SUBJECTS
Language Arts, Phys. Ed.
GRADE LEVEL
Primary (K-3) / Junior (4-6) / Intermediate (7-8)
PLEDGE
2 - Human Right to Water
Resources Needed:
- Picture book, The Water Princess by Susan Verde or Video: The Water Princess Read by Georgie Badiel
- Several large buckets of water
- Several items that students will be able to walk around or over (pylons, chairs, long benches, etc.)
- Large space (preferably outdoors)
Introduction:
- Tell students they will be participating in a variety of activities while carrying buckets of water. (Depending on your class, you could organize as races, obstacle courses, or just pathways they will travel).
- Have students carry the buckets of water over varying distances with and without barriers to walk over and around.
Lesson:
- When finished the various water carrying activities, discuss the experience with students using some of the following questions:
- Tell about what you enjoyed about this activity along with what were some of the challenges.
- Imagine you had no access to clean water and it was your job to walk long distances every day to get water for your family. How would you feel and how would it affect your life and family?
- Read the book The Water Princess or show the video The Water Princess Read by Georgie Badiel
- Ask students the following:
- How hard was it for you to carry water without losing any? Tell about all of the ways a family may use water in their life and how every bit of water Gigi carries makes a difference for her family.
- How did Georgie feel the lives of the children in her village would change once they had access to clean water? Can you think of any other ways?
- In what ways has this story and experience made you think about your own water usage differently, and in what ways might you change?
Follow Up Activities:
- Have older students plan a special day for primary students to experience some water carrying stations and then follow up with the story and meaningful discussions about the experience and what they’ve learned.
