Year 4 Geography: Water

Water Cycle

100

What are the 3 states of matter?

solid, liquid, gas

200

What are are the freezing and boiling temperatures of water?

boiling point - 100 C
freezing point - 0 C

300

Explain the key aspects of the water cycle. (use the words: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, run off)

Water from rivers, lakes, and oceans turns into vapor (gas) when it gets warm from the sun. (Evaporation) The water vapor cools down and changes back into tiny water droplets, forming clouds. (Condensation) When the clouds get heavy with water droplets, they release the water as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. (Precipitation) The water that falls to the ground collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some water flows over the surface (runoff) into rivers and lakes.

400

Why is the water cycle important for plants and animals? Can you give two examples of how it helps them?

• Plants need water to grow. The water cycle brings rain, which helps plants get the moisture they need from the soil.
• Without rain, plants would dry out and die. Animals need water to drink. The water cycle helps by providing rivers and lakes where animals can find water. For example, a deer might drink from a river that is filled with water from the rain.

500

Explain how clouds and rain are formed. (Use the words: (warm air, evaporation, droplets, condensation, rain or precipitation)

• When the sun shines, it warms the ground. The warm air rises into the sky.
• As the warm air goes up, it takes water from rivers, lakes, and oceans. This water turns into vapor (a gas) and mixes with the air. This process is called evaporation.
• When the warm air goes higher, it gets cooler.
• As the air cools, the water vapor changes back into tiny water droplets. This is called condensation. These droplets gather together to form clouds.
• When the clouds become too heavy, they can’t hold the water anymore. The water droplets fall to the ground as rain. Sometimes, if it’s cold, the rain can fall as snow or sleet.

Drinking Water

100

Give 3 reasons why water needs to be cleaned before drinking.

Protect Health
Improve Taste and Smell
Remove armful substances like bacteria, viruses, and chemicals.  

200

How can you remove dirt from water?  

Dirt can be removed by creating a filtering system. (Filter) 

300

What materials will you need to create a water filter?

 Sand, cotton, gravel/stones/rocks/charcoal

400

How does the water we drink get into our school or houses? Where does it come from?

• Water comes from rivers, lakes, and underground sources. Sometimes it also comes from rainwater. 
• After the water is collected, it goes to a water treatment plant. Here, it is cleaned and purified so it is safe to drink. 
• Once the water is clean, it travels through big pipes called water mains. These pipes carry the water to different places, like our schools and homes.

500

Explain some of the steps involved in cleaning water.

Remove large objects like leaves and trash. (Screening)
Add chemicals to help tiny particles clump together. (flocs)
Allow water to sit so heavy clumps settle at the bottom.
Water passes through filters (sand, gravel, charcoal).
Kill bacteria and viruses.

Flooding

100

What is flooding?

A flood is a large amount of water covering an area of land that is usually dry.

200

Where can flood happen?

Floods can happen everywhere in the world.

300

Name 4 causes of flooding.

melting snow

heavy rain

storm

blocked drains and sewage

400

What can people build to prevent flooding?

a dam.

500

What can make flooding worse? Name at least 3 factors.

Heavy rains 

Deforestation

Buldings and hard surfaces

Hills and mountains

Very wet ground

Hard dry ground

Water Pollution

100

What is pollution?

Pollution is anything that has a harmful effect on plants and animals.

200

Who cause the most water pollution?

people

300

Explain how farms can pollute water.

Many farms use chemicals and pesticides. These toxins reach the underground water that later can pollute rivers and lakes.

400

What is the effect of pollution on marine life?

Destruction of ecosystems and coral reefs 

Death of aquatic animals 

Habitat Desctruction

500

Why is it important to raise awareness about the dangers of water pollution?

The more people know about the issue, the greater our chances of bringing about meaningful change.

Saving Water

100

Name one activity you can do to save water while brushing your teeth.

turn off the tap

200

What happens to rivers and lakes when too much water is wasted?

they can dry up or become polluted

300

What can you do instead of using a hose to water your garden?

use a watering can or a bucket

400

Name one way schools can save water.

Use less water: Installing low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads to reduce water consumption. 

Teaching students and staff about the importance of water conservation and how to save water in their daily activities. 

Creating school policies that encourage water-saving practices among students and staff. 

500

How many liters of water can a typical shower use in 10 minutes?

about 100-200 liters