Unit 1
Mixing and separating
Teaching sequence
Lesson objective
In this lesson students investigate how and why water is purified in a water treatment process, identify the role science has played in developing the treatment processes and compare the water cycle and water treatment processes.
Introduction
Review the ‘water cycle’ and ask the students this question: If water is renewable, why is it necessary to have water treatment plants? Discuss the impact of increasing population and pollution on the sustainability of water supplies for human consumption and use.
Core
- Display the image of water treatment process Describe each of the steps. Ask students to relate the steps to the water cycle and to the separation techniques they have learnt about.
Water treatment process.
- Discuss why water treatment is important in relation to drinking water
- Ask students to engage with the learning objects Making water drinkable: water treatment and Making water drinkable: colloids.
- Discuss how science is central to producing clean water through the development and advancement of water treatment processes.
- Model water treatment processes using the downloadable activity Water filtration.
Conclusion
Engage with the Water Island game to encourage the students to consider sustainability of water.
