Urgent water stories with strong content

Water is a remarkable substance. It consists of light molecules yet has a relatively high boiling point, and a great many substances can dissolve in it. Without this liquid, life on Earth would not be possible. The NVON (Dutch Association for Science Education) has published a book about it for teachers and lab technicians: Water, gewoon bijzonder (Water, Simply Extraordinary). This interesting reference work is packed with background information about water.

But why would a teacher or lab technician purchase it? The book itself argues that it is of great importance for schools to pay attention to the various aspects of water. Anyone who follows the news will be familiar with stories about a potential shortage of clean drinking water, the risk of flooding, and the problems surrounding wastewater containing pharmaceutical residues in the Netherlands. The book contains inspiring texts and practicals on these topics, also useful for extended project work or enrichment within the NLT subject. But are these stories so urgent that they must be incorporated into one’s lesson activities?

Desertification

The book comprises a series of essays written by experts, divided into five chapters. Broadly speaking, it begins with a section on the water cycle on Earth, followed by the purification of sewage and wastewater, the workings of rivers, the life that can emerge wherever liquid water exists, and finally several current problems relating to water for which solutions have already been found, such as ways to conserve water or methods for reversing desertification.

‘It reads a little awkwardly at times, but you forgive the authors for that given the high level of content’

Some sections stray rather far from the main subject, such as the explanation of how plants evolved from single-celled life forms. That is not a topic one would expect to find in this book.

Nevertheless, as you read you find yourself becoming convinced that you ought to do something with this knowledge. Particularly for the more engaged type of teacher, the book is brimming with facts and explanations of complex processes in which water plays the leading role — explanations that, especially with the accompanying practicals, can readily be translated into compelling lessons. The texts are perfectly accessible for a science teacher. Here and there the writing reads a little awkwardly, but you forgive the authors for that given the high level of content.

Practicals

Each section of the book concludes with a few appealing practicals, indicating approximately how long they take and for which target group each experiment is most suitable. Just enough information is provided each time for a teacher to understand what the pupils are broadly expected to do. The complete instructions and guidelines can be downloaded from the NVON website. This can be done, incidentally, without logging in or purchasing the book. That may seem rather odd, but if the aim is to give Dutch pupils something to take away on the pressing questions surrounding water, this book and its practicals are a fine opening move.