All About Animals: Secondary Teachers: Lesson Plan 5: Water, water, everywhere …

 

How does this fit into the National Curriculum? Pupils should be taught about the wider issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility, including sustainable development and Local Agenda 21

Teachers’ Note: This is an exercise in researching water use in agriculture. Once the pupils have conducted their research they are to write a magazine article about this issue and encouraging people to take personal responsibility for conserving water.

You have been asked to research the issue of water use in agriculture and how this precious resource can best be used. Below are 10 facts that you can use as a starting point for your research. When you have gathered all the information you need write a magazine article about water wastage, encouraging people to take personal responsibility for conserving water.

Fact 1: The planet is made up of 70 per cent water but only three per cent is fresh water and of that two per cent remains locked inside the ice caps.

Fact 2: One child dies every 15 seconds through lack of clean water.

Fact 3: Human use of fresh water has quadrupled since the 1940s.

Fact 4: 1 billion people do not have water within a 15 minute walk of their home.

Fact 5: Britain also has problems. It is the most ‘water-stressed’ country in Europe and an official drought was declared during the winter of 2003-4.

Fact 6: Discharging waste from agriculture and industry pollutes waterways in every country of the world.

Fact 7: The United Nations fear that water shortages could further hinder food supplies throughout the world.
Fact 8: Up to 90 per cent of all managed water is used to grow food.

Fact 9: On average, it takes 1,790 litres of water to grow 1kg of wheat compared with 9,680 litres of water for 1kg of beef.

Fact 10: The International Water Management Institute has said that it is unlikely that people will change their diet because of water shortages.