Elementary Curriculum

Sustainability is important because it is principal in slowing the use of our planets natural resources. Learning how to live sustainably and to save food and water are important in communities which may be struggling with access to healthy foods and clean drinking water. Saving foods and learning how to garden are easy ways in which people can work towards living sustainably, even elementary grade students. Our project's goal is to educate young students with information which will inspire or help them to understand and learn how to become more sustainable.

The City of Wyoming, Michigan, was incorporated to a city in 1995 and currently holds a population of 72,125 people according to the 2010 census making it the second most populated city in Western Michigan. The city spans 24.5 square miles and 0.23 is exposed water. The median household income is $56,518. Wyoming's population is about 62.1% white, 22.9% Hispanic/Latino, 3.2% Asian, and 7.8% black or African American. This city is considered to be pretty diverse, but it is still predominantly white.

Water Preservation Game:

Each and every day people do things which require the use of water, from things like cooking and cleaning to making food and hygiene. It is important to be mindful of how much water we are using in our daily lives and think of some ways of how to save water. This activity is a game which will help the participants become more aware of how much water they are using and how to save.

Materials:

• 25 White Index Cards

• Blue Markers

Activity Steps:

1. Talk to the students about how water is a crucial resource in our lives and how many of the things we do require the precious liquid, list a few examples (brushing their teeth, going to the bathroom, making their food, washing their bodies)

2. Next, explain to the students that they will be able to make choices throughout this game which will help them either save water or lose water with the goal being to have 5 remaining in the end.

3. Give each student 25 index cards and have them draw a water drop on each one, this should only take a few minutes.

4. Now you will begin playing the game, Here are some basic activities during the day which students likely do. Each student should subtract water based on their own actions which they take during the day. Feel free to remove some of these actions to make the game easier or add a few if you think of them and want to give the students a bit of extra challenge.

5. Have students subtract the water from their total themselves as the game progresses.

   1. Remove 2 water for each cooked meal during the day.

   2. Remove 1 water if the student turns the water off when they brush their teeth.

   3. Remove 2 water if the student leaves the water on when they brush their teeth.

   4. Remove 1 water for each time the student visits the bathroom during the day.

   5. Remove 3 water for every 5 minutes the student spends in the shower during the day,

   6. Remove 1 water for each time the student uses the tap during the day for any other reason.

6. Have the students count up the amount of water they have left, if they have more than 5 water left they must already be taking steps to save water, if they have less than 5 water they should look at ways which they can save throughout the day.

7. Talk to the students about having a conversation with their parents about saving water in the house, give them a few minutes to brainstorm and write down some ideas before suggesting a few at your own discretion.