Water Wise Activities for Kids and Caregivers to do Together

Like so many in our community, many of our local water efficiency experts suddenly became homeschool teachers overnight. We wanted to share with you some of our favorite home resources for teaching kids to use water wisely.

Online Water Education Program Goes Live on DWR YouTube Channel
Join us for Water Wednesdays at 1 p.m. on DWR’s YouTube channel. These family-friendly programs are designed for kids 10-14 but are appropriate for anyone who would like to learn more about California’s water resources. The first five programs will be about Delta wildlife including fish, plankton, birds, reptiles, and invasive species. Interested participants can pre-register through Zoom which will allow posting of questions to that week’s speaker.

Visit the DWR Events webpage at https://water.ca.gov/News/Events to join Wednesday’s chat. Information will also be posted on DWR’s social media pages at @CA_DWR (Twitter) and @CADWR (Facebook).

Workbooks, Activities and Coloring Sheets for Kids

Sacramento-Area Resources

“Living Rivers” Student Supplement: This 20-page digital supplement explains the importance of rivers to us and our region. Rivers provide habitat for many plants and animals. People depend on rivers as a source of food, drinking water, transportation, hydroelectric power and irrigation for agricultural fields.

“Water Conservation and You” Mr. Leaky Activity Book: A fun way for young children to color their way to learning about the water cycle and how to use water wisely at home.

Les Leaky Coloring Graphic: Help Les Leaky find and stop water waste in this 8.5 x 11” coloring graphic designed to be easily downloaded and shared.

California- and U.S.-Focused Materials

Water education materials from the California Department of Water Resources: Includes a wide variety of workbooks and worksheets—from independent work activities like coloring sheets for younger children, to workbooks for tweens to simple hands-on science experiments.

Homeschool activities from the Water Education Foundation: Includes videos, resources and presentations for pre-K through college.

WaterSmart Kids from Save Our Water (California’s statewide water efficiency program) offers interactive coloring books, videos and a virtual home tour on their web site to make water efficiency fun.

WaