]The Peak Academy - Home Learning

Group: Helvellyn Date: 22nd June 2020 Subject: Forest School

Learning Outcome:To understand how to build a dam and why they are useful to us and animals.Learning Task:

Beavers build a dam to create a deep, still pool of water where they can make their lodge (home) and be safer from predators. The dam slows the water so that their lodge doesn’t get washed away. The pool is also where they store fresh branches under water as a tasty food source in winter.

Dams built by humans are important because they provide water for domestic, industry and irrigation purposes. Dams often also provide hydroelectric power production and river navigation. Domestic use includes everyday activities such as water for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, and lawn and garden watering. Dams and their reservoirs provide recreation areas for fishing and boating. They help people by reducing or preventing floods.

Can you build your own dam?

What You’ll Need: • A small stream, flowing surface water after rainfall or large, shallow waterproof containers and access to water • Natural loose materials e.g. mud, sticks and stones

Or: A shallow container, old drain pipe, a paddling pool…. Anything that you can hold water in that isn’t too

deep. A puddle would work! Lego, old pens, building bricks, sand, card, sticks, stones

Find a suitable site where there is a small flow of water after rainfall. Alternatively set up shallow waterproof containers outside. Use the natural materials around them to try and control the movement of the water.

Can you: • Slow it down?• Stop it completely and form a pool?• Change the direction of the flow? If you are using containers, you will need to build the dam first before you add water behind it and observe how the water flows. You may want to tilt to container slightly.

Key questions:

1. List 5 reasons why humans build dams?

2. Did your dam work?3. Can you try another dam with lego, or natural materials – which works best?4. Are there any dams near you?5. Which is the biggest dam in the world?

Links to useful websites/ video clips:

1. https://www.conservation.org/blog/why-we-need-dams-and-a-sustainable-path-forward/ 2. https://www.water-technology.net/features/feature-ten-largest-dams-in-the-world-reservoirs/ 3. https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-worlds-largest-dam.htm

Ways you can feedback:

Send photo’s or a message to Mrs Cook (dcook@thepeakacademy.org