Evolution of teaching groundwater in textbooks and design of a didactic proposal in compulsory secondary school

Despite groundwater is the major source of fresh liquid water on Earth, its abstract nature has made it the most complicated topic inside the water cycle, being one of the main obstacles to achieve a scientific literacy of society. Here we review the relevance of groundwater and its hazards in secondary school textbooks since they are the main educational resource in the classroom and a poor explanation can hinder their learning. Likewise, we present a didactic proposal for 4th year of secondary school following the new educational law in Spain, LOMLOE. The activities are intended to promote scientific skills through modeling, argumentation and field trips in order to improve the teaching of groundwater to promote critical thinking among citizens to face the groundwater hazards: overexploitation and contamination. Therefore, we try to promote the scientific literacy of society from compulsory secondary education that highlights one of the most important resources on Earth.