Introduction

Knowledge Objectives The knowledge concept involved in this unit is water sustainability, specifically in the home, but generalising into the general communitiy. We are generalising units of measurement into buckets of water rather than litres because we don't expect prep children to understand fluid measurement enough to be specific. The students can see for themselves how much water is held in each bucket, and can formulate an understanding of volume more simply from this visual imagery,

Skill Objectives Inquiry Skills The best learning is hands on learning. All the activities within the lessons are designed to have an element of fun and be hands on for the children. Through the use of activities children are able to explore what they know and what they can do to help minimize the use of water.

Academic Skills For the children to build on their knowledge, they need to be able to extend themselves. All activities have academic goals within them. Each lesson builds on the one before it. The children are using their increasing knowledge to solve problems and think outside the square. Through formal activities there are ways of assessing the children to see how much they have learnt through the unit.

Social Skills. Through out the unit the children are exposed to community based activities. This unit is designed to look at things within the school and home that cane be done to minimize water use and build an understanding within the children about water conservation. The unit allows social interaction between the children to discuss ideas and listen to others to build on their knowledge. The wider community also plays a large role in this unit, the children are looking at ways that they and the community can minimize their ware consumption and ways to keep plants alive.

Value Objectives. Given the growing emphasis being placed on water conservation in and around the home by water companies, there is a pressing need to identify the characteristics of how to save water. It is possible to use this unit to look at the links between water saving and energy conservation in and around the home.

It is important to get children to own their education, this unit allows the ownership to take place. Using activities that children can relate to allows the education to be real. This means that the children are able to take something away from the classroom and use it in the community.

In prep the students are interested in them selves, this is important to know, it means that the lessons that we are teaching need to be able to relate to the individuals. This relation to the make the students feel they are the important ones in this topic means that they will take ownership and do something about it.

The students appreciate that water conservation is something that will affect them and that something needs to be done about it. It is the simple things that can be done at home that are able to make this unit successful.

The students respect that there is not a simple solution and that they are still finding ways to reduce water. It is within the unit that the children are given the opportunity to think of their own ways to reduce water use.

'The students are sensitive about not being able to see the problem. With young children if they cant see the direct consequence then they don’t see the problem. It is important through this unit to get the children to see that this is a problem and that they are able to help minimize it.

How can you encourage and develop responsible participation, involvement and action in this topic? If lessons are fun, then there is no problem with participation. Each individual classroom is different. It is a case of showing that you are interested in the information that you are teaching. If you are passionate about the information then the children will want to learn it. On the other hand if you are not passionate about the unit then it will be hard to keep the children on task.

All lessons include a discussion; this allows all children to be involved in creating ides, solving problems and answering questions. Allowing all children to have an opportunity to share their ideas in a safe environment, without ridicule, means that all children are included.