Water problems: Case studies

A series of photo-based case studies about what water shortage means around the world.

> Click here to start the online slide show for your pupils

Learning objectives

Problems with access to safe water have a severe impact on many areas of people’s lives.
Most causes of water shortage are beyond the control of those involved.

You need:

Paper; the class framework for tracking consequences from Lesson 1.

What to do:

• In groups the children take one cause of water shortage and its accompanying case study from the slide show.
  It will be the group’s task to gather the information relating to their case study and to report back to the whole class.
• You might model handling one case study with the whole class as a note-taking and precis activity in literacy time.
• Make clear that at reporting time, the class will be able to see the photographs only, not the textual information (although it can be displayed later if required for clarification).
• Reports might be verbally delivered or groups might make decisions about the medium or format they choose. For example, groups might opt to present their reports as:
           a letter to an MP
           a storyboard poster
           a piece of drama
           a recorded radio-style interview
  
  

  The important point is that their report must accurately reflect and communicate the evidence available in the case study.

• It is reasonable to put a time limit on gathering information and preparing a presentation.
• Once the reports have been made, ask the children to discuss how they see things now. For instance:
           Has the reported information surprised them at all?
           Do they know more about why some people go short of water?
           Do they know more about what it means for people to go short of water?
• Revisit the class framework used for tracking consequences in Lesson 1. What other consequences do the children want to add to the diagram? Can they see that there are causes to be taken into account before we get as far as the shortage itself? How could these be recorded on the diagram?

Next steps

We recommend that you follow this activity with Water maths: global statistics, which explores the distribution of water and water sanitation.

Further development

• Use selected photos to develop visual literacy using an activity such as ‘Before and after’ (see ‘the image well’).
• Let the children continue the words of the ‘talking head’ in the case studies. They can use the evidence in the case study and other speculation such as ‘tracking consequences’ to maintain the tone of the language. Explain that they should give the character an identity and role play a scenario where s/he remonstrates with, say, a politician, a weapons supplier or a chocolate company.

> Click here to start the online slide show for your pupils