Resources: This lesson should be completed outside. Please bear in mind that pupils will be making many trips with water filled cups so things could get slippery! 5 buckets, water, ladle
Handout: Handout contains the following instructions:
Step 1: Divide the pupils into 5 groups and give each group a number. Each group will represent a different household in the African village. Then, distribute two 1 cup containers to each group and explain that these will represent their water buckets.
Step 2: Tell the pupils that each household has about 5 people, so each group needs to gather at least 5 “buckets” of water for survival. However, they would need 10 buckets to maintain good health. Therefore, five buckets may jeopardise someone’s life. Since they only have 2 buckets per household, this will obviously take more than one trip. Explain that each household has a cistern with their group number on it (the litre jugs, located in the classroom), where they can dump the water when they get back home.
Step 3: Show them the ladle and explain that for sanitation reasons, the community has agreed that this is the only thing that will touch the water. If the water source gets contaminated, everyone gets sick. Also, explain that waiting in line for the well is part of the water-gathering process for many people.
Step 4: Finally, before allowing pupils to begin carrying water, tell them that their “school day” begins in 5 minutes.
• Note: no one should be able to make it to school on time!
Step 5: Direct students to their household’s “cistern” (gallon jug). Count down the time until the start of the school day.
Show pupils a 20 litre bucket nearly full of water. Ask pupils to find out how much the bucket of water weighs. Pupils should then calculate the weight of the bucket if it was a 30 litre bucket.
Children are challenged to think about how precious water is as a limited resource. Let pupils lift the bucket and walk a few steps with it. Ask them how far they think they could comfortably carry it. Share with pupils that, on average, women in Africa walk about 3.7 miles per day to fetch water. In some parts of Africa, women and children spend 8 hours a day collecting water.
Career Film: Dr Chris Cooper works as a Community Worker for Anglian Water. Click on the tour to find out about Chris's job.
Expert Film: Richard Park works as a Community Worker for Anglian Water. Richard talks about climate change and water.
Complete the water carrying challenge.
Then answer the following questions:
What impact will climate change have on your locality?
What impact will climate change have on Anglian Water’s ability to manage the region’s water sustainably?
Challenge Task:
If there is less water what this could mean for the women of Africa and their families?
Ask pupils to share their ideas If there is less water what could this mean for the women of Africa?