Waterwise educational resources for schools

A number of waterwise resources and curriculum activities have been developed to help students learn about water and living sustainably.

These lesson plans, activities and background information for primary and middle years support the Australian Curriculum. Waterwise toolkits for schools are designed to support teachers by providing easy-to-use stand-alone activities that develop student understanding about water issues.

Lesson plans and activities are grouped according to year level and subject area, along with relevant resources that support the activities.

Prep to Year 2

The Prep to Year 2: Waterwise schools toolkit (PDF, 602.1KB) provides an overview of the lesson plans and activities relevant to these year levels to develop student understanding about water issues.

Resources listed below include links to posters, books and activity sheets. Some of these resources are referred to in the lesson plans and activities above.

Prep to Year 2: Waterwise schools toolkit (PDF, 602.1KB)
Using our water efficiently activity suggestions (PDF, 578.7KB)
Traditional sources of fresh water in Queensland information sheet (PDF, 162.2KB)
Whizzy's messages images (PDF, 379.8KB)
The water cycle poster (PDF, 4.63MB): A1 poster that uses the water cycle to illustrate the precious nature of water and links well to Whizzy’s incredible journey book.
- Guidelines for use of the water cycle poster (PDF, 424.5KB)
Water’s journey short animation: 30 second video about how it takes more than a tap to deliver your water.
Discover how much water is used a household by doing a water audit:
- Water use poster (PDF, 333KB) (Be a water detective) A3 poster where students can spot ways to improve water efficiency. It shows how the WELS star rating impacts water use. It is can be used either as a stand-alone resource or with the Water audit leaflet below.
- Water audit leaflet (PDF, 741KB) (Calculate how much water your household is using): Outlines how to undertake a water audit for your home. It includes WELS star ratings for household devices to use with the tally sheet to calculate household water use and identify water leaks.
- How to detect a leak short animation: a 30 second video on how you can detect a water leak in your home.
- Being waterwise at home short animation : 30 second video on some water wise behaviours in the home.
Bucket loads of savings poster (PDF, 1.42MB): A1 poster that shows a range of waterwise behaviours in a vibrant and engaging format.
- Brochure on waterwise behaviours (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Guidelines for use of the bucket loads of saving poster (PDF, 386.3KB)
Whizzy’s water-saving tips poster (PDF, 330KB): A3 poster that depicts six different water-saving scenarios and complements lessons and activities that address water conservation.
Whizzy’s incredible journeys book (PDF, 13.9MB): A3-sized pick-a-path book tells about four separate journeys in which Whizzy the water drop travels through the water cycle and into the home. It can be used in both the Year 2 and Year 7 Science units.
Whizzy’s new adventures: journey through the pipes book (PDF, 3.5MB): A3 book that takes Whizzy on two different adventures to help explain how water is treated as it travels to the home and then returns to the environment.
- Guidelines for use of the Whizzy’s new adventures book (PDF, 1.6MB)
Waterwise activity sheets (PDF, 1.4MB) (A range of activity sheets, including word searches, join the dots and a chatterbox.
Water: Learn it for life! resources These resources, last reviewed in 2012, provide engaging lesson plans and activities that explain the water cycle, water conservation, water sources and storage, water efficiency and alternative water sources.
Stickers are also available upon request, including a round Whizzy sticker and a sticker sheet that has a range of small- and medium-sized stickers to promote waterwise behaviours. Go to how to order classroom resources.

Years 3, 4, 5 and 6

The Years 3 to 6: Waterwise schools toolkit (PDF, 581.2KB) provides an overview of the lesson plans and activities relevant to these year levels to develop student understanding about water issues.

Resources listed below include links to posters, books and activity sheets. Some of these resources are referred to in previous lesson plans and activities.

Years 3 to 6: Waterwise schools toolkit (PDF, 581.2KB)
Using our water efficiently activity suggestions (PDF, 578.7KB)
Prep to Year 7: Traditional sources of fresh water in Queensland information sheet (PDF, 162.2KB)
Whizzy's messages images (PDF, 379.8KB)
The water cycle poster (PDF, 4.63MB): A1 poster that uses the water cycle to illustrate the precious nature of water and links well to Whizzy’s incredible journey book.
- Guidelines for use of the water cycle poster (PDF, 424.5KB)
Total water cycle management poster (PDF, 2.54MB): A1 poster that provides a detailed depiction of the water cycle, including treatment and wastewater treatment. It links well to Whizzy’s new adventures book.
Inland water cycle (PDF, 11.1MB): A2 poster that shows how the water cycle operates inland where groundwater is a common source of water.
- Guidelines for use of the inland water cycle poster (PDF, 584.2KB)
Water’s journey short animation: 30 second video about how it takes more than a tap to deliver your water.
Discover how much water is used in a household by doing a water audit:
- Water use poster (PDF, 333KB) (Be a water detective): A3 poster where students can spot ways to improve water efficiency. It shows how the WELS star rating impacts water use. It can be used either as a stand-alone resource or in conjunction with the Water audit leaflet.
- Water audit leaflet (Calculate how much water your household is using): Outlines how to undertake a water audit for your home. It includes WELS star ratings for household devices to use with the tally sheet to calculate household water use and identify water leaks.
- How to detect a leak short animation: a 30 second video on how you can detect a water leak in your home.
- Being waterwise at home short animation: 30 second video on some water wise behaviours in the home.
Bucket loads of savings poster (PDF, 1.42MB): A1 poster that shows a range of waterwise behaviours in a vibrant and engaging format.
- Brochure on waterwise behaviours (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Guidelines for use of the bucket loads of savings poster (PDF, 386.3KB)
Whizzy’s water-saving tips poster (PDF, 330KB): A3 poster that depicts six different water-saving scenarios and complements lessons and activities that address water conservation.
Whizzy’s incredible journeys book (PDF, 13.9MB): A3 sized pick-a-path book that tells about four separate journeys in which Whizzy the water drop travels through the water cycle and into the home. It can be used in both the Year 2 and Year 7 Science units.
Whizzy’s new adventures: journey through the pipes book (PDF, 3.5MB): A3 book takes Whizzy on two different adventures to help explain how water is treated as it travels to the home and then returns to the environment.
- Guidelines for use of the Whizzy’s new adventures book (PDF, 1.6MB)
Water: Learn it for life! resources: These resources, last reviewed in 2012, provide engaging lesson plans and activities that explain the water cycle, water conservation, water sources and storage, water efficiency and alternative water sources.
Waterwise activity sheets (PDF, 1.4MB) (A range of activity sheets, including word searches, join the dots and a chatterbox.
Stickers are also available upon request, including a round Whizzy sticker and a sticker sheet that has a range of small- and medium-sized stickers to promote waterwise behaviours. Go to how to order classroom resources.

