GR6-NST-PLAT-T8-Mixtures and Water Resources-T2

Importance of wetlands Wetlands case study
Causes of water pollution

 It slows down the flow of floodwaters,
Benefits of wetlands reducing flood damage. Water pollution by insoluble
 Slowly releases stored water back into the substances
 Provides a habitat and breeding ground for plants
stream during dry periods.
and animals – especially birds, frogs and fish.  Oil spills from ships – pollute the seas and harm sea life.
 Filters and cleans the water.
 Source of water for plants and animals. The oil does not wash off the birds’ feathers. They cannot
 Provides a habitat for many organisms. They
 Filter the water to make it clean. They remove fly with oil on their feathers, and they cannot spread out
can find food, shelter and a place to breed in
soluble and insoluble substances from the water. their wings to dry. The birds die from cold and starvation.
the wetland. Fish, crabs, birds, small
 Act like giant sponges that stores water and  Plastic waste – such as plastic bags and bottles and
mammals and many organisms live in this
prevents flooding during heavy rains. fishing line in the oceans, kills many animals every year.
wetland.
 In dry seasons, water from wetlands help to keep Turtles die after eating plastic bags which they mistake
 Farmers in the area use the water for their
rivers and streams flowing. for jellyfish. Animals such as seals and penguins get
crops.
tangled up in fishing line, which can cause them to drown
Impact of loss of wetlands for or can cause injuries as the fishing line cuts into their
biodiversity and water quality skin.
 Wetlands are destroyed because more land is T8 – Mixtures and  Toilet waste – People use rivers or streams as a toilet.
needed for housing, agriculture and industry. water resources Toilet waste is insoluble and needs bacteria to break
down. People can get very sick when drinking the water
Wetlands and biodiversity or bathe in it.
 When wetlands are destroyed – plants and animals Water pollution by living Water pollution by soluble substances
in the wetland no longer have a habitat to live in. germs  Fertilisers & soaps - dissolve in the water and pollute it.
 Some die and others may move away. We cannot see these substances in the water, so we don’t
 People do not have toilets at home and
 Biodiversity decreases when wetlands are know that the water is polluted.
use rivers or streams as a toilet or if they
destroyed.  Metals and dissolved chemicals from factories. They are
put their toilet waste into the water.
poisonous to the water life. Mining waste and paint
Wetlands and water quality  Germs in the water can make people sick
contain the metal lead. If we drink the water, it can cause
with diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.
damage to the brain & kidneys. Lead and other harmful
chemicals get into our food when watering water crops
 Wetlands are important for water quality they serve as a filter.
with the polluted water.
 It removes soluble substances found in soaps, insecticides and fertilisers.
 Plants in the wetlands, and the soil and gravel at the bottom absorbs these substances.
 Insecticides – Farmers spray it on their crops to control
and kill insects, it ends up in dams and rivers killing the
 Tiny organisms, called micro-organisms can break down toilet waste and make it harmless.
animals.
Natural Sciences and Technology: Grade 6 – Term 2 – Topic 8 (Mixtures and water resources) – Mind Map Copyright @ www.summariessa.co.za
Topic 8: Mixtures and water resources Topic 8: Mixtures and water resources
Diarrhoea A sickness which gives you very
8.1: Water pollution (page 92-95) loose and watery faeces.
Key concepts:
 Water can be polluted by insoluble substances such as oil and plastic,
soluble substances such as soaps and fertilisers and germs from toilet waste.
Biodiversity All the different kinds of plants,

Key words: animals and other living things
Fertilisers Chemicals used to make plants found in an ecosystem.
grow better.
Sewage Human body waste that is

Insecticides Chemicals used to kill insects. flushed down the toilet.
Causes of water pollution

