About the resources
Water underpins our everyday lives and is essential for life. Education for younger people on the importance of water and their role in ensuring water security and quality now and into the future, is critical to building value for our precious resource.
Our education resources aim to build on students’ existing knowledge of water with experiments, hands on water efficiency activities and encourages personal commitment to good water management behaviours.
These resources are targeted at primary school aged children. There are six modules covering a range of concepts. All materials provided are available for download.
Wondering about water
Stage 1 – Lessons and resources
These six classroom modules are inquiry-based resources that help connect students with water, discover its unique qualities and build value and care for water.
They can be used in sequence or as stand-alone lessons to complement any water education program. Students will explore, investigate and learn about:
- water on earth, the water cycle and the urban water cycle
- the importance of access to clean safe water
- how we use and care for water.
These resources are adapted with permission from an original resource by Sydney Water Corporation © 2021. You can view the original resource at Sydney Water.
Water and us
Exploring our connection with water.
Lesson plans
Work sheets
Resources
What makes water water
Exploring what makes water a unique and wonderful substance.
Lesson plans
Work sheets
Resources
Water on Earth
Exploring amounts and distribution of water on Earth.
Lesson plans
Work sheets
Resources
The water cycle
Exploring the water cycle and how we manage it to meet our needs.
Lesson plans
Work sheets
- The water cycle work sheets (PDF, 533.74 KB)
- Plan an investigation (PDF, 196.79 KB)
- Urban water cycle (PDF, 170.69 KB)
Resources
Clean safe water
Exploring access to clean safe water.
Lesson plans
Work sheets
- Clean safe water work sheets (PDF, 988.08 KB)
- Plan an investigation (PDF, 196.79 KB)
- Storyboard template (PDF, 49.35 KB)
Resources
Using water well
Exploring how we use and save water every day.
Lesson plans
Work sheets
Resources
These materials have been provided for educational purposes only and are not for further distribution or commercial benefit. Any requests for further use of the material should be made to Sydney Water. The Department does not guarantee, warrant or represent that the material is free from errors or omission, or that it is exhaustive.
Other water resources
Wherever you are there’s always something new to learn about water. Below are some links to get you started.
Statewide
WaterNSW
Find out about protecting catchments, water storage in Greater Sydney and regional NSW. There are teacher and student resources and you can even plan a visit to a dam.
Environmental and Zoo Education Centres
The Department of Education’s Environmental and Zoo Education Centres are ideal places to learn about water in our environment. You can find one near you and many have online resources, too. During 2023, the centres are delivering water efficiency programs in 20 schools from 10 different NSW regions.
Metropolitan NSW
These resources are mostly focussed on how water is used and conserved in cities.
Sydney Water
Sydney Water has a range of education resources for students, teachers and the community. Find out about water use and conservation or do a water audit.
Hunter Water
Hunter Water has a range of water education resources including Water Futures Challenge, water audit workbooks and Where’s our Water storybook.
Regional NSW
Getting in touch with your local water utility is the best way to find out where your water comes from. Here’s a few great examples.
Rous County Council
If you live locally you can get involved in a hands-on water education program, or you can download the water watchers resources, including a storybook.
Tamworth Regional Council
Take a virtual tour to find out where Tamworth’s water comes from and how you can help conserve it.
Eurobodalla Shire Council
Primary students can get involved in a water audit program to find out how to save water at home and at school.
Dubbo Regional Council
Learn about Dubbo Regional Council’s water quality and water treatment and smart water devices that help people understand their water and use. Want to learn more? Book an excursion and go behind the scenes to a water filtration or treatment plant.
Central Coast Council
Tap into Central Coast Council’s resources for early childhood, primary and high school students, play the Working with Water game or take a virtual tour of 2 of the Central Coast’s major dams – Mangrove and Mardi dams.