What is the value of water?

Water plays a vital role in our everyday lives, and the lives of all living things.

Water is essential for all living organisms. Students will explore the many ways they feel connected to water

There are so many ways we engage with water in our world – culturally, spiritually, practically and everything in between. In this first learning experience, we want to offer some simple and quick ways students can connect and reflect upon their relationship to water.

We are giving you a full menu of options.

The menu of activities includes:

• Paintings/Images
• Objects (a glass of water )
• Words– descriptive or definitions
• My Water Usage

Prepare:

Using the menu above as follows:

Teacher chooses a few for the class

Teacher assigns from the menu list to individual, pairs or small groups of students

Students choose their own 

Give students no more than  5 minutes for the activity. For the paintings, you may choose to give them more than one to look at.  Ask them to write a 1-3 sentence reflection about the activity.

Depending on how many options from the list and the size of your classroom, you can set up the activities at their desks or as a station rotation around the room, individually,  in pairs,  or  as a small group.

Linked here is a slide deck of each of the activities with instructions. Learning Station Instruction cards

Provide time for students to share their reflections.

(If you opted for student choice, you can also ask them why they made that choice)

Discuss as a class and make a short list of ways they may value water (personal, recreational, cooking etc) . Explain what value means and ask for examples of other things we value. As a final part of the class (or as take home) ask students to express in writing their valued relationship with water in the following creative ways:

• A Love Letter to Water,
• A poem about water or
• Lyrics to a song.
• Option to illustrate their work and display in the classroom

Slide 3: introduces this activity.

Slide 4:  A getting started prompt for a love letter to water

Slide 5: How to write an ode or poem to water

Beginning with Slide 6 are cards that facilitate these extension activities. 

Water Issue (IT) cards 

Students will examine a set of Water Issue Cards that describe the qualities of water without identifying what “it” is. Students may work in small groups using the cards to gather clues, or as a whole class, writing their ideas as they gain more information. Use the cards as discussion starters.

Poetry about Water

A selection of poems about water are available in the Materials menu on the right menu, but feel free to use your own favorites.

Water and Art

Additional Paintings:
Thomas Eakins. Biglin Brothers Racing (on the Schuylkill)
Winslow Homer. The Life Line (painting)  The Life Line painting is on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A Lesson Plan from the Art Museum is available.
The Beauty of Japanese Water (Google Arts and Culture). Compare/contrast styles, media, and settings with western artists

Take a walk to a nearby body of water. Bring drawing or painting supplies. Create a landscape painting and/or a drawing. If students are not able to draw while outside, partner with the art teacher to collaborate on this activity.

Look out the window to the school yard. Add an imaginary water element to the scene. Create a pencil sketch and then add color.

English Language Learners may make a video with each student naming the word for water in their native language and describing how they use water in their countries of origin.

Students may share images and art of water from their home countries. Encourage them to share events and traditions that involve water.

Students may have stories, myths, folktales that describe the importance of water.