Hello, Water Explorers! Welcome to the World of Water!

Have you ever stopped to think about water? It's in our taps, in the rain, in rivers, and in the sea! Water is one of the most important things on our planet. We need it to live, and so do plants and animals.

In these notes, we're going on an adventure to learn all about water. We'll discover its amazing secrets, how we use it every day, and how we can all be Water Heroes by protecting it. Let's dive in!


Water's Amazing Transformations: The Three Forms!

Water is like a superhero with the power to change its form! It can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas. This is a reversible change, which means it can change back and forth without becoming something new.

1. Solid Water is called Ice

When water gets very cold (like in a freezer!), it turns into a solid. We call this ice. Think about ice cubes for your drink or the ice on a puddle on a cold winter day.
Example: An ice lolly is a yummy example of solid water!

2. Liquid Water is just... Water!

This is the water we know best. It's the water we drink, swim in, and use to wash our hands. It flows and takes the shape of whatever container it's in.

3. Gas Water is called Water Vapour

When water gets hot, it turns into a gas called water vapour. This process is called evaporation. Water vapour is usually invisible! You can see it as steam when you boil water in a kettle. The steam you see is actually tiny water droplets forming as the hot vapour cools down a little in the air.
Example: When a puddle dries up in the sun, the water has evaporated into the air.

Quick Review: Water's Changes
  • Freezing: Liquid water turns into solid ice.
  • Melting: Solid ice turns back into liquid water.
  • Evaporation: Liquid water turns into gas (water vapour).
  • Condensation: Gas (water vapour) turns back into liquid water. (Like when a cold glass of juice gets "sweaty" on the outside!)
Key Takeaway

Water can exist in three forms: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapour). It can change from one form to another, and this is a reversible change.


How We Use Water Every Day

We use water for so many things! Without it, our daily lives would be very different.

Here are some important uses of water:
  • Drinking: Our bodies need water to stay healthy and work properly.
  • Cleaning: We use water for washing our hands, brushing our teeth, having a shower, washing clothes, and cleaning our homes.
  • Cooking: We need water to boil pasta, make soup, and cook vegetables.
  • Growing Food: Plants need water to grow. Farmers use water for their crops so we have fruits and vegetables to eat.
  • Having Fun: We use water for swimming, splashing in puddles, and playing with water balloons!
Did You Know?

Your body is mostly made of water! That's why drinking enough water every day is super important for your health and energy.

Key Takeaway

We use water for essential daily activities like drinking, cleaning, and cooking, as well as for growing food and for recreation.


Uh Oh! Water Pollution

Clean water is a precious treasure. But sometimes, water can get dirty and unsafe. This is called water pollution.

What Causes Water Pollution?
  • Rubbish: When people throw plastic bottles, bags, and other trash into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
  • Chemicals: Sometimes, waste from factories or farms can get into the water.
  • Dirty Water from Homes: Soapy water from our showers and sinks can also pollute if not treated properly.

Polluted water is harmful to fish and other animals that live in it. It's also dangerous for people to drink or swim in.

Key Takeaway

Water pollution is when harmful things like rubbish and chemicals get into our water, making it dirty and unsafe for people and animals.


Making Water Clean Again: Purification

Don't worry, we have ways to clean dirty water! The process of cleaning water to make it safe to use and drink is called purification.

How can water be cleaned?

Think of it like cleaning a messy room, step-by-step!

  1. Filtering: Big things like leaves, twigs, and rubbish are removed, often by passing the water through a screen. It's like using a sieve to get lumps out of flour!
  2. Settling (Sedimentation): The water is left to sit still so that smaller bits of dirt and sand can sink to the bottom.
  3. Cleaning: Finally, special things are added to kill any tiny, invisible germs to make the water completely safe to drink.

At home, a simple way to purify water is to boil it. Boiling water for at least one minute kills most of the harmful germs that can make you sick.

Key Takeaway

Water purification is the process of cleaning dirty water. It involves steps like filtering and settling to make the water safe for us to use.


Be a Water Hero: Treasuring Our Water!

Most of the Earth is covered in water, but most of that is salty ocean water which we can't drink. The fresh, clean water we can use is very limited. That's why it's so important to treasure our water resources and not waste them.

You can be a Water Hero! Here are some simple things you can do to save water every day:

  • Turn off the tap while you are brushing your teeth or soaping your hands.
  • Take shorter showers. Try to beat your own record!
  • Tell an adult if you see a dripping tap. Those little drips can waste a lot of water!
  • Re-use water. The water used to wash vegetables can be used to water plants.
Your Mission!

Choose one water-saving tip and try to do it every day this week. You'll be surprised how much water you can save. Every drop counts!

Key Takeaway

We must save water because clean, fresh water is precious. We can all help by making small changes in our daily habits to reduce waste.