Water Conservation Lesson
Lesson Plan
1 hour 40 minutesGrades6, 7, 8Civics, English Language Arts
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Clarissa Torres
About this lesson
In this lesson, students learn about the importance of water conservation as it relates to a changing climate, create a timeline of Native Hawaiian sustainability practices, and promote a law to address water conservation in their community.
Step 1 - Inquire: Students learn about the importance of water conservation.
Step 2 - Investigate: Students learn where their drinking water comes from, calculate their water footprint, and learn about Native Hawaiian sustainability practices to conserve water.
Step 3 - Inspire: Students review past water conservation policies as inspiration for creating and promoting new conservation policies.
Preview the lesson plan
Better on a bigger screen? Open it in its own tab.View Lesson Plan
Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Positives
- This lesson aligns with Hawai'i's Nā Hopena A'o HĀ-BREATH Framework.
- Students observe the importance of water conservation with digital and non-digital resources.
- Students observe how Native Hawaiians conserve water and analyze how humans have impacted freshwater sources.
- Students use their creativity to develop a water conservation law for their community based on previous water conservation laws.
- This lesson can be taught in a social studies classroom discussing civics or Indigenous communities.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teacher can print the Timeline Cards in advance and tape them around the classroom.
- Teacher will need to print the Student Documents in advance because students will tape their responses to the Assigned Year Questions to the wall for the gallery walk.
Differentiation
- Teacher can provide students with a time limit for the gallery walk.
- Students can work individually or in pairs during the Investigate and Inspire sections.
- Optional activity: Students can evaluate how much water they use at home by comparing their family’s water bill to water usage in the average home. Students can create a family goal to reduce water usage, discuss and implement solutions, and observe if the family’s water usage decreases.
- Optional Activity: Students can compare Hawai‘i’s rating with other states using this resource.
From the scientist review
There is currently a water crisis affecting many nations worldwide, and it is crucial to conserve water in light of the changing climate. In this lesson, students learn how to calculate their water footprints and develop their capacity to come up with creative water policies and solutions for the effective regulation and management of Hawai'i's water resources. With the help of this lesson, other U.S. states could be able to adopt these methods as well. The videos and other teaching aids come from reliable sources, and this lesson passed our science review after we carefully fact-checked its contents.
Want this to fit your class?
Add your location for local examples, questions, and action ideas.
About the teacher writer
Clarissa Torres
8th Grade Science Teacher
Clarissa Torres holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a secondary education science focus from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and holds a California Single Subject Teaching Credential with English Learner Authorization. Clarissa has been teaching since 2022 and currently serves as an online high school teacher and academic adviser, specializing in onboarding digital skills for grades 9–12.
