15Intermediate Phase: Life Orientation

Slice of LifePollution hurtsLook at the pictures below for examples of how pollution can hurt us and then read the paragraph about water. Discuss the questions that follow in your groups:

Swimming in and drinking polluted water will make you sick.

Access to clean water is a basic human right.

Hurting people is also a type of pollution. All living things have the right to clean water.

Pollution = No respectClean water is essential

to all life on Earth and is a basic human right. In South

Africa access to clean water is decreasing because of an increase in pollution and the destruction of

river catchments due to urbanisation, deforestation,

damming of rivers, destruction of wetlands, soil erosion,

industry, mining and energy use. Human beings are not

respecting our most valuable resource – WATER.

Questions for group discussion:•Pollutionhurtspeople,animalsandtheenvironmentinmany

differentways.Discussthisstatementandthenwritedownfivewaysin which you can take responsibility to ensure that your environment is not polluted.

•Drinkingpollutedwatercanmakeyouverysick.Discussthewaysthat people pollute water and suggest how this could be stopped.

•Talkaboutwhatyouusewaterforinyourhomeandatschooleveryday – e.g. to drink, to cook, to bath. What would happen to you and your environment if you did not have access to clean water?

•Cleanwaterisabasichumanrightandyetmanypeoplestilldonothave access to clean water and walk many kilometres each day to fetch water. Talk about how clean water can be made available to more people.

•Livinginanenvironmentwherepeoplearemeanorabusiveisalsoa form of pollution. Talk about how to take responsibility for not polluting the feelings of people in your daily life.

•Talkabouttheeffectsofurbanisation,deforestation,soilerosion,industry and the destruction of wetlands on our access to clean water.

LO1: HEALTH PROMOTIONThe learner will be able to make informed decisions regarding personal, community and environmental health.

LO2: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTThe learner will be able to understand and demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to constitutional rights and responsibilities, and to show an understanding of diverse cultures and religions.

DON’T POLLUTE WATER

15

Smelly Science

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