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Lesson Plans

We’re excited to provide you with a selection of lesson plans designed to facilitate teaching about water and the critical water crisis facing our world today. These resources are intended to enrich your curriculum and engage your students in meaningful discussions and activities.

Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Back to Basics: What is a lake?

The International Institute for Sustainable Development runs the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), a unique natural laboratory in northwestern Ontario, comprised of 58 small lakes and their watersheds, set aside for scientific research.

Here IISD helps you teach your students everything they need to know about lakes and the ELA.

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Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Safe Drinking Water Foundation

The Saskatchewan-based Safe Drinking Water Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to educating community leaders, health officials, the general public and educators about drinking water quality issues and solutions to realize their goal of safe drinking water being available to everyone in Canada. It has developed and distrtibuted educational programs to thousands of schools on several key aspects of water.

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Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Ontario Eco Schools Great Lakes

EcoSchools Canada is a national charity that supports youth leadership, environmental learning and climate action. EcoSchools has developed this terrific classroom resource on the Great Lakes.

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Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Teach Food First - Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Teach Food First – Exploring the Role of Water

B.C.’s Teach Food First – a coalition of teachers and Indigenous knowledge keepers, teamed up with the B.C. Ministry of Health to create this exciting set of lesson plans on the role of water in our lives. Curriculum reflects on the importance of water for all living things and explores the uses of water in our food system.

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Sustainable Development Goals - Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Student Resources – United Nations Sustainable Development

The United Nations has established 17 goals toward a sustainable and just future to be met by 2030. This comprehensive site offers lesson plans and great materials for teachers to educate their students about the Sustainable Development Goals. SDG number 6 is a commitment to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all. By clicking on the link to this goal, you have an excellent set of teaching tools on the meaning and status of this pledge.

The whole site is filled with valuable educational materials about the commitments governments have made to a safe and just future for all.

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Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
UN Environment Programme - Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

UN Environment Program on Water and Soil

The United Nations Environment Program prepared this very helpful visual report on how working with plants, soil and water, rehydrates the landscape and cools the climate. In order to protect water and watersheds, we must protect forests, soils, and wetlands and preserve biodiversity. A great tool for the classroom.  

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Project Flow - Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Project FLOW – Grade 8

This is a detailed lesson plan on water designed by Learning for a Sustainable Future for the Grade 8 Ontario curriculum, although it can be used in classrooms across the country. It includes units on water and history, water and health, and water around the world.

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Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Canadian Wildlife Federation - Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

The Canadian Wildlife Federation

The Canadians Wildlife Federation has created lesson plans and educational materials suitable for all ages to teach your students how to discover their own watershed and its importance. Great ideas and hands on learning.

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Canadian Water Resources Association - Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Canadian Water Resources Association

The Canadian Water Resources Association has created an educator’s guide for teaching about water literacy. Includes curriculum-based lesson plans for children of all ages to learn about the properties of water, groundwater, ecology, water use and management of water resources.

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Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Lesson Plans - Blue Community Schools
Resources for Rethinking - Water Defenders - Blue Community Schools

Resources for Rethinking (R4R) database

Learning for a Sustainable Future is a charity bringing sustainability into classrooms across Canada, all vetted by teachers. In Water is Life, LSF has created excellent lesson plans including treating water with respect, learning about the source of water, the human right to water and Indigenous water protectors.

LSF has many other great resources, lesson plans, outdoor activities and videos on water and sustainability for teachers.

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Important Facts - Blue Community Schools
Meera Karunananthan - Endorsements - Blue Community Schools

ENDORSEMENTS

Meera Karunananthan

University lecturer, water justice activist

“As a parent, educator and chairperson of the global water justice organization, The Blue Planet Project, I welcome this exciting new initiative to raise awareness about water in elementary schools. Blue Community Schools will combine environmental, human rights and civic education, offering students valuable opportunities to apply their knowledge in concrete ways. At this time when children are feeling anxious and disconnected, Blue Community Schools will give them the chance to connect with their communities and the world at large.”