What is water?

Water is very important for life. 
​We drink it, cook with it, and play in it. 

Water is all around us: in rivers, lakes, seas, and even in the air!

More like this
More options

Some things about water

1. Drinking water

We need clean water to drink. 
​All water is not safe to drink. 

Drinking water is usually purified.

A woman drinks clean water from a glass.
1. Drinking water: We need clean water to drink.

2. Sea water

The water in the seas is salty.
​You cannot drink sea water.

Drawing of a beach with sand and the sea.
Sea water is salty.

3. Rain and clouds

Water falls from the sky as rain. 
​Clouds are made of tiny drops of water.

Drawings of different clouds: rainclouds and thunderclouds.
2. Rain and clouds: Water falls from the sky as rain. Clouds are made of tiny drops of water.

4. Ice, water and steam

Water can be solid (ice), liquid (water) or gas (steam).

Drawings of the three states of water: solid (ice), liquid (water) and gas (steam or water vapour).
3. Ice, water and steam: Water can be solid (ice), liquid (water) or gas (steam).

5. Save water

Clean water is a valuable resource.
​Use it wisely. 

Close the tap when you don't need water, for example when brushing your teeth. 

Drawing of a plant inside a drop of water with the text "Save water".
More like this
More options

Water cycle

Look at the picture.
​Find a cloud, a water drop, a river and a lake.

Drawing of the water cycle. Water rises from the sea into clouds. Water falls down on land as rain. Water flows back to the sea through rivers.
Look at the picture. Find a cloud, a water drop, a river and a lake.
Read more
  • Water evaporates from seas or lakes.
  • Water moves in clouds in the sky.
  • Water rains down back to Earth.
  • Water flows in rivers back to the sea.
More like this
More options

We can study water

Study water!

  1. Watch how water flows in a river.
  2. Collect rain and study it.
  3. Freeze water into ice cubes and watch them melt.

1. Watch how water flows in a river.

Photograph of water flowing over river stones.
Water in a river.

2. Collect rain and study it.

Photograph of rainwater collected in buckets.
Study water!

3. Freeze water into ice cubes and watch them melt.

Photograph of ice cubes.
A pile of ice cubes.
More like this
More options

Fun fact!

Did you know that 70% of Earth is covered in water?

Photograph of planet Earth as seen from space. The seas are visible in blue.
Planet Earth is sometimes called "The Blue Planet". 
More like this
More options

Activities

1. Draw

Draw a place where you see water, like a river, a glass of water, or a rainy day. 

Share your picture with the class!

Print the activities (pdf)

Photograph of a boy playing in the rain.
  • Water can be ice, liquid, or gas.
  • Seawater is salty.
  • All water on Earth is safe to drink.
  • Rain comes from clouds.
  • sun
  • grass
  • sky
  • yellow
  • green
  • blue

4. Water and motion

Let's do an experiment.

You need: 

  • a bowl or a container
  • water
  • a floating object
  • (blocks)
Photograph of the things needed for the experiment. A cointainer, a toy and water.
Step 1

Pour some water into the bowl.

​A couple centimeters of water is enough.

Photo of a person pouring water in a container.
Pour water.
Step 2

Put the floating object on top of the water.

Photograph of a person placing a toy in the water.
Add the object. 

​Think and test

  1. How can you get the object to move in the water?
    Try to find out different ways​.
  2. How can you get the object to move faster? 
  3. Can you chan​ge the direction of movement?
  4. Can you get the object to be still on the water?
Results
  1. How many different ways to move the object did you find?
Answer

The object started moving when you 

  • pushed it, 
  • lifted or moved the container, or 
  • added or removed a block.
  • You could also blow the object into motion.
Results
  1. How did you get the object to move faster?
Answer

If you pushed the object harder, it moved faster. 

The same thing happened if you lifted the container more. 

Results
  1. Can you chan​ge the direction of movement?
Answer

The direction can be changed if you push the object from the opposite direction.
​
​You can also lift the other corner of the container.
​If the object hit the wall of the container, it changed the direction. 

Results
  1. Can you get the object to be still on the water?
Answer

If you did nothing and waited a little, the object became still.

5. Blooming flowers

​Let's do an experiment.

You need: 

  • a bowl or a container
  • water
  • paper
  • scissors
  • pencils
Photograph of the things needed for the experiment. Water, a piece of paper, pencils, scissors and a container.
Hypothesis

Before doing an experiment, scientists try to guess the result. 

What happens if you put a folded piece of paper on top of water?
​Discuss.

Photograph of a person placing a piece of paper in water.
What will happen?
Step 1 

Draw a flower on a piece of paper (or use a ready made model).

You can colour the flower if you want.

Photograph of a person drawing a flower on paper.
Draw a flower.
Step 2

Cut the flower out of the paper.

Photograph of a person cutting the flower from the paper with scissors.
Cut.
Step 3

Gently fold the petals of the flower into the centre.

Photograph of a person folding the paper flower.
Fold all the petals gently.
Step 4

Add a little water to the container. 

Photograph of a person pouring water in a container.
Pour some water.
Step 5

Carefully place your flower on the surface of the water. Keep the folded side facing up.

Watch what happens.

Photograph of a piece of the closed paper flower floating in the water.
Place the flower on top of the water.
Results

What happened to the folded flower? 

Do you know why?

Answer
Photograph of the open paper flower floating on the water.
Blooming flower

The folded flower opened and bloomed.

Water filled the little gaps in the paper.

​Water pushed the folded paper straight.

More like this
More options