Inquiry

Phases

Guiding
Questions

Teaching strategies and

processes

Resources

(Content ideas and

sequence)
Phase 1
Remember
ing

Phase 2
Understan
ding

Phase 3
Applying

List different types of climates

Recognise and identify the
climate it is now. Use
http://www.flashearth.com/ to
view the current weather in
the town/state/country
Review and analyse elements
on the map of Australian
rainfall
Identify key regions on the map
showing purpose (largest
rainfall, lowest rainfall,
reliability, capital cities etc.)
Write first chapter of virtual
diary using Penzu app on
computer, iPad or iPod
https://penzu.com/journals/13
469836/16086287

Map 1 average rainfall in

Australia
Smartboard or projector
What is the
ICTs computers, iPads,
climate like in
iPods
your chosen
Internet access
region?
Maps of Australia
What season is
Rainfall and temperature
it?
charts and graphs in
several regions
How much
Encyclopaedias
rainfall do you
A range of books
get?
describing the climate
How does the
and temperature is
weather make
various regions around
you feel?
Australia
Penzu https://penzu.com/journ
ls/13469836/16086287
View previous lessons graph
Figure 1 Mountains and
Australian Rainfall
rain shadow
Students predict why the east
Smartboard or projector
coast of Queensland receives Google maps
more rainfall than the rest of Class computer or iPad se
Australia
Penzu Explain and define topography
https://penzu.com/journ
Identity
the
topography
along
ls/13469836/16086287
Why is it wetter
the east coast of Queensland
on the east
(Google Maps)
coast of
Summarise features of the rain
Queensland
shadow effect with diagram
than the rest of
Compare east coast of
Australia?
Queensland topography to
South Africa topography
(Google Maps)
Write second chapter of virtual
diary using Penzu app on
computer, iPad or iPod
https://penzu.com/journals/13
469836/16086287
Where, what,
KWL What do they already
Internet access
when, where,
know and want to know about Computers or iPads or
why and how is
water
iPods
water used?
Carry out an information task
Weebly website link

How much
water is
available for the
world to use
and consume?
How is this
fraction of water
used around the
world?

Phase 4
Analysing

Where does
water come
from?
What happens
to water after
you used it?

Phase 5

How clean is our

water?

where students are provided

with a key topic word to find a
definition for. Turn this into a
class glossary
Use Weebly website to gather
notes and information about
how water is used around the
world and how much is
available to use and consume
Independently respond to and
evaluate the information and
data in virtual diary
- Third chapter of virtual diary
using Penzu app on computer,
iPad or iPod
https://penzu.com/journals/13
469836/16086287
View interactive water graphic
http://www.angelamorelli.com
/water/
Discuss possible ways of where
water might come from (after
the rain) How does water
reach your house?
Differentiate between bore
pumps, rain water tanks
Students make predictions
about what happens after
they use water and it goes
down the drain
Deconstruct diagram of how
water can be stored. Grey
Water hoses in the garden or
treatment plants
Watch YouTube clip on where
the water goes after it goes
down the drain
Students create a flow chart of
possible ways is supplied to
homes. Followed by what
happens to it when it goes
down the drain
Present this with a reflection in
their fourth chapter in their
virtual diary using Penzu app
on computer, iPad or iPod
https://penzu.com/journals/13
469836/16086287
Students estimate a percentage
of how clean their drinking

World Water Usage

http://waterusagecqu.wee
ly.com/

Ipads, ipods.
A large poster for the
glossary
Strips of paper to write
definitions on
Bluetac
Penzu https://penzu.com/journ
ls/13469836/16086287
Interactive water graphic
http://www.angelamorel
.com/water/

YouTube clip where does

water come from?
Diagram of how water can
be stored and supplied
from rain water tanks or
under the ground and
using bore pumps.
YouTube clip where does
the water go?
Youtube Video where
does the water go?
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?
v=QT7FYQBbcRE
Smart board or projector
Internet access
Penzu https://penzu.com/journ
ls/13469836/16086287

Water testing kit x 12

(testing strips, results

Evaluating

Where can I find

the safest
drinking water?

