Let's Not Take Water For Granted – A Resource Guide

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• Introduction
• Topic 1: Water – Nature's Magician
  • Chapter 1A: Water – Visible and invisible
    looks at the properties of water, the importance of water to life, and the significance of water being around for over four billion years.
  • Chapter 1B: The hydrologic cycle
    reviews the hydrologic cycle and emphasizes the endless and continuing motion of water molecules.
• Topic 2: Water – Here, There and Everywhere
  provides an appreciation of the quantity of water Canada has in its different regions and in relation to other countries of the world.
• Test 1
• Topic 3: Clean Water – Life Depends on It!
  • 3(A): Are you sure it's good?
    provides information about the concept of water quality – how we measure water quality and why we need to maintain water quality.
  • 3(B): Pollution
    provides an overview of the different ways we pollute our water resources and focuses on our role in actively cleaning up.
  • 3(C): How is water treated?
    reviews the water cycle created by humans to treat our water supply both before and after use.
• Test 2
• Topic 4: Water Works!
  • 4(A): One resource – Many users
    reviews the instream and withdrawal use of water and compares Canada's water use with that of other countries.
  • 4(B): What will this cost me?
    illustrates that Canadians get a bargain with their water and explores whether we would use and waste less if we paid a more realistic cost.
• Topic 5: Groundwater – Nature's Hidden Treasure
  • 5(A): Groundwater – I dig it!
    examines the extent and importance of groundwater in Canada.
  • 5(B): Groundwater – Why we should be concerned
    describes how we threaten our supply of groundwater and discusses how we can lessen the stress on this resource.
• Test 3
• Topic 6: Water Conservation – Every Drop Counts!
  reinforces the notion that water is a resource that needs to be wisely used – and that wise use begins with each individual.
• Test 4
• Topic 7: Water, Art, and the Canadian Identity
  looks at water's role in shaping the identity of Canadian society through art – painting, literature, poetry, and music.
• Topic 8: Water – The Transporter
  describes water's role as a transporter of sediment and the impact of this role on the environment.
• Topic 9: Water – Vulnerable to Climate Change
  explains the impact of climate change on water resources and the link between climate change and human activity.
• Test 5
• Vocabulary
• Test Answers

The print version of this publication contains the following information:

Published by authority of the Minister of the Environment
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 1994

A resource guide targeted at educators (Grades 5, 6 and 7)