The Core of the Issue…

Investigation Ideas

Students can :

- Investigate the effects of pollution on

water and suggest possible solutions to

solve problems.

- Investigate their water usage.

http://www.pub.gov.sg/conserve/Pages/default.aspx

Some Other Useful Resources • www.waterfootprint.com

• www.fcwa.or/story_of_water/html/story.htm

• http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_visitorsguide&task=parks&id=6&Itemid=73

Learning Objectives including 21st Century Competencies for your one investigation

- Responsible decision making, Critical inventive thinking

Science objectives

- Show concern for Man’s impact on the environment.

-Give examples of man’s impact on the environment e.g., water pollution.

-Show concern for water as a limited natural resource and the need for water conservation.

Investigation: In group of 3, investigate the rate of decomposition of different kinds of food / different kinds of substrates.

Experiment on decomposition

Video on food decomposing

Waste decomposition rates

They will take photographs to compare the rate of decomposition.

Students will then apply their knowledge in writing up a lab report / poster / poem / rap / role play and present it to their class.

Know Need to KnowWater is stored in reservoirs.

Fish do not eat apples

Pollution is something that harms the environment.

Things will break down over time.

Why do we store water in reservoirs? / How much water is stored in Bedok Reservoir?

What is decomposition? / Do all things decompose? / What things decompose? / Do all things decompose at the same rate?

Would water be polluted when things decompose?

Does apple decompose faster than plastic?

What would be the result if everybody feeds the fish in the reservoir with their left-over food? Is this the right thing to do?

Case synopsis Tom was excited. He was representing his school in the National Sailing Championship 2011 at Bedok Reservoir. Upon reaching the venue, he met up with his team mates and they decided to have a quick lunch before the competition. He had an apple and when he had finished, he decided to throw the apple core into the reservoir so as to feed the fish.

His friends thought that it was not the right thing to do. Tom argued that there was no harm in doing this as it would decompose and is not as harmful as a plastic container.

Primary Science Group