WATER

Hello little explorers!  Today, we’re going to learn about something super special—WATER! Can you imagine a world without water? No drinking, no bathing, no plants, no animals… oh no! That’s why water is called “life liquid”—because everything alive needs it to survive.

So much water on Earth!

Did you know that 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water? That’s more than half! If you look at a globe, all the blue areas show water—oceans, rivers, lakes, and more.

But here’s something interesting: Even though there’s so much water, only a small amount of it is clean and fresh enough for us to drink. So we need to be very careful not to waste it!

Where does water come from?

Let’s look at the main sources of water around us.

Rain

Rain is the main source of water. It fills our rivers, lakes, ponds, and even the water under the ground!

Oceans

Oceans are the biggest water bodies on Earth. But ocean water is salty, so we can’t drink it. Still, they’re important because they help make rain through evaporation.

Rivers

Rivers get water from rain and melting snow on mountains. They flow down and finally join the oceans. Some big rivers in Karnataka are the Kaveri, Krishna, Tungabhadra, and Sharavathi.

Springs

Sometimes, rainwater goes deep into the ground and gets stored there. When it comes out through an opening by itself, we call it a spring.

Wells

Wells are made by digging into the ground to bring up underground water. People in villages often use well water to drink and cook.

But be careful! If we use too much underground water, it starts to disappear. So we should let rainwater go back into the earth using soak pits and try things like rainwater harvesting.

Ponds

Ponds are small, shallow water bodies made by people to store rainwater. Water flows into them from small streams called rivulets.

Reservoirs

When we build a big dam across a river to store a lot of water, it forms a reservoir. Reservoirs help us save water for drinking, farming, and making electricity. Famous reservoirs in Karnataka include Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) and Tungabhadra Dam.

Let’s Observe Water

Water is quite amazing! Here are some cool things to remember:

• Water is colourless, tasteless, and has no smell.
• Water takes the shape of whatever container it’s in. Pour it in a bottle, bowl, or glass—it changes shape!
• Water is heavy—try lifting a tumbler filled with water and you’ll feel it!
• It flows from higher to lower places, like when it runs down the stairs.
• When we heat water, it turns into steam and goes into the air. That’s called evaporation.

Why is Water Important for Living Things?

Here’s something amazing: Our bodies are made of 70% water! The same goes for animals and plants.

• Plants need water to grow and make their own food.
• Animals need water to stay cool and healthy.
• We need water to drink, clean, cook, and so much more.

That’s why water is precious and must be used carefully.

Our Elders Knew It Best

Long ago, our elders built tanks, ponds, and wells to collect and save water. Today, we use modern methods like reservoirs, but the idea is the same—conserve water so it doesn’t run out.

Also, many families celebrate water with special rituals. Have you seen your family worship rivers or wells during festivals like Ganga Puja or Theertha Snana?

Be Careful! Water Can Get Polluted

Sometimes, water gets dirty. We call this water pollution. It happens when we throw:

• Garbage,
• Chemicals,
• Soaps and detergents,
• Plastic waste…into rivers and lakes.

Dirty water can make us sick with diseases like diarrhea or cholera. It also harms fish and other water animals. So let’s promise to keep our water clean!

FAQs 

Q1. Can we drink water from all sources?

Not really! Only clean, fresh water is safe to drink. Always drink boiled or filtered water.

Q2. Why can’t we drink ocean water?

Because it’s full of salt! Drinking salty water can make us sick.

Q3. How can we save water at home?

Turn off taps tightly, use a bucket instead of a shower, and reuse water from washing vegetables to water plants!

Q4. What is rainwater harvesting?

It’s a way of collecting rainwater from rooftops and storing it for later use.

Q5. What happens if plants don’t get enough water?

They wilt, stop growing, and may even die. Water helps plants stay strong and green.

Q6. How does water get into wells and springs?

When rainwater goes deep into the earth, it stays underground. Later, we dig or tap it through wells and springs.

Q7. Why do some rivers dry up in summer?

Because there’s less rain and hot weather, water evaporates and rivers can shrink or dry.

Take assessment:

1. Oral Questioning (Interactive Q&A)

These are great for classroom discussions or quick checks during teaching.

• What is the main source of water?
• Can we drink water from rivers or oceans?
• Why is water called “life liquid”?
• Have you seen a pond near your house? What is it used for?
  How do plants use water?

2. Fill in the Blanks

Helps assess vocabulary and recall.

• ________ is the main source of water.
• Water that comes out naturally from the ground is called a ________.
• A ________ is a man-made place to store water.
• Water flows from ________ level to ________ level.
• ________ percent of the Earth is covered in water.

3. Match the Following

Great for linking ideas visually.

A	B
Ocean	Small storage of water
Pond	Stored under the earth
Spring	Salty water
Well	Water comes out naturally

4. Picture-Based Questions

Useful if using visual aids or worksheets.

• Look at this picture of a river. Is this water safe to drink?
• Identify and name the water source in this picture.
• Circle the pond in this image.
• Point to the reservoir in this dam photo.

5. True or False

Helps check quick understanding and correct misconceptions.

• Oceans have fresh water. (False)
• Rainwater goes into the ground and becomes underground water. (True)
• Water can take the shape of any container. (True)
• Dirty water is safe to drink. (False)

6. Think & Answer (Short Answers)

Encourages expression and logic.

• Why should we not waste water?
• What are the uses of water at home?
• How do wells and springs get water?
• Why are reservoirs built?

7. Creative Thinking Questions

Encourages curiosity and real-life connections.

• What would happen if it never rained?
• What can you do at home to save water?
• If you were a river, where would you like to flow?
• Imagine your town has no water for a day. How will it affect you?

8. Match Source to Use

Helps apply learning to real life.

Source of Water	Used For
Reservoir	Drinking and electricity
Well	Household water
Pond	Water for animals, small farms
River	Bathing, washing, farming

9. Sorting or Categorizing

Builds analytical thinking.

Question: Put these into two groups – Natural and Man-made water sources.

• Ocean
• Pond
• Spring
• Well
• Reservoir
• River

10. “Why” Questions

Pushes deeper understanding.

• Why can’t we use ocean water for drinking?
• Why should we keep our water sources clean?
• Why do rivers overflow in summer sometimes?
• Why do plants need water to make food?

11. Use-at-Home or School Scenarios

Makes learning practical.

• From where does your school get water?
• Where does water go after you water plants?
• How do you use water while brushing your teeth?

12. Observation-Based Questions

Based on simple experiments or activities.

• What did you see when water was poured down the stairs?
• What happened when you tasted salty water?
• Did water change shape in different containers?

13. “List It” Prompts

Builds recall and detail.

• List 4 uses of water at home.
• Name 3 rivers in Karnataka.
• List 2 ways we can save water.

14. Environmental Awareness

Raises consciousness about nature.

• What pollutes water?
• How can we stop water from getting dirty?
• How did our elders save water?

15. Peer Questions or Group Work Prompts

• Encourages social learning.
• Ask your friend where they get water from at home.