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Basic 3 · Our World and Our People · The Environment and the Weather

Problems with the Use of Land and Water

In this topic you will learn how people misuse land and water and the problems this causes.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name ways people misuse land
  • Name ways people misuse water
  • Explain the problems caused

What you already know

  • A clean and safe environment (Basic 2)

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
All About Us
Sub-strand
The Environment and the Weather
Indicator
B3.2.1.1.1 – Explain problems with the use of land and water

Introduction

Some people dig sand from river banks and leave big pits. Others throw rubbish into rivers. These actions harm land and water.

1. Misuse of Land

Land problems
ActionProblem it causes
galamsey (illegal mining)pits, destroyed farmland
sand winningholes in the land, erosion
cutting trees without replantingsoil washes away, less rain
bush burningkills plants and animals, poor soil
dumping rubbishdirty land, diseases

2. Misuse of Water

Water problems
ActionProblem it causes
throwing rubbish in riversblocked rivers, flooding
galamsey chemicalspoisoned water, dead fish
defecating near watercholera, typhoid
fishing with chemicalsdead fish, poisoned water
A sand-winning pit, a littered riverbank and a galamsey-polluted river
Figure 1: Misuse of land and water Draw one problem with the use of land or water.Photos: Sir Amugi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Fquasie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Efo Komla, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New words

misuse
To use wrongly.
erosion
When soil is washed or blown away.
sand winning
Digging sand from the land.
pollution
Making land, water or air dirty.

Summary

  • Galamsey, sand winning, bush burning and cutting trees harm land.
  • Rubbish, chemicals and human waste pollute water.
  • These cause floods, diseases and poor harvests.

Class activity: Problem Spotting

  1. Look at the photographs of clean and polluted surroundings.
  2. List the problems you see.
  3. Say what problem each action causes.

You need: Broom, Waste basket, Printed photographs of clean, Polluted Ghanaian surroundings

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which action pollutes water?

    • A. Throwing rubbish in rivers
    • B. Planting trees
    • C. Using a bin
    • D. Saving water
    Show answer
    Answer: Throwing rubbish in riversIt makes water dirty.

  2. 2. Soil washing away is called…

    • A. Erosion
    • B. Evaporation
    • C. Germination
    • D. Condensation
    Show answer
    Answer: ErosionThat is erosion.

  3. 3. Galamsey destroys farmland.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueIt leaves pits.

  4. 4. Bush burning makes soil richer for many years.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt kills plants and animals.

  5. 5. Making water dirty is ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: pollutionThat is pollution.

  6. 6. Name two problems caused by misusing water.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: diseases, dead fish, flooding, no clean water.Misuse harms water.

Homework

  1. Look around your community. Write one land or water problem you see.