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Children's Health Curriculum Lesson 6: Keeping All of Our Waterways Clean

Lesson 6

This lesson helps kids understand the importance of water in our lives and describes the life cycle of freshwater. It also discusses how to keep trash from getting in storm drains and polluting our waterways.

Kids Will Be Able To:

  • define rainwater runoff, drainage pollution, freshwater, saltwater, and potable;
  • name three different types of waterways;
  • explain three ways to stop drainage pollution; and
  • explain how keeping our waterways clean benefits the entire community.

How to Get This Lesson:

  • The complete lesson plan offers everything you need, including all visual materials.

Download the complete lesson plan

Lesson 6: Keeping All of Our Waterways Clean (pdf) (2.91 MB)

Download parts of the lesson plan

Instructor materials:
Lesson Cards (PDF) (9 pp, 3 MB)

Handouts for students:
Take Home Talk (PDF) (2 pp, 685 K)

Visuals:

Poster 1 Waterways (PDF) (2 pp, 416 K)

Additional Resources:

Instructor Resources

  • EPA: Water Resources for Kids
  • District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority: DC Water for Kids - Cartoons, activities, lessons, and workbooks to learn about water and ways to conserve.

Kids' Activities / Coloring Sheets

  • EPA: Water Cycle Coloring Sheet (PDF) (1pp, 214K)

Curriculum home

Children's Health

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Contact Us about Children's Health
Contact Us about Children's Health to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 27, 2025
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