Science
Water
Water
Where water comes from, what we use it for, how to tell clean from dirty, and how to save every drop.
Water is everywhere
Water is in the rain. Water is in the river. Water is in the tap.
Water is in your cup. Water is even in you!
We cannot live without water.
Where did you see water today?
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Rain
Where does water come from? It starts as rain.
Rain falls from the clouds. It falls on the roof, the road and the farm.
Drip, drip, drip. Splash!
Do you like to watch the rain fall?
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Clouds
Where does rain come from? From clouds.
The hot sun lifts tiny drops of water up into the sky. The drops join together and make a cloud.
When the cloud gets heavy, the water falls as rain.
Then the sun lifts it up again. Round and round!
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Rivers
Rain runs down hills and makes a river.
A river is water that moves. It flows from the hills to the sea.
Ghana has many rivers. The Pra, the Volta, the Densu.
Have you seen a river? Was the water moving fast or slow?
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Lakes
A lake is a big pool of water with land all around it.
Lake Volta is the biggest lake in Ghana. It is so big you cannot see the other side!
Fishermen catch tilapia in Lake Volta.
Have you eaten tilapia?
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The sea
The sea is the biggest water of all. It is at the edge of the land.
Sea water is salty. You cannot drink it.
Accra, Cape Coast and Takoradi are by the sea.
Have you ever put your feet in the sea?
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Under the ground
Some water hides under the ground.
People dig a well to reach it. Or they drill a borehole and use a pump.
Pump the handle up and down. Water comes out!
Is there a well or borehole near your house?
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Taps and pipes
In many towns, water comes through long pipes under the road.
Turn the tap. Water comes out!
The pipes bring the water from a river or a dam to your house or school.
Who fetches water at your house?
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Water in you
Your body is full of water. Your blood, your tears, even your sweat.
When you run and play, water leaves your body as sweat.
So you must drink to put it back.
Do you feel thirsty after playing?
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Drinking
We drink water to stay alive and strong.
Drink when you wake up. Drink at school. Drink after you play.
Clean water is the best drink of all. Better than sweet fizzy drinks!
How many cups of water did you drink today?
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Cooking
Mama needs water to cook.
Water for the rice. Water for the soup. Water to make kenkey and banku.
No water, no food!
What is your favourite food that is cooked with water?
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Washing ourselves
We use water to wash our bodies.
Wash your face in the morning. Wash your hands before you eat. Bath in the evening.
Water and soap take the dirt away.
Do you like a cold bath or a warm bath?
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Washing things
Water also washes our things.
Clothes. Plates. Cups. The floor. The car.
Dirty things go in the water. Clean things come out!
What did you help to wash this week?
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Plants and animals
Plants drink water through their roots. Without rain, the maize dries up.
Goats, hens and dogs need water too.
All living things need water.
What happens to a plant if nobody waters it?
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Round and round
Water goes round and round. We call it the water cycle.
The sun lifts water up. Clouds carry it. Rain brings it down. Rivers take it to the sea.
Then it starts again!
Can you draw the water cycle?
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Clean water
Clean water is clear. You can see through it.
It has no smell. It has no bits floating in it.
Clean water is safe to drink.
Look at your cup of water. Can you see through it?
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Dirty water
Dirty water is brown or cloudy. It may smell bad.
Water in a puddle on the road is dirty. Water with rubbish in it is dirty.
Dirty water is not safe to drink.
Have you seen a muddy puddle after rain?
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Germs
Dirty water has germs in it.
Germs are tiny living things. They are so small you cannot see them.
But they can make you ill.
If you cannot see germs, how do you know they are there?
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Sick from water
Drinking dirty water can give you a bad tummy.
You may get a runny tummy. You may feel weak. You may have to go to the clinic.
So we only drink clean water.
What should you do if the water looks dirty?
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Boil it
Here is one way to make water safe: boil it.
Put the water in a pot. Heat it until it bubbles. Let it bubble for a little while.
The heat kills the germs. Let it cool before you drink.
Only an adult should boil water. Why?
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Safe water
Boiled water is safe. Water from a clean tap is safe. Sachet water from a good shop is safe.
Keep safe water in a clean, covered container.
Use a clean cup to take it out.
Where does your family keep drinking water?
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Keep the river clean
Rivers get dirty when people throw rubbish in them.
Do not throw plastic bags in the river. Do not pour oil in the gutter.
A clean river gives clean water to everyone.
What could you tell a friend who throws rubbish in the gutter?
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Cover the bucket
At home, water sits in a bucket or a barrel.
Put a lid on it. The lid keeps out dust, flies and mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes lay eggs in open water. Covered water stops them.
Is the water at your house covered?
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Saving water
Water is precious. We must not waste it.
Turn the tap off when you finish. Do not let it run.
A running tap wastes a whole bucket in a minute!
Did you turn off the tap today?
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Fix the drip
Drip. Drip. Drip.
A leaking tap drips all day and all night. All those drips fill many buckets.
Tell an adult if you see a leak. A plumber can fix it.
Can you hear a drip anywhere in your house?
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Use a cup
When you brush your teeth, do not leave the tap running.
Fill one cup. Use that cup to rinse.
One cup is enough. The rest of the water stays for someone else.
How much water do you use to brush your teeth?
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Catch the rain
Rain is free water! Put a big barrel under the roof.
When it rains, water runs off the roof and into the barrel.
Use rain water to wash the floor or water the plants.
What could you put outside to catch the rain?
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Share water
On a hot day, everyone is thirsty.
If you have water, share a cup with your friend.
Do not pour water on the ground for fun. Someone else may need it.
Who did you share with today?
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The dry season
In the dry season, the rain stops. The river gets low. The borehole takes longer.
That is why we save water when there is plenty.
Then there is enough for the dry days.
Which months are dry where you live?
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Water is life
Water comes from rain, rivers, lakes and under the ground.
We drink it, cook with it, wash with it and give it to plants.
We keep it clean. We keep it covered. We do not waste it.
Water is life. Take care of it!
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Learn more
- BBC Bitesize KS1 Science — short science topics for young children
- UNICEF Ghana: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene — how clean water reaches children in Ghana
- UNICEF WASH — why clean water matters around the world
- WHO: Drinking-water — facts about safe drinking water for parents and teachers
- National Geographic Kids — pictures and facts about rivers, seas and weather
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Watch more
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Think about it
- Name three places where water comes from.
- How can you tell if water is clean or dirty?
- What can you do to make water safe to drink?
- Why should a bucket of water have a lid?
- Name two ways to save water at home.
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This book is for reading on SchoolSpec and cannot be printed.