This Nuffield Working with Science unit encouraged students to consider water pollution problems at national and international level, by coming to understand a local example of pollution through their own investigations.

This investigation, produced by Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), shows how students could investigate the changes in water potential of fruits and vegetables during ripening and storage.

Simple biomechanical...

This Catalyst article is about a micro-hydroelectric power station on a river in Yorkshire. As oil prices soar and global warming threatens, the need for affordable green solutions to the energy crisis is ever increasing. Giant hydroelectric power stations, such as the Three Gorges Dam in China, will help to fulfil...

In this activity students consider the questions:

• How can the purity of swimming water be tested?
• What exactly is the Blue Flag award?
• How reliable are the measurements and the criteria for the Blue Flag award?
• What is the status of the quality of fresh and salt water for swimming...

From the Centre for Science Education, and with support from Shell Education services, these materials help children to investigate forces and motion.

Water rockets can be made using plastic bottles and these are propelled by pressurised water. The rockets need to be launched in a suitable open area such as...

In this activity students consider the questions:

• What are the main sources that cause severe water shortage in Europe?
• How different harmful elements (e.g. fertilizers, gasoline, sulphuric acid) pollute freshwater?
• What methods / strategies can be used to save water?
• What methods...

This Nuffield Working with Science unit is substantially out of date but can suggest approaches for tackling related issues now. The intention was that students should become aware of the real problems of providing sufficient potable water for all our needs by the year...

A problem-solving lesson where students look into the ways to conserve water using sustainable buildings and water recycling, the use of grey water, maintaining infrastructure and desalination. This lesson provides an opportunity to make some links to the multitude of careers available in this area.

Learning...

This resource pack can be used to highlight issues such as global water scarcity, the challenges people face when sourcing water and maintaining a water supply in developing countries and the role of the engineers in solving these problems. Following a quick quiz, a presentation introduces the scale of local and...

This resource pack can be used to highlight issues such as global water scarcity, the challenges people face when sourcing water and maintaining a water supply in developing countries and the role of the engineers in solving these problems.

The activities are introduced with a quick quiz and a presentation....

This resource investigates the pollution of a local pond or lake by looking at the species which are able to live in it. Some species struggle to survive in polluted waters, while others are more tolerant. The resource may be used when teaching about animals in the local environment, habitats, water and improving...

In this practical activity, students investigate the salinity of three different water samples using a multimeter. Students first calibrate their salination probe and test the salinity of their solutions. Students can be asked to suggest how errors might have appeared...

London sewage treatment was developed to protect Londoners from water borne disease. Now the Thames Tideway tunnel is being built to help the sewage system cope with the rising London population. This lesson will allow students to conduct experimental work to model water treatment and have a chance to consider the...

This activity demonstrates the uptake and transport of water in plants. Plants take up water and nutrients through tiny tubes running the length of the plant. Using cut flowers and coloured water children investigate the way in which water is transported within plants through the process of transpiration.

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These technical briefs focus on low cost approaches to accessing clean water and sanitation. This is vital to health and well being and low costs are particularly important to poorer communities in the developing world.

Technical briefs are documents produced by Practical Action which are freely available to...