Phase 6
and 7
Creating

How much
water do you
use? How can
you reduce your
usage?
How does
population
growth and
climate affect
the water
supply?
What can we do
to help?

water is (1% is poor 100% is

clean)
Research different elements
that contaminate the water
Visit another schools blog
about contaminated water
and comment students
thoughts
Explain how to use the
equipment in the testing kit
Model how to use the water
testing kit and how to record
the data found
Conduct the water testing
experiment in small groups
Record data in the graphic
organiser
Students check for consistency
among other groups
Write fifth chapter of virtual
diary which presents the data
from the experiments where
can I find the safest drinking
water? Use Penzu app on
computer, iPad or iPod
https://penzu.com/journals/13
469836/16086287
Define water scarcity
Generate a mind map of causes
of water scarcity
View Worldometre population
growth and water
View population, deaths, and
how many people right now
do not have a safe drinking
water source in the world
How does climate affect water
supply?
Design and create a graphic
organiser estimate how
much water you use each day
Compare results with other
students
Analyse the data
Use a graphic organiser to
display different ways to
reduce water usage of water
at home and at school
Assemble a team of experts to

charts, test tubes, wate

containers, labels,
makers)
A range of water samples
(tap water, bottled
water, pond water,
ocean water)
Graphic organiser to recor
data
Blog elements that
contaminate water
http://riverschoolgoesgr
en.blogspot.com.au/201
1/05/top-ten-things-that
contaminate-water.htm
Penzu https://penzu.com/journ
ls/13469836/16086287

Graphic organiser
Smartboard or projector
http://www.worldometers.
nfo/
White strips of paper
Bluetak
Laminator
13 A3 blank white posters
Colouring in materials
The Water Project
http://thewaterproject.o
g/?
gclid=CKHG173D_cACF
cnvQodf4oARA
The Water Project What
we do
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?
v=bySIiPDV6wo&index=
5&list=UUWFPw3t1Kzh9
vo-20MRyySQ
Penzu -

Phase 8
Reflecting

How is water
valued and
perceived by
you and other
communities
around the
world?

find an effective projects

which sponsors countries with
water scarcity
Watch The Water Project
YouTube clip (What will the
domination go towards?)
Generate ways to raise money
for the foundation free-dress
day
Create posters on ways to
reduce water usage at home
Display posters around the
school in other classrooms
Organise a Skype session with
organiser of The Water Project
to show who the money is
going to be helping
Write sixth chapter of virtual
diary, detailing what the
Water Project is and how can
you minimise the effects of
water scarcity. Use Penzu app
on computer, iPad or iPod
https://penzu.com/journals/13
469836/16086287
After a few months, set up
another Skype session which
continues to show how much
their donation has helped
others
KWL what have you learnt
over this unit?
How do you value and perceive
water?
Read texts The Rainbow
Serpent and The River
Ganges
Watch YouTube clips on the
texts
Determine and compare how
water is valued and perceived
by other communities around
the world
Assemble students into groups
to create a short skit or mime
which represents how Hindu
people, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples or
themselves, value and
perceive water. Present skits

https://penzu.com/journ
ls/13469836/16086287

Smartboard or projector
The Rainbow Serpent text
The River Ganges text
YouTube The rainbow
Serpent
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=cLktDAY-bz0
YouTube The Rainbow
Serpent
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?
v=pCuuRRrfOXo
YouTube The river Gange
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=yPDbMsGKTk
Penzu https://penzu.com/journ
ls/13469836/16086287

to class
Reflect on how water is
important to you.
Draw on differences and
similarities between each
culture and themselves
Write seventh and final chapter
of virtual diary, reflecting on
the information, skills and
data found throughout the
unit. Use Penzu app on
computer, iPad or iPod
https://penzu.com/journals/13
469836/16086287