for kids and teachers including information on energy, water, sustainability and communications.
Queensland Government - Environment and resources
Information about water and sustainability designed for adults.
SA Water Education site
Educational information about water catchment and management in South Australia.
Sydney Water
Information about water for Sydney adults.
Hydro Tasmania
A site about a hands-on energy discovery centre, including information for students.
Western Australia Water Corporation
Information about water and sustainability designed for adults.
My water story (Resource sheet 3) images
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rain |
pipes |
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water treament |
river |
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tap |
dam |
(Click on image for a larger version. To save the image, right-click on the larger version,
choose 'Save picture as', and save the image in a location of your choice.)