Grade 3E Lesson Plan

Topic: Water Scarcity (Shortage)

Subject: Science
Length: 1 class period - 40 mins-1 hour

INTRODUCTION In this lesson, students will learn about water scarcity and how much of
drinkable water in the world. They will learn the importance of water to humans and brainstorm
ways that they can reduce their own water usage. This lesson will introduce students to the
concepts of water pollution and access to clean water through class discussion and a water
filtration experiment.
Note: The filtration methods used in this activity are a simple demonstration and the water
should not be considered safe for drinking

LESSON OVERVIEW
Objectives:
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
Visualize how much water is available to humans
 Explain the importance of water
 Understand the problem of water scarcity and how to conserve water
 How to purify water

Teacher Questions
1. How do we make water safe to drink?
2. How can technology help provide unique solutions to the water shortage?
3. Can we solve our global water shortage problems? Why or why not?

LESSON STEPS
Activity 1: 5 minutes
 Provocation: Teacher to put different pictures that shows shortages of water in different
countries.
 Students to choose one picture and discuss what they see, think and wonder.
Activity 2: 15 minutes
 Big question Why Is Water Important? 10 minutes
Students to Brainstorm uses of water
 Group Self-assessment on brainstorming worksheet
 Discussion
a) Why do we need water? (ex. We cannot survive without clean water to drink every day. We
also depend on water for many other things in our daily lives, in addition to agriculture, industry,
etc.)
b) What types of activities is water used for?
c) Where and when do you use water the most?
d) Where do you think the water that you use comes from?
e) What is the difference between fresh and salt water?
f) Do you think it is possible to run out of water?
g) What would happen if your water supply was reduced?

Activity 3: 5 minutes
 Teacher Instructions Show the global Water Crisis: Video
How do you feel after watching the video?
How can you solve the problem in the video?

Activity 4: 10 minutes
 Water Filter Activity 1. pass out Worksheet #1 – Water Filter Procedure: Distribute
materials to each group (2-liter soda bottle pre-cut in half, filtration materials, “pollution”
materials).
 Have each group follow the procedure outlined in Worksheet #1 – Water Filter Procedure
 Fill in the worksheet
Materials
 liters container
 Items to represent pollutants.
 Distilled water
 Sand
 Cotton
 Coal
  Gravel
 Worksheet
Activity 5
Wrap up…..Reflection
Students to choose what to write between what they have learned, what they used to think and
what they still wonder.

NB: how is the lesson linked to IB PYP

1. TUNING IN: provocation pictures and use of l see, think and wonder worksheet.
2. Inquiry questions.
3. Student agency …students to choose.
4. Brainstorming of ideas
5. Self-assessment and peer assessment
6. Hands on activity
7. Reflection