Theme: Understand Singapore Managing and Protecting Our Environment (Primary 3) The Marina Barrage

Transcription

1 Theme: Understand Singapore Managing and Protecting Our Environment (Primary 3) The Marina Barrage Cheong Chin Fang, Evangeline Ee Minghui, Nabila Banu Binte Mohamed Hassan and Raquel Yeo Ting Hui (Bachelor of Arts/Education, Class of 2016) Link to Primary Social Studies Syllabus Concepts Conservation Responsibility Resource Generalisations Water as a resource can serve many purposes for people. Everyone has a responsibility to conserve water as it is a precious resource. Site and Rationale The Marina Barrage is a dam built across the Marina Channel to form Singapore s first reservoir right in the heart of the city. It separates water in the Marina Basin from the seawater, thereby creating a freshwater reservoir. Officially opened on 31 st October 2008, it is Singapore s 15 th reservoir. The benefits of Marina Barrage are many: It is a new source of water supply, a tool for flood control and a place for recreation. Pupils at the Marina Barrage will be able to learn about the first National Tap the local catchment water. They will also learn about the uses of water 1

2 - water for everyday use, flood control, and recreation through first hand interaction with the exhibits there. The Sustainable Singapore Gallery at the Marina Barrage is informative and it has a simulation which also offers the public the chance to observe how the Marina Barrage works to prevent flooding in the low-lying areas of Singapore. Scenario In celebration of the Singapore World Water Day on 21 st March 2015, you will take the role of new Public Utilities Board (PUB) officers who are in charge of a putting up an exhibition for the general public to educate them on the water uses and the need for conservation. Inquiry Questions What are the uses of water? Why and how should we conserve water? Stage Guiding Question Venue/Time Suggested Instructional Objective Suggested Activity Prefieldwork Classroom 60 min List the uses of water. Explain the importance of water conservation. Describe the four National Taps. Conduct a simulation on water rationing with the class o Present scenario: Attention all citizens, Singapore is in a state of emergency. We do not have enough water because of the low rainfall in the past few months. As a result, there will be no water coming out from our taps. We have to get our water from the public taps. o Get class to list in their activity booklets how they are going to use the water they will collect and the estimated amount of water needed. 2

3 o Place a stack of disposable cups (represent pails) beside a big pail of water labelled as the public tap. o Ask pupils to take the number of cups required according to the uses stated in their activity booklets. (Note: There will not be enough water left from the pail to fill the cups for the last few rows of pupils.) o Ask pupils who do not have a chance to get the water about their views regarding the lack of water supply. o Introduce the term water rationing with the aid of pictures and a video on water conservation: CGzM) Teach the four National Taps. Introduce the fieldwork to the Marina Barrage by linking it to the first National Tap, that is, the local catchment water. Brief class on fieldwork purpose which is to seek answers to the inquiry questions to complete a poster for the Singapore s World Water Day exhibition during the post-fieldwork lesson. Inform class about the ABC rules for fieldwork. 3

4 -Introduction Marina Barrage Level 1 15 min Review with class the National Tap which the Marina Barrage belongs to. Recap the fieldwork purpose, inquiry questions and post-fieldwork task. Go through group members roles and pass out the role badges. Remind class about the ABC rules for fieldwork. -Station 1 What makes up the Marina Barrage? What is a reservoir? How is water treated? What are the uses of water? Marina Barrage Level 1, Central Courtyard, Level 2 (Balcony outside the Singapore Sustainable Gallery) Name the components of the Marina Barrage. Name the five rivers/canals that contribute water to the Marina Barrage. Explain what is a reservoir. Describe how clean water is obtained. List the daily uses of water. Get class to seek answers from the information boards at Level 1 to learn about the characteristics of the Marina Barrage and the five main rivers/canals that contribute water to the barrage and go over the answers with the class (bring class to the Courtyard and Level 2 to point out the different parts of the barrage). Discuss with class whether reservoirs are manmade or natural and whether Singapore can keep on increasing the number of reservoirs to meet its needs. Share information on the water treatment process. Ask class about the uses of water. Emphasize the importance of the 4 National Taps and the availability of clean water which has been treated for daily use. Get class to reflect on their learning at Station 1. 4

