Safe Water Science is a program intended to raise awareness of the water quality issues facing our world. The program consists of a set of four enhancement lessons for middle school science classrooms, church groups, and other informal educational groups.
Each Safe Water Science lesson is designed to address specific National Science Standards. Within the lessons you will find a balance of hands-on activities, cooperative learning exercises, multi-media resources, and research opportunities for your students. Safe Water Science activities use inexpensive, everyday materials.
Optional extensions to the lessons involve social action, such as partnering with a school in a developing country, fund-raising, and other outreach activities.
The Lessons
Each lesson includes a teacher’s guide and a student activity packet. The teacher’s guide includes the National Science Standards addressed by the lesson, specific instructions about the lesson, suggested responses to student questions, and additional resources related to the activity.
Each student activity packet may be copied and distributed to students. Although the lessons were written to be taught as a unit, each lesson can be taught independently.
Lesson 1: Consequences of Drinking Unsafe Water
The first lesson is an overview of how waterborne illnesses are affecting world populations and how contagious diseases can be transmitted through the sharing of contaminated water.
Lesson 2: Treatment of Water
The second lesson teaches the student how water is made safe to drink in a modern treatment facility. In an inquiry-based activity, they will design, build, test, and evaluate a water filter.
Lesson 3: Availability of Clean Water
The third lesson develops awareness of the difficulties faced by people in the developing world in obtaining water. Students will also become aware of, and reflect upon, their personal water use.
Lesson 4: Making Water Safe to Drink
The fourth lesson introduces steps used in the process of making water clean to drink, including an alternative method using the PUR Purifier of Water™ product. To learn how Arch Chemicals has helped provide clean drinking water around the world since 1927, culminating in the PUR product used in this lesson, click here.
Get Involved
For more information on how PUR Purifier of Water is bringing safe drinking water to Africa, as well as disaster relief efforts, please visit Children's Safe Drinking Water. To donate funds for Children's Safe Drinking Water, please visit the website of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Downloads
Four lessons are now available as PDF downloads. In addition to the Teacher's Guide and Student Activity Packet, we offer Fun With Walter Waterdrop, a collection of puzzles and games for grade school kids.
Right-click (PC) or option-click (Mac) below to download.
Teacher's Guide
Teacher's Guide for lessons 1-4, plus supplemental materials.
Student Activity Packet
Student worksheets and questions for lessons 1-4.
Fun With Walter Waterdrop
Safe Water Science puzzles and games for grade-schoolers.
Answer Key
Answers for Walt Waterdrop's crossword and seek-a-word.
Order Kits
Safe Water Science's lessons and activities use inexpensive, common materials that can be purchased at local grocery and pet supply stores. However, kits containing supplies needed to conduct the lessons with 6 classes of 32 students each can be ordered for only $50. Click here for details on how to order.
Register For Updates
Safe Water Science lessons are updated frequently. Register now, and we will alert you when new content is available for download from this website.
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