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School talkabout on “what’s fair and what’s not fair’

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Waterman Talkabout – “Fair or Not Fair?”

“Pollution isn’t fair!” said one pupil during a World of Water recycling workshop. That simple statement sparked a lively discussion about environmental justice, fairness to wildlife, and the role children can play in shaping a better future.

This WOW Talkabout, “Fair or Not Fair?” invites children to explore some powerful questions like “Is it fair to pollute rivers, overfish oceans, or dry up habitats?” – and then to discusss what can be done about all the things that are not fair?

Children have a strong sense of fairness, and this Talkabout taps into that instinct. Through drama, voting, storytelling, and enquiry, pupils reflect on how everyday human actions affect wildlife, and whether those actions are fair – or not.

Together, children debate real-world questions and make thoughtful judgements on:

  • Is it fair to dump pollutants into waterlife habitats?

  • Is it fair to pump so much water from deep aquifers that rivers on the surface disappear.

  • Is it fair to damage unwanted fish (bycatch) only to throw them back into the sea – so often dead?

  • Is it fair to dump run-off fertilisers from farms or warmed water from industries into rivers when it fuels algae blooms toxic to wildlife?

  • And was it ever fair on goldfish to display them as fairground prizes in tiny clear plastic bags of water?

By sharing their ideas, pupils feel that their voices matter and their fresh perspectives often reveal solutions adults miss, leading to practical action in the classroom and beyond.

Curriculum links

  • Science (Y5/6): Human impact on ecosystems, pollution, and habitats.

  • Geography (Y5/6): Sustainable development, resource management, water, and fish.

  • PSHE/Citizenship (all KS2): Moral dilemmas, fairness, justice, and global citizenship.

  • English: Debate, persuasive speaking, and writing campaigns.

Things you can do now:

  • Make some class “Fair Play for Waterlife” pledges.

  • Send some emails to local council members.

  • Creating and display a few catchy campaign posters like this one we got from Rosie …

World of Water helps amplify young voices for planetary fairness.

Find out more about WOW Talkabouts and the 8 topics they cover >

Or contact WOW now