5 -Station 2 How has flooding been reduced in some parts of Singapore? What is water used for? Why is there still flooding in Singapore when we have a dam (Marina Barrage)? Why do we have to keep our water Singapore Sustainable Gallery 4 Explain how the Marina Barrage works in flood control. Explain the importance of keeping our water network clean. Recap with class the floodgates and pumps (components of the barrage) which they saw from the balcony outside the Singapore Sustainable Gallery. Teach the proper terms, crest gates and drainage pumps. Explain how the 9 crest gates and 7 drainage pumps work in flood control (in scenario 1 when the water level at the reservoir is higher than sea level and in scenario 2 when the water levels for both the reservoir and the sea are high) using the wall displays first before activating the model of the barrage. Ask pupils to read the wall displays to gather information to answer questions on the workings of the Marina Barrage in their activity booklets. Refer to the activity booklet to help class understand about flash floods in Singapore, the causes and measures to mitigate flooding. Discuss why there is still flooding despite measures like the Marina Barrage and emphasize the need to keep our waters in our drains, canals, rivers and reservoirs clean in flood control. Get class to reflect on their learning at Station 2. -Station 3 What are people doing at Marina Barrage? Marina Barrage Green Roof Describe how water is used for recreation. Describe the impact of dirty water on people and their recreational activities. Assign class to do the I See, I Hear activity to find out the answers to the first two guiding questions for Station 3 to teach the use of water for recreational activities. 5

6 What is water used for? Why do we have to keep our water Highlight that the reservoir is part of the water network of drains, canals, rivers and reservoirs. Get class to close their eyes and use a guided imagery to help class visualize what will happen to the reservoir and people involved in the recreational activities if someone dirties the water at the upper stream of the water network (eg: rubbish dumped at the Rochore Canal will eventually make its way to the Marina Barrage). Get class to reflect on their learning at Station 3. -Station 4 Why do we have to keep our water How can we keep our water Why do we need to conserve Singapore Sustainable Gallery 5 Explain the importance of water conservation. Describe how to conserve water. Develop communication and interpersonal skills. Develop a sense of appreciation for water. Recap with class uses of water which they have learnt at the previous three stations. Discuss with class and lead them to understand that although we are now able to enjoy water security with the 4 National Taps, this does not imply that we will forever have a sustainable water supply because of challenges (eg: climatic factors, the expiry of the second water agreement with Malaysia in 2061 and the need to import fossil fuels to run the NeWater and desalination plants). Hence, it is important for people to save water and to keep it clean. Remind class the impacts of dirty water on the environment and people. Instruct class to go on a treasure hunt to look for information on the wall displays and exhibits related to ways on how to keep our water network clean and to conserve water. 6

7 water in Singapore? Get each pupil to write a personal pledge to conserve water at the Pledge Station. Get class to reflect on learning at Station 4. How can we conserve water in Singapore? -Conclusion Postfieldwork Share the main takeaways from the fieldwork. Create a poster on water uses and conservation for an exhibition. Process the information gathered. Work collaboratively in groups. Elicit class response to the inquiry questions Reinforce the generalisations for the fieldwork: o Water as a resource can serve many purposes for people. o Everyone has a responsibility to conserve water as it is a precious resource. Share additional sources on uses of water and conservation with class. Get class to reflect on teamwork and ways of improvement. Recap the main learning points for the fieldwork. Go through the poster requirements and assessment criteria. Get pupils into groups to work on their posters using their activity booklets and water saving kits provided by teacher. Get groups to present their posters and reflect on their learning (if there is time). 7