Years 7 and 8

The Years 7 and 8: Waterwise schools toolkit (PDF, 600.3KB) provides an overview of the lesson plans and activities relevant to these year levels to develop student understanding about water issues.

Resources listed below include links to posters, books and activity sheets. Some of these resources are referred to in the lesson plans and activities above.

Years 7 and 8: Waterwise schools toolkit (PDF, 600.3KB)
Using our water efficiently activity suggestions (PDF, 578.7KB)
Traditional sources of fresh water in Queensland information sheet (PDF, 162.2KB)
Whizzy's messages images (PDF, 379.8KB)
Year 7 sustainability: What is a catchment information sheet (PDF, 253.2KB)
The water cycle poster (PDF, 4.63MB): A1 poster that uses the water cycle to illustrate the precious nature of water and links well to Whizzy’s incredible journey book.

Guidelines for use of the total water cycle poster (PDF, 424.5KB)

Total water cycle management poster (PDF, 2.54MB): A1 poster that provides a detailed depiction of the water cycle, including treatment and wastewater treatment. It links well to Whizzy’s new adventures book.
Inland water cycle poster (PDF, 11.1MB): A2 poster that shows how the water cycle operates inland, where groundwater is a common source of water.
- Guidelines for use of the inland water cycle poster (PDF, 584.2KB)
Water’s journey short animation: 30 second video about how it takes more than a tap to deliver your water.
Discover how much water is used a household by doing a water audit:
- Water use poster (PDF, 333KB) (Be a water detective) A3 poster where students can spot ways to improve water efficiency. It also shows how the WELS star rating impacts water use. It can be used either as a stand-alone resource or in conjunction with the Water audit leaflet below.
- Water audit leaflet (Calculate how much water is your household using): Outlines how to undertake a water audit for your home. It includes WELS star ratings for household devices to use with the tally sheet to calculate household water use and identify water leaks.
- How to detect a leak short animation: a 30 second video on how you can detect a water leak in your home.
- Being waterwise at home short animation: 30 second video on some water wise behaviours in the home.
Bucket loads of savings poster (PDF, 1.42MB): A1 poster that shows a range of waterwise behaviours in a vibrant and engaging format.
- Brochure on waterwise behaviours (PDF, 1.5MB)
- Guidelines for use of the bucket loads of savings poster (PDF, 386.3KB)
Whizzy’s incredible journeys book (PDF, 13.9MB): A3 sized pick-a-path book that tells about four separate journeys in which Whizzy the water drop travels through the water cycle and into the home. It can be used in both the Year 2 and Year 7 Science units.
Whizzy’s new adventures: journey through the pipes book (PDF, 3.5MB): A3 book that takes Whizzy on two different adventures to help explain how water is treated as it travels to the home and then returns to the environment.
- Guidelines for use of the Whizzy’s new adventures book (PDF, 1.6MB)
Water: Learn it for life! resources These resources, last reviewed in 2012, provide engaging lesson plans and activities that explain the water cycle, water conservation, water sources and storage, water efficiency and alternative water sources.
Waterwise activity sheets (PDF, 1.4MB) (A range of activity sheets, including word searches, join the dots and a chatterbox.
Stickers are also available upon request, including a round Whizzy sticker and a sticker sheet that has a range of small- and medium-sized stickers to promote waterwise behaviours. Go to how to order classroom resources.

Arranging site tours

Some local governments and service providers operate tours of their water and wastewater treatment plants that are suitable for school students.

The resources below might be useful for providing ideas when organising or undertaking site tours:

How to order classroom resources

Queensland councils and schools can order free copies of the Whizzy books, posters, activities (PDF) and stickers by emailing their contact and postal details to: waterwise@rdmw.qld.gov.au

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Australian Academy of Science and the Toowoomba Regional Council in the development of these resources.

Downloadable Whizzy images are royalty-free. They may be used for non-commercial educational purposes. For other uses, please acknowledge the Queensland Government.

Last updated:: 11 May 2021

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