2. Hello! I am Varshini the Water Drop. I am sure we have met! Anywhere you
see water, you see me: in the river, in the rain, in the well, in your glass of
drinking water, in a piece of watermelon, and even inside your body - in
your tears, your saliva, and in your blood!
People tell me that I am one of the most important substances on our
planet! Water is a major part of almost everything people eat and drink
and of almost every activity people do: people use it to grow food, to make
energy and products; to transport things, and to play. The human body is
70% water, and our planet’s surface is 75% water.
Have you ever thought about what the world would be like if there were
no water? There would be no trees, no plants, no animals, or humans!
Without me, life cannot exist, and our planet would look like the moon!
These days, many people are having problems finding enough water to drink
or to grow food to eat. Some people are also getting sick because their
water is not clean. These can be very serious problems and cause a lot of
pain and suffering! That is why I would like to tell you my story. Maybe
together we can find ways so that there is always enough safe, clean
water for everyone!
3. Activity: Water Diary!
Level 3
For each activity, convert the amount of
water you used into litres.
(1 cup = ¼ litre, 1 pot = 10 litres)
= ______________________ litres
= ______________________ litres
= ______________________ litres
= ______________________ litres
= ______________________ litres
Level 2
List all the ways you used water
yesterday and the amount of water used.
ACTIVITY
# CUPS
# POTS
___________ ________ ________
___________ ________ ________
___________ ________ ________
___________ ________ ________
___________ ________ ________
Sample Lesson #1: Water Use in Your Home
Level 1
Circle each picture which shows
how you used water at home
yesterday.
1-1
You might be surprised by how many different ways you use water in your home.
Shall we take a look?
4.
Level 3 (cont’d)
LITRES OF WATER USED
(1 cup = ¼ litre, 1 pot = 10 litres)
= _____________________ litres
= _____________________ litres
= _____________________ litres
= _____________________ litres
= _____________________ litres
= _____________________ litres
= __________________ LITRES
Level 1 (cont’d)
Level 2 (cont’d)
ACTIVITY
# CUPS
# POTS
___________ _______ _______
___________ _______ _______
___________ _______ _______
___________ _______ _______
___________ _______ _______
_________ ______ ______
_______ CUPS + _______ POTS
Other Activity
Total Direct Daily Water Use:
1-2
Other Activity
5. Activity: Community Water Walk
Level 1: Walk through your village or neighborhood, and circle ALL the freshwater sources that your
community uses. If it is not possible to walk through your village/neighborhood, then do this activity from
your memory.
River
Tank
Pond/Lake
Groundwater
Other __________
Where does your village/town get the water it needs for the whole community? Do you
have a river, pond, or a tank nearby? Or does your village rely mostly on groundwater?
Let’s go on a “Water Walk” to find out!
Sample Lesson #2: Your *Water* Community
2-1
6. Level 2: Choose ONE of the main water sources in your community and describe its condition:
• Is it dry, or is it full of water?
• Is the water clean? Does it smell? Is it cloudy or clear? Are there any objects like plastic bags and bottles (or structures
like tents or houses!) in the water body that should not be there?
• Are the channels which bring water to the water body - the canals, pipes or taps- clear and working?
• Are there any other problems you notice? Who takes care of the water body?
Community Water Source Name: ______________________ Type (River, Pond, Well, etc): __________
Condition: Water Level: __________ Water Color: ___________ Water Smell: _________________
Objects in Water Body: __________________
Supply Channel Condition: ______________________
Plants and Animals Nearby: ___________________
Maintenance Responsibility: _________________
Level 3: Draw your own map of your village/neighborhood and the main water sources your community
uses. Then list who else shares these water sources with your community (people in other villages or
neighborhoods, plants, or animals).
Other Users: _____________________________________________________________
2-2
7. Sample Activity #3: Community Water Resources – Rivers!
All Levels: Think about the rivers you have seen or heard about, and answer the questions below. Tick all that apply.
1. Where does a river get its water from?
□ The mountains
□ The sky
□ The ground
□ The sea
□ Other ___________________________
2. Where does the water in the river go?
□ The banks
□ The sea □ The ground □ Stays in the river bed □ The sky
□ Other ___________________
3. How can you tell if a river is clean and healthy?
□ The water is clear.
□ It has lots of fish and birds.
□ It has lots of plants in it.
□ People are drinking from it.
□ The water is blue.
□ People are swimming in it.
□ Only a scientist can know.
□ It has no smell.
□ Other ________________________
4. When Varshini the Water Drop moves fast down a river, she has a lot of energy which she can
use to do work. What can that energy be used for?
□ Move sand, pebbles, and rocks from one place to another.
□ Move people and things on boats.
□ Make electricity.
□ Flooding (moving earth, trees, and houses!)
□ Other ___________________________
5. Who uses the river in your water basin?
□ People in my village or town
□ People from other villages and towns
□ Animals
□ Fish
□ Birds
□ Plants
□ Other ____________________
6. How does your water community (ie your village/town and all the other people in your water basin) use the river?
□ Collecting Water
□ Toilet
□ Bathing
□ Building dams to store water or make electricity
□ Bathing Animals
□ Swimming
□ Fishing
□ Irrigation
□ Throwing Waste
□ Washing Clothes/Utensils
□ Worshipping
□ Funerals
□ Other ____________________________________
3-1
8. 3-2
7. Ram from Village A diverts water from the river and digs a pond
to store water for his fields. Which members of Ram’s water
community are affected by his actions? Explain how below.
□ People of Village A
□ People of Village B
□ People of Village C
□ The plants near the river
□ The fish in the river
□ The birds using the river
□ The animals using the river
□ Other ___________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
8. Rani from Village B throws her waste (especially plastic bags and
bottles) in the river. Which members of Rani’s water community
are affected by her actions? Explain how below.
□ People of Village A
□ People of Village B
□ People of Village C
□ The plants near the river
□ The fish in the river
□ The birds using the river
□ The animals using the river
□ Other ___________________
________________________________________________
_______________________________________________
9. Mani from Village C cuts trees along the river bank for firewood.
Which members of Mani’s water community are affected by his
actions? Explain how below.
□ People of Village A
□ People of Village B
□ People of Village C
□ The plants near the river
□ The fish in the river
□ The birds using the river
□ The animals using the river
□ Other ____________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Village A
Village B
Village C