The 37e edition of the Drinking Water Saving Program (PEEP) is taking place this year under the theme Our water, we care! It is the spokesperson Stéphane Bellavance who, for a second consecutive year, encourages citizens and municipalities to adopt behaviors aimed at saving drinking water. During the program, awareness officers will also be present across the province to provide advice and tips to reduce the consumption of this essential resource.
The following activities will, among other things, identify ways to save our drinking water.
Goals
At the end of the activities, the student will be able to:
- Reflect on the global water crisis and create an awareness poster;
- Identify means to reduce the consumption of drinking water at home and at school;
- Identify the consequences of the lack of precipitation on the rivers of Quebec during the summer season.
Suggested activities
ACTIVITY 1: Drinking water, an essential resource
First, have students name what is essential for sustaining life. Ask them how many liters of water humans need to drink each day in order to be healthy. Search the web together for the answer. Be sure to analyze the source consulted to be sure of the quality of the information.
Next, explain to the students that, according to the ONE DROP organization, nearly a billion people on Earth are deprived of safe drinking water and 2.5 billion lack adequate sanitation. Ask students to visit the organization's website ONE DROP to learn more about the drinking water situation in the world. Ask them to carefully read the " Understanding the water crisis ". Can they name the two main elements that are contributing to this crisis?
Then, still in the “Understanding the water crisis” section, ask them to choose one striking piece of information and create an awareness poster with it.
You can ask the pupils to use ICT to make their poster. For example, the following poster was made using ActivInspire tebeware.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Finally, print and display the students' creations in the school.
ACTIVITY 2: Lack of water in Quebec
In Quebec, we sometimes run out of water during the summer, mainly because of insufficient precipitation. Moreover, the 2012 summer season was marked by the very low level of several major rivers such as the St. Lawrence River.
The articles below recall the situation.
The exceptionally low river level
The St. Lawrence is thirsty
Invite students to read these articles and then discuss the consequences of such a situation.
Finally, identify what municipalities ask their citizens during the summer in order to reduce the consumption of drinking water. Discuss the watering ban imposed on the citizens of several municipalities.
ACTIVITY 3: Tips and tricks for saving drinking water
In Quebec, we consume huge amounts of drinking water. So ask students to think of tips for reducing water use at home and at school. Record students' ideas in a diagram like the one below.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Download the source file in Inspiration (.isf) format
Download the file in PDF format (.pdf)
For further
Take up the classroom challenge of saving drinking water. On Facebook, share your accomplishments with the Environment Network by visiting the page Save our water. Also, join the conversation on Twitter @ecoleau by using the hashtag #ecoleau.
More about the magazine
ONE DROP
Organization website
The exceptionally low river level
La Presse, July 13, 2012
The St. Lawrence is thirsty
Le Nouvelliste, July 13, 2012
The 2013 Drinking Water Saving Program is launched! This summer, we care about our water!
Article on the CMATV.CA website
Drinking water saving program
PEEP official website