Water and Water Cycle - Class 2 Notes & Olympiad Questions

Water is an essential resource for our survival. About three-fourths of the Earth's surface is covered in water. We need water just like we need air and food.

Uses of Water

Drinking: We need water to stay hydrated and keep our bodies healthy.

Bathing and Cleaning: Water is used for taking baths or showers to keep ourselves clean. We also use water to wash our hands, brush our teeth, and clean our clothes.

Cooking and food preparation: Water is essential for cooking various dishes and preparing meals.

Playing and recreational activities: We can swim in pools, lakes, or the ocean. Water also allows us to enjoy water sports like surfing, boating, or playing with water toys.

Plants and animal life: It helps plants grow by providing them with the necessary moisture. Animals also rely on water sources for drinking and cooling off.

Cleaning our surroundings: Water is used to clean our homes, wash dishes, mop floors, and keep our environment tidy.

Sources of Water

There are different types of water sources that we can find on Earth:

Surface Water: This is water that we can see above the ground, like in rivers, lakes, ponds, and streams.

Groundwater: Groundwater is water that we can't see because it's hidden underground. We can find it in special places called springs or by digging wells.

Rainfall: Rain falls from the sky and collects on the Earth's surface.

Snow and Ice: In colder places, instead of rain, we get snowflakes and frozen ice. When the snow and ice melt, they turn into water, and that water helps fill up rivers, lakes, and even the ground.

Wells: People dig holes in the ground to reach the hidden groundwater.

Getting Water to Our Homes

1. To get water from underground, people use wells, hand pumps, and tube wells. They are like special tools that help us bring up the water hidden beneath the ground.

2. At our homes, we receive water through pipes. We can easily get water from these pipes by turning on the taps.

3. Sometimes, we build big structures called dams and canals near rivers to use the water from them.

Saving Water

Some easy ways to save water inside our homes are:

1. Be mindful while brushing your teeth and turn off the tap when you're not using it.

2. Try to take shorter showers.

3. Fix the leaks in the taps and toilets.

4. When using the washing machine or dishwasher, wait until we have a full load before starting it.

By following these tips, we can do our part to conserve water and make sure we're using this precious resource wisely.

Clean Water

1. Water that is safe to drink and doesn't have any germs or dirt is called potable water. Potable water should look clear, not have any taste, and not have any smell.

2. To make tap water safe to drink, people often boil it. The heat helps to kill the germs that might be in the water. It's an easy way to make sure the water is clean before we drink it.

3. Nowadays, there are also machines called water purifiers that can help make tap water safe to drink. These machines have filters or other processes that remove impurities from the water, so we can have clean and healthy drinking water right from the tap.

Different Forms of Water and Changes in the State of Water

Water Cycle

1. The water cycle is the process of how water moves around the Earth. It starts when the sun shines on rivers and lakes, turning the water into something called water vapour. This is called evaporation.

2. When the water vapour goes up into the sky, it gets cooler and turns back into tiny drops of water. These tiny drops join together and make clouds.

3. Inside the clouds, the tiny water drops come together and become bigger. When they get too heavy, they fall from the sky as rain, hail, or snow. This is called precipitation.

So, the water cycle is like a big circle. The water goes up as vapour, forms clouds, and then falls back down as rain, hail, or snow.
This cycle keeps going over and over again, helping to bring us fresh water to drink and keep our planet green.

Water Pollution

1. Water pollution occurs when the water becomes dirty and harmful to plants, animals, fish, and people.

2. This happens when waste from homes, factories, and other buildings goes into the water. When this waste gets into the water, it makes the water unhealthy and not safe to use.

Causes of Water Pollution

Water pollution happens because of different reasons.

Trash and litter: When people throw garbage and waste into rivers, lakes, or oceans, it can make the water dirty and polluted.

Chemicals from factories: Sometimes, chemicals from factories and industries can accidentally go into the water and make it polluted.

Dirty water from homes: When we use water at home for washing dishes, taking baths, or doing laundry, it becomes dirty. If this dirty water goes directly into rivers or lakes without being cleaned, it can make the water polluted.

Oil spills: Sometimes, accidents happen where oil spills into the water. This can harm the animals and plants living in the water and make it dirty.

Fertilizers and pesticides: Farmers use chemicals called fertilizers and pesticides to help their crops grow. If too many of these chemicals get washed away by rain into rivers or lakes, they can make the water polluted.