Originally published in TEACH Magazine, November/December 2018 Issue
Water is precious. How can its resources be managed sustainably? What can be done to reduce our water consumption? Use these free resources in your classroom to help students answer these important questions as they learn how to protect this precious resource and use it wisely.
Operation Aqua
(Free – iOS)
This game-based learning app puts the user in control of the many factors that contribute to the water management of a city over a three-year span. Players must manage the various water resources including the river, lakes and reservoirs, groundwater, and the desalination plant to meet the demand of the population, while also keeping cost and wastage to a minimum. They will also need to address consumer needs within the domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors as they arise, as well as other environmental or random challenges that occur. Players are awarded points based on how well they balance these factors and the speed they are able to address the problems at hand.
Water1der
(Free – iOS)
Water1der, developed by the Groundwater Foundation, is a groundwater awareness trivia app that challenges players in their knowledge of topics such as groundwater basics, pollution prevention, recycling, water use, and more. Players spin a wheel to pick a category and play their way through a variety of questions and activities towards a final score. Teachers can review students’ learning by creating a group for them to submit their scores. A supplemental educator’s guide provides a multitude of teaching resources, including background information on topics, an answer key, additional activities for students, pre- and post-assessment quizzes, and additional evaluation.
Water Footprint Calculator
(Free – Website)
Used widely in middle and high schools, this innovative calculator takes users through a series of simple questions about our daily routines. It accounts for not only the water we use from the tap, but also the “virtual” water it takes to produce the food we eat, the energy we use, and the products we buy. Features include customized results, interactive graphics, and the ability for users to change their answers and “play” with their results. A collection of over 100 water-saving tips also offers a great way to supplement your water lesson plans. There’s even a video for kids in Grades K–5, where 8-year old Aqua and her dog, Sparky, show her family how to conserve water and save money when their reservoir runs low.
Water Woman Video Series
(Free – Website)
This fun educational YouTube series developed by the Cowichan Watershed Board features “Water Woman,” a water conservation superhero, and her villainous water-wasting cousin, “Leak E. Hoser.” Each episode follows Water Woman as she teaches Leak E. Hoser how to stop wasting water—with effective tips and strategies that we can apply to our daily lives. Share these videos with your class and use the complementary teacher guides that provide a variety of suggested activities. An array of additional K–12 lesson plans, games, and activities are also available.
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