Water for Lifefor LINC and ESL

Words to Share

This Eco-Resource on Water is created to serve as an educational tool for LINC (Language Instructors for Newcomers to Canada) and ESL (English as a Second Language) classes.

Over the past five years, Community Environment Alliance has been providing environmentally focused workshops and session to LINC and ESL classes. This workbook is an outcome of our passion to make environmental education available to everyone.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on how we can enhance the value of this tool and make it more meaningful.

Thank you,

Community Environment Alliance

Copyright © 2010 Community Environment AllianceAll rights reserved including the right to reproduce the whole or any portion of this handbook without CEA’s prior

consent.

If you are an educator and would want to use this activity book as an education tool, contact us at (905) 463-9941.

This Eco-Resource is made possible with generous support from the Community Vitality Grant of the Unilever Canada Foundation.

Photos Courtesy of

Anielyn BenasaPeter Hellerbrand

Bob KnightIvan VicencioStock.XCHNG

PresidentBiserka Nestorovska

Executive DirectorRanjana Mitra

DesignerAnielyn Benasa

www.communityenvironment.org

What is Water

1

Water is all around us.

There are 3 forms of water:

Water covers 70% of the earth’s surface.

More water covers the earth’s surface than land.

Solid (ice)

Liquid(glass of water)

Gas(steam)

What is Water activities

2

Match the PicturesThe pictures on the right show the 3 forms of water. Draw a line from the pic-tures on the left side to their corresponding form of water on the right side.

Solid

Liquid

Gas

?Class DiscussionWhat are examples of water as a solid, liquid, and gas?

Sources of Water

3

3%

87%Salt water makes up 87% of all water

Only 3% of the earth’s water is freshwater

Salt water is found in oceans and seas.

Lakes, rivers, and ponds store freshwater

Water falls as rain and snow, and it fills lakes and rivers.

Most people in cities get drinking water from rivers.

People cannot drink salt water.

The ground also stores some freshwater.

Sources of Water activities

4

You can drink water from the Atlantic Ocean. True or False

Most of the earth’s water is salt water. True or False

Salt water makes up 70% of all water. True or False

87% of the earth’s water is fresh water. True or False

The ground stores some fresh water. True or False

Snow is not a source of water. True or False

True or False?Read each statement below and circle true or false. If false, write a sentence of why it is false.

Class DiscussionWhat are sources of water around the world? In peel?

The Water Cycle

5

The vapor rises into the air and forms clouds.

This is called condensation.

The water then falls to the ground as rain or snow.

This is called precipitation.

The water then flows back into rivers, lakes and oceans as surface runoff.

The sun heats the water in the oceans and seas, causing the water to turn into water vapor.

This is called evaporation.

Some water soaks into the ground as infiltration and enters underground aquifers.

The water cycle is a never-ending process.

The Water Cycle activities

6

Fill in the BlanksFill in the missing words in the following passage.

The that we use today could quite possibly be the same as

what our ancestors used a long time ago because it recycles itself through

what is called the . The water cycle starts when the sun

heats the water in the oceans and seas. This causes the water to turn into

and rise into the air. This process is called . The water vapour

then turns into clouds. This is known as . Eventually, the water

will fall to the ground as or snow. This is called .

The water then gathers in streams and rivers and flows back down to the

oceans, seas, and lakes as . Some of the water soaks into the

ground as .

Words to choose from

condensation rain evaporation infiltration water surface runoff water vapour precipitation water cycle sun

Class DiscussionExplain each stage of the water cycle.

The Importance of Water

7

We need water to live.

We use water everyday to drink, clean, bathe, cook, and so much more.

Water is part of our blood, brains, and muscles. Even our bones are 22% water.

Water makes up a large part of our bodies - 70% to be exact.

Most of the food we eat everyday needs water to survive and grow.

Our food should not be contaminated with polluted water as it will affect our health.

70%

The Importance of Water activities

8

Make a List

List names of food that we eat everyday that needs water to live.

Class DiscussionHow do we use water in our every day lives?

List activities that you would not be able to do at home without water.

Local Community water treatment process

9

Step 1

Dirty water enters the plant through a bar screen.

Step 2

The water enters the grit chamber. Water flow is greatly reduced so that heavy objects (sand, gravel and dirt) settle to the bottom as sedimentation.

The heavy objects go to a landfill, and floating objects are pumped out, burned, and disposed.