Faeces Solid toilet waste.
Water pollution by insoluble substances
 Oil, plastic, tyres, tins, glass and
toilet waste.
 These substances and materials
can harm living things in the
Cholera A disease caused by germs in water.
human faeces.  They can also harm people and
animals that drink the water.
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GR6 NST T2-T8 Summaries Platinum 1 GR6 NST T2-T8 Summaries Platinum 2
Oil spills Water pollution by soluble substances
 Oil spills from ships pollute the seas and  Soaps, fertilisers, insecticides, acids and poisonous chemicals dissolve in the
harm sea life. water and pollute it.
 The oil does not wash off the birds’ feathers.  We often cannot see these substances in the water, so we do not know that
 They cannot fly with oil on their feathers, the water is polluted.
and they cannot spread out their wings to
dry.
Fertilisers and
 The birds die from cold or starvation.
soaps
Plastic waste
 Lower the oxygen
 Plastic waste, such as plastic bags and levels in the
bottles and fishing line in the oceans, kills water.
many animals every year.  Many organisms
 Turtles die after eating plastic bags which in the polluted
they mistake for jellyfish. water cannot get enough oxygen and die.
 Animals such as seals and penguins get
tangled up in fishing line, which can cause
Metals and dissolved chemicals such as acids from factories
them to drown or can cause injuries as the
fishing line cuts into their skin.  Can pollute rivers and lakes.
 They are poisonous to many forms
of water life.
Toilet waste
 Also poisonous to humans.
 People pollute water when they use rivers or  Mining waste and paint contain
streams as a toilet or if they put their solid lead.
toilet waste into the water.  If we drink water containing lead, it
 The solid toilet waste is insoluble and needs can cause damage to the brain and
certain bacteria to break it down. kidneys.
 Germs in the toilet waste can make people  Lead and other harmful chemicals
very sick if they drink the water or bathe or can get into our food if we water
swim in it. crops with the polluted water.
Insecticides
8.2
8.2: Importance of wetlands (page 96-100)
100)
 Farmers spray insecticides on their
Key concepts:
crops to control and kill insects.
 Rivers and dams become polluted  Wetlands are important ecosystems.
when water washes the insecticides  They filter dirty water, store water and are a habit for many kinds of plants
from the fields into the dams and and animals.
rivers.  Wetlands are being destroyed by housing, agriculture and industry.
 The insecticides can poison animals in
the water.
Key Words:
 Humans, birds, and other animals can be poisoned if they eat fish, frogs or
other animals from the polluted water. Wetland An area covered by shallow
water for most of the year.
Water pollution by living germs
 Many people do not have proper toilets at home, causing a problem to get
rid of toilet waste. Agriculture Farming practices such as
 People pollute water when they use rivers or streams as a toilet waste into growing crops and raising cattle.
the water.
Cholera and diarrhoea Industry Factories and businesses that

manufacture or process
 Germs in the water can make people sick with diseases such as cholera and
materials and goods.
diarrhoea.
 People can die from these diseases.
 When you have a runny tummy and very loose and watery faeces, you have
diarrhoea. Water quality How safe our water is to use.
 Solid toilet waste is called faeces.
 Cholera is a much more serious type of diarrhoea.
 It is caused by a type of germ found mainly in water polluted with faeces.
 Cholera affects 3 - 5 million people worldwide every year and causes over
100 000 deaths a year.
Vlei An area of low flat ground that is Impact of loss of wetlands for biodiversity and water quality
soft and wet.
 As the world’s population increases, more and more land is needed for
housing, agriculture and industry.
 As a result, the world has lost half of its wetlands in the last hundred years.
Wetlands and biodiversity

 a Wetland is an area covered by shallow water for most of the year.
 When wetlands are destroyed, the plants and animals in the wetland no
 Examples of wetlands: Swamps, marshes, shallow lakes and vleis.
longer have a habitat to live in.
 The most well know wetlands in South Africa are the St Lucia wetlands in the
 Some will die and others may move away.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Kwazulu-Natal.
 This affects the biodiversity in the wetland ecosystem.
Wetlands are important natural ecosystems  Biodiversity – All the different kinds of plant, animals and other living things
found in an ecosystem.
Why are wetland ecosystems important to living things?
 Biodiversity decreases when wetlands are destroyed.
 It provides a habitat and

