Mini-Lesson

Objective: Students will set water-conservation goals.

1. Start a discussion about the world's water supply. Ask: Why is it important to conserve the Earth's freshwater? Then, share the following facts:

*Every person, animal and plant on Earth needs water to survive.

*The amount of water on Earth has never changed. It has been the same for billions of years.

*One out of every five people in the world does not have access to enough water.

*The average person in the United States uses 140 gallons of water per day, while the average person in Ethiopia uses less than three.

*Humans and many other species depend on freshwater, but most of the Earth's water is saltwater. Only 3% is freshwater. And most of that freshwater is not available to us because it is frozen in icecaps and glaciers.

2. Pass out the timeforkids.com story, World Water Day 2008. As students read the article, have them underline facts about the world's water situation. Then, have each person share which fact he or she found most surprising.

3. Encourage students to think about ways that they can conserve water. Use the worksheet Get Water-Wise to give them some ideas. Finally, challenge students to set their own realistic water-conservation goals.