MS Lesson 3: The Value of a Water Footprint

Session 1 of this lesson begins with a quick activity to get students thinking about their direct and virtual water use. It introduces a few new ideas for virtual water use that may surprise students, including the virtual water required for the products we buy and use. Then students form marketing teams to explore five categories of water use (indoor, outdoor, diet, electricity, and buying habits) and create infographic posters to share what they learn. Then, in Session 2, students remain in five teams to audit the school’s indoor and outdoor direct water use as well as several categories of virtual water use: food, energy, and electronics. They use what they learn to create a strategic conservation action plan that incorporates their How to Save Water awareness campaign in an effort to decrease the school’s overall virtual water use. The lesson can be conducted as a short project or a more comprehensive capstone project.

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Teacher Resources
Lesson Plan
How to Save Water Infographic Poster
Water Footprint School Project Rubric
Participation Checklist

Student Resources
Direct and Virtual Water Use Game Cards
How to Save Water Education Campaign Worksheet
My Saving Water Game Plan
School Water Audit: Direct Water Use
School Water Audit: Virtual Water Use
Water Footprint School Project Group Evaluation