breeding ground for many Wetlands and water quality
different types of plants and  Wetlands are important for water quality (how safe our water is to use).
animals like birds, frogs and
 Wetlands remove soluble substances found in soaps, insecticides and
fish.
fertilisers that wash into the water.
 It is a source of water for
 Plants in the wetlands, are the soil and gravel at the bottom of the wetland,
plants and animals.
absorb these substances.
 It filters the water to make it
 Very tiny organisms (micro-organisms) in wetlands can also break down
clean. They remove both
solid toilet waste and make it harmless.
soluble and insoluble substances from water.
 Wetlands act as filters to clean water.
 Act like giant sponges which store water and prevent flooding during heavy
rains.
 In dry seasons, when there is not much rain, water from wetlands help to
keep rivers and streams flowing.
Case study: The Blesbokspruit wetland Activity 1: Identify and discuss water pollution (page 91)
 Close to Springs, on the East Rand in Look at the pictures.
Gauteng.
 The wetland plays an important role in the
environment:
 It slows down the flow of floodwaters,
reducing flood damage.
 It stores water during periods of heavy
rainfall and slowly releases this water back
into the stream. As a result, the stream
continues to flow during dry periods.
 It filters and cleans the water.
 It provides a habitat for many organisms.
 They find food, shelter and a place to breed
in the wetland. 1. a. Which picture shows polluted water?
 Fish, carbs, birds, small mammals and Picture A
b. How do you know the water in the picture is polluted?
many other organisms live in this wetland.
There is rubbish in the water, and it doesn’t look clean.
 Farmers in the area use the water for their crops.
c. How is water pollution caused?
 The following plant and animals can be found here: Heron, bulrushes, People throw litter in the water, through chemicals that comes from
phragmites reeds, yellow-billed duck, water mongoose and giant bullfrog. factories and through toilet waste in the water.
2. Will more plants and animals live in the water shown in Picture A or Picture
B? Explain your answer?
More plants and animals will grow and live in the wetland on picture B.
There is no water pollution. The water is clean and will support all kind of
Heron Phragmites reeds
living things.
Bulrushes
3. Why is clean water important to living things?

Polluted water can make people and animals sick and prevent plants from
growing properly. Living things need clean water to be healthy.
Yellow-billed duck Water Mongoose Giant bullfrog

Activity 2: Explain effects of water pollution (page 95) Activity 3: Write about the impact of loss of wetlands on biodiversity
and water quality (page 97)
Briefly explain how water pollution caused the problem in each of the
following examples:
1. Fish die from lack of oxygen.

Chemical substances such as fertilisers and soaps lower the oxygen levels in
the water. The fish in the polluted water do not get enough oxygen.
2. Whales get tangled in fishing nets.

Fishing boats loose old fishing nets in the sea. Whales become entangled in A Wetland. Wetlands have been Wetlands have been used
the nets and can drown if they cannot reach the surface for breathing. drained to build for agriculture, for
roads,houses and example, for growing rice.
3. People get diarrhoea. factories.
Solid toilet waste contains germs that causes diarrhoea. If people throw toilet
waste into rivers and dams, the people who use that water for drinking,
cooking and washing will get sick.
4. Children cut their feet when swimming.

When people throw insoluble substances such as glass and tins in the water,
children playing in the water can cut their feet. Large amount of Dams have stopped the Many different kinds of
pollutants in rivers have flow of river water into plants and animals live in
5. Harmful chemicals get into our food damaged animal life in wetlands. wetlands.
Harmful chemicals can end up in our food if we irrigate plants with polluted wetlands.
water from rivers or dams.
Look at the photographs and read the information about wetlands. Answer
these questions:
1. How are wetlands being destroyed?

Wetlands are destroyed because people drain the wetlands to make more
room for housing, agriculture and industries. Building dams over rivers
prevent the flow of river water to wetlands, so they dry up. Pollution of the
rivers flows into the wetlands and pollutes the wetlands.
2. a. Explain what biodiversity is. Activity 4: Research and write a report on a wetland (page 99)
All the different kinds of plants, animals and other living things found in an
ecosystem. Choose a wetland to research. These are some examples:
b. How is biodiversity affected when wetlands are destroyed? • Blesbokspruit in Gauteng
When wetlands are destroyed, the organisms living there no longer have a • Nylsvley in Limpopo
habitat. They no longer have a safe place to hide or safe breeding space and • Verloren Vallei in Mpumalanga.
their food source reduces. They will either die or leave, leaving fewer living
organisms in the ecosystem. 1. You can do an internet search to find information on your chosen wetland. If
you live in an area where there is a wetland, you can visit the wetland or
3. a. Explain what water quality is. contact the local authorities to find out about it. You can also use
How safe our water is to use for drinking, cooking and washing. information about the Blesbokspruit wetland on page 98.
Students answers will differ depending on which wetland they choose.
b. Explain how wetlands remove pollution from water.
Wetlands removes contaminants from water by filtering out soluble 2. Find out this information about the wetland:
substances from soaps, insecticides and fertilizers that are in the water. a. Where it is.
Wetland micro-organisms also breaks down solid toilet waste and make it The blesbokspruit is located near Springs on the East-Rand of Gauteng.
harmless. b. Which plants and animals live there
Plants and animals living in the Blesbokspruit wetland includes:
c. How does loss of wetlands affect water quality? Heron, Bulrushes, phragmites reeds, yellow-billed duck, water mongoose and
There will no longer be natural filters to remove harmful substances from the giant bullfrog.
water, so the water quality will deteriorate.
c. Why the wetland is important
The blesbokspruit wetland is important because:
 It slows flood water, which reduces flood damage.
 It stores water during heavy rains and then slowly releases into the stream.
 Therefore, the river also flows during dry periods.
 It provides a habitat for many organisms.
 Farmers in the area can use the water for irrigation.
d. How the wetland’s water quality is threatened by pollution.