Step 3

Secondary treatment is where air (oxygen) is pumped to the water. This creates an environment where tiny bugs and bacteria can live.

The bugs eat the pollutants left. The pollutants then sink to the bottom where they are pumped out.

The remaining water is sent to a chlorine water channel to kill germs and clarify the water.

The water is then sent through pipes to your home.

The bar screen takes out large objects from the water and puts them on a conveyor belt, which moves the waste to a dumpster.

The chlorine is then eliminated with sulfur dioxide because chlorine can harm the river.

Global Community water problems

10

Water Pollution

Water pollution can have a large impact on aquatic life in any body of water. It can lead to the elimination of certain species.

As our population increases, the demand for clean drinking water will continue to rise.

Water pollution is a growing problem.

Polluted water will also likely be toxic to land animals that drink it

The Groundwater Aquifer Problem

At this rate, fresh underground water will eventually run out!

Aquifers are underground layers of rock, soil and sediment. They store fresh groundwater in limited supply.

Due to the high demand for bottled water, this groundwater is being pumped out using water wells faster then they are being refilled.

Class DiscussionWhat would happen if we ran out of fresh water?

Bottled Water versus Tap Water

11

Bottled Water

Bottled water includes natural mineral water and water drawn from springs and wells.

Plastic bottles are expensive, not environmentally friendly, and create waste that is costly to recycle.

No license is required to sell bottled water in Canada. Only the information reported on the label is what is required.

Manufacturers do not have to test for contaminants or report laboratory analyses.

Bottled water can also include purified water, which is often treated municipal water.

Class DiscussionHow does water bottle waste affect the environment?

Bottled Water versus Tap Water

12

Tap Water

Tap water mostly originates from surface water.

So the question is: why pay extra for treated municipal water sealed in a bottle?

Water suppliers must test for chemicals using a monitoring system.

The Ministry of Environment also plays a lead role in source water protection activities.

Health Canada establishes quality standards related to treated municipal drinking water.

Municipalities have to publicly report monitoring results to consumers every year including.

Water Conservation

13

Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator rather than running tap water until it is cool enough to drink.

Soak pots and pans before washing.

Kitchen

Don’t leave the water running for rinsing.

When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water.

Use your dishwasher only for full loads.

When buying a new dishwasher, consider purchasing a water-saving model.

Newer models can cut water use and energy by 25% and are no more expensive than non-conserving models.

Water Conservation

14

Don’t use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.

Bathroom

Take shorter showers.

Install a low-flow showerhead. It can save about half the amount of water you typically use in the shower.

Replace older toilets with ultra-low flush models. Toilets sold before the 80s use 15-20 litres per flush. Toilets sold in the 80s and early 90s use 13 litres per flush.

Turn the tap water off while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.

Rinse your razor in the sink or small container of water.

Water Conservation

15

Laundry Room

When buying a new clothes washer, consider purchasing a water-saving model.

Check with your municipality to see if they provide rebates on the purchase of water-saving clothes washers.

New horizontal axis models can save up to 40% of the water used by a conventional model.

Remember to wash only full loads in the clothes washer.

Water Conservation

16

Use a bucket and sponge to wash your care instead of running a hose. This can save up to 300 litres of water.

Outside

Collect rainwater in a rain barrel or other large container and use the water on your garden.

Set sprinklers to water the lawn, not sidewalks and driveways.

Be sure your hose has an automatic shutoff nozzle to ensure water is not wasted when the hose is unattended.

In the summer, lawn watering and other outdoor uses can account for up to 50% of home water use. Studies show that as much as half of this outdoor use is wasteful.

Keywords activities

17

Check List

Think about the water-saving tips that you have learned. Which ones can you start using today? Write them in the space below. Put a check in the box when you use that tip!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Class DiscussionHow can you save water at home?

Water Conservation activities

18

Make Flashcards

Below are list of keywords. Write each words on an index card or a piece of paper to create flash cards. The words should be big enough so that the students can read them from afar. Have the students practice saying the words and their meanings outloud.

Aquatic

Aquifer

Chlorine

Condensation

Conserve

Evaporate

Fresh water

Grit Chamber

Groundwater

Infiltration

Insulate

Lakes

Liquid

Municipal

Oxygen

Pollution

Potable

Precipitation

Recycle

Rivers

Salt water

Sedimentation

Springs

Sulfur dioxide

Surface Runoff

Toxic

Water

Water Cycle

Water Vapor

Wells