New
New
Year 5

Water: our essential resource

I can explain why water is a precious resource and identify some of the threats to its availability and distribution.

New
New
Year 5

Water: our essential resource

I can explain why water is a precious resource and identify some of the threats to its availability and distribution.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Water resources across the world are unequal and influenced by patterns of climate.
  2. Global water use varies and is linked to latitude, climate, and amount of agriculture and industry in a place.
  3. Our use of water must be sustainable.
  4. Existing water resources are becoming increasingly polluted through human activity.

Keywords

  • Fresh water - Fresh water is water that is not salty.

  • Reservoir - A reservoir is an artificial lake made by humans to store water.

  • Water supply - Water supply means the water from lakes, rivers and reservoirs that is carried by pipes to homes and businesses for daily use.

  • Sustainable - Using a resource in a way that ensures there will be enough left for future generations.

Common misconception

That water originates from pipes or taps.

All water is a natural resource and originates from bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs.

Look into the average water usage for every day activities such as brushing teeth, having a shower to highlight how children and families can reduce their water usage.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these images show uses of wood?
Correct answer: toilet paper
Correct answer: table
Correct answer: fuel
glass
Q2.
What is the term given to wood that has been cut down and prepared for use in industries?
1 - T
2 - I
3 - M
4 - B
5 - E
6 - R
Q3.
How do trees help the environment?
They take in oxygen through the day, helping to reduce climate change.
Correct answer: They take in carbon dioxide through the day, helping to reduce climate change.
They don't help the environment.
Q4.
What type of management is important in Canada's boreal forests?
Correct answer: sustainable forestry
deforestation
no management is needed
Q5.
Which hemisphere are Canada's boreal forests in?
Correct answer: northern
southern
eastern
western
Q6.
What do forest companies have to do in areas they harvest wood from?
Correct answer: replant trees
build roads
mine for minerals

6 Questions

Q1.
Water can be found as a solid, liquid and ...
Correct Answer: gas, water vapour
Q2.
What percentage of the earth's surface does water cover?
Correct answer: 70%
7%
17%
Q3.
Which of these are fresh water sources?
Correct answer: lake
Correct answer: ice
sea/ocean
Q4.
How much of the world's population don't have access to water?
a half
a quarter
Correct answer: one tenth
Q5.
Can you identify whether these are natural or human factors affecting water supply?
Correct Answer:leaking pipes,human

human

Correct Answer:climate,natural

natural

Correct Answer:pollution,human

human

Q6.
How can we reduce our water usage?
take a long shower
Correct answer: collect rainwater for use in the garden
Correct answer: turn the tap off when cleaning your teeth
Correct answer: wear clothes more than once