globalfootprints.org

Water Conservation workshop

Target: Unspecified

Numeracy (NNS)/ Literacy (NLS) or other curriculum area focus/reference:

Geography
Knowledge and understanding of environmental change and sustainable development

  • Recognise how people can improve the environment or damage it and how decisions about places and environments affect the future quality of people's lives it
  • Recognise how and why people may seek to manage environments sustainably and to identify opportunities for their own involvement
  • Attempts to manage the environment sustainably for example reducing water use

Resources needed:

  • 2 litre plastic bottle
  • Cistern or picture of
  • Kettle, mug
  • Toothbrush, beaker
  • Bowl
  • Vegetables
  • Water butt or picture of.
Objectives:

To provide children with opportunities to think critically about how water can be saved

To give children practical ideas of what they could do at home/school to reduce water consumption
Length: 50 minutes - 1 hour

Description of Activity
1. 1. Split class into five groups and rotate around 5 different scenarios which provide hints on how to save water.2. 1. .2. 3. 4. 5.
2. Ask each group as they rotate around the five scenarios to discuss a method of reducing water consumption by using the props/resources on display.
  The Five scenarios and how they save water
1.

Plastic bottle, cistern or picture of a cistern/toilet: 2 litres can be saved every flush if a 2 litre bottle full of water is placed in the cistern. 5 visits per day = 10 litre saving
2. Kettle, mug: only boil what you use. On average most people use 10L for drinks and boil twice that, therefore potential 10L/day saving (+ electricity saving).
3. Toothbrush, beaker: use beaker of water instead of leaving tap running. Potential for 10 litres/day saving.
4. Bowl of water, vegetables: fill bowl with water and wash in the bowl rather than under a running tap. Potential saving 5 litres/day.
5. Water butt, or picture/brochure of a water butt: Average 15 litres of rainwater a day collected over a 4 week period can be used for watering plants
 

Conclusion
An individual could potentially save 100 litres a day which is 2 thirds of the average daily UK usage per person of 150 litres. This could represent a £1000 saving for a school water bill of £1500. It is worth noting that the average water consumption of a person in the countries of the south is 10 litres/day).
   
Areas of Oxfam Curriculum for Global Citizenship addressed by activity
Knowledge and Understanding
Skills
Values and Attitudes
Social justice and equity Critical thinking Sense of identity and self-esteem
Diversity Ability to argue effectively Empathy and sense of common humanity
Globalisation and Interdependence Ability to challenge injustice & inequalities   Commitment to social justice and equity
Sustainable development Respect for people and things   Valuing and respecting diversity*
Peace and conflict Co-operation and conflict resolution Concern for the environment and commitment to sustainable development
Belief that people can make a difference

 

Follow-up/Further ideas/Homework

Ask children to consider what other water-saving methods they can think of at home/school? [eg using mulch in the garden to reduce need for watering the garden, use watering can rather than hose, ensure dishwasher/washing machine full, water efficient washing machines, take a shower (30L) as opposed to a bath (90L), wash car with bucket of water versus a hose (300L saving)etc].

Put above ideas into practice!

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