 The blesbokspruit wetland is being threatened by:
 Polluted water from the nearby Grootvlei gold mine containing toxic
chemicals
 Sewage works near the wetland causes pollution when it releases liquid
sewage.
Revision of topic 7 (page 100) a. Identify the part of the study area you think is most polluted. Give a
reason for your answer (3)
Write a sentence to explain the meaning of each word in the box below:
Soluble
Insoluble
Biodiversity b. Identify the main cause of pollution and the type of substance it is. (2)
Wetlands
Water quality
c. Identify the part of the study area you think is least polluted. Give a
Habitat reason for your answer. (3)
Filter
Farming
1. A group of leaners did a study on a stream near their town. The stream runs
d. Suggest a reason why there are a few frogs and herons at the site next to
into a vlei wetland. They counted the organisms in different parts of their
the busy road. (2)
study area. View their results on page 100 of your textbook.
e. Explain why there are more living organisms in the vlei area, even though
the water that runs into it is polluted. (2)
f. Suggest what would happen to the biodiversity of the wetland if houses

were built in the vlei area. Explain your answer. (3)
Total: 15
Revision of topic 8 (page 100) (MEMO) a. Identify the part of the study area you think is most polluted. Give a
reason for your answer. (3)
Write a sentence to explain the meaning of each word in the box below:
Along the paint factory (1). The smallest number of animals and plants are
Soluble Soap and fertilizer are examples of soluble substances that found here. (2)
cause water pollution.
Insoluble Water can be polluted by insoluble substances such as oil b. Identify the main cause of pollution and the type of substance it is. (2)
and plastic.
Biodiversity We call the different types of animals and plants in the Paint. (1) Is a soluble substance. (1)
ecosystems the biodiversity of the ecosystem.
Wetlands Areas that are usually covered with shallow water and have c. Identify the part of the study area you think is least polluted. Give a
permanently wet soil are called wetlands. reason for your answer. (3)
Water quality Water quality is how safe the water is to use.
Habitat Wetlands is the habitat of many organisms like fish, crabs Vlei. (1) Most organisms are found here. (2)
and birds.
Filter Wetlands filter water to remove pollution. d. Suggest a reason why there are a few frogs and herons at the site next to
Farming Wetlands are being threatend by human activites such as the busy road. (2)
farming.
Cars can kill them on the road. (1) (Any reasonable answer)
2. A group of leaners did a study on a stream near their town. The stream runs
into a vlei wetland. They counted the organisms in different parts of their Explain why there are more living organisms in the vlei area, even though
study area. View their results on page 100 of your textbook: e. the water that runs into it is polluted (2)
It is a wetland (1) which filters pollutants (1)
f. Suggest what would happen to the biodiversity of the wetland if houses

were built in the vlei area. Explain your answer. (3)
The number of organisms will decrease. (1) The vlei will have to be drained
(1) and many organisms will lose their habitat. (1)
Total: 15

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GR6-NST-PLAT-T8-Mixtures and Water Resources-T2

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Importance of wetlands Wetlands case study

Causes of water pollution

Biodiversity All the different kinds of plants,

Sewage Human body waste that is

Causes of water pollution

Cholera and diarrhoea Industry Factories and businesses that

Wetlands and biodiversity

 It provides a habitat and

3. Why is clean water important to living things?

Yellow-billed duck Water Mongoose Giant bullfrog

1. Fish die from lack of oxygen.

2. Whales get tangled in fishing nets.

4. Children cut their feet when swimming.

1. How are wetlands being destroyed?

d. How the wetland’s water quality is threatened by pollution.

f. Suggest what would happen to the biodiversity of the wetland if houses

It is a wetland (1) which filters pollutants (1)

f. Suggest what would happen to the biodiversity of the wetland if houses

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