Grade Six Science

Hello Boys and Girls,

How is everything going with you? What are your plans for Diwali?

This week we will start looking at water and its properties. These days are rather hot and it is good for you to drink lots of water from time to time throughout the day. Why do you think it is so important to drink water regularly? Do you know the results of not drinking enough water? It can cause:

● Unclear thinking (70% of the human brain is water) ● Changes in our moods ● Overheating of our bodies ● Constipation ● Kidney stones

Here are some tips to help you to drink more water:

- Carry a water bottle with you everyday and refill when possible. - Freeze water and take it to school to have cool water throughout the day. - Choose water over sugary drinks. - Use water at meal times.

Add a wedge of lime or lemon to your water. It can help improve the taste.

Have you ever heard it said that water is life? Water is very essential to life. Yes, water is the liquid that makes life possible. No animal can survive without water. No human being can survive without water. Our body consists of 70% water.

Water travels throughout your body carrying nutrients, oxygen and wastes to and from your cells and organs. It is crucial for the normal functioning of the body.

Do you know of the following facts about how water helps our bodies?

● Keeps your normal body temperature ● Lubricates and cushions joints ● Protects your spinal cord and other delicate tissues ● Gets rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements

Can you identify some uses of water around you?

Did you identify as uses . . .

drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning, washing and washing? Factories and large industries use water in large quantities for producing various products required for human welfare. Farmers also use water for irrigating and cultivating crops. Thus, water is necessary for many activities; therefore, you would agree, it is an essential requirement of life.

It is thus important for us to save water. How can you do this? List at least two ways that you will ensure that you save water at home or at school.

Yes, you should turn off the tap when not in use.

Store rain water and use it when necessary.

Use a watering can when watering the plants.

Repair leaky faucets and pipes quickly.

Wash dirty clothes together and not individually.

What suggestions did you come up with? Check with your friend, too.

What are the characteristics of pure water?

● It should be clear, colourless. ● It should be odourless. ● It should be free of particles. ● It should be tasteless.

How can water be purified?

Find out the different ways.

● Did you suggest boiling it? That is a simple way that we are all accustomed to using.

● What about treating the water with chlorine/bleach? This substance kills the germs. Persons with swimming pools often use chlorine in their pools.

● Another way is by settling. This helps any sediment there may be to be or settle at the bottom of the container.

Did you think of any other way?

Now where does water come from? Let’s check –

Water is a valuable natural resource found in different forms in our environment.

If you think about the Earth’s geography, there is a lot of water all around us (water is found on 71% of the Earth), but it is not fresh water and not suitable for human use.

The available natural water is not pure forever. Excluding rainwater, all other water sources comprise salts and minerals deposits dissolved in it. These salts make the water impure, which is not fit for consumption.

There are two primary sources of water – surface water and groundwater.

The primary water sources used for drinking, cleaning, cooking, washing, farming, and other commercial uses are surface water, groundwater, and collected rainwater.

These primary water sources depend on rainfall and snow, which form a part of the hydrological cycle.

As we can see, water may be found all around us - in drains, trenches, pools, lakes, streams, rivers, oceans, and you can continue. The major oceans are the Atlantic Ocean (so close to us), the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Water is there in abundance!

By the way, did you know that Earth is the only planet where water is found to be present? That is the reason why it is sometimes referred to as the ‘water planet’.

Have you ever heard of the water cycle?

Water is constantly evaporating from the earth’s surface due to the sun’s heat. The water evaporates from puddles, rivers, lakes, creeks and so on. Near to the ground this water that evaporates is called water vapour. It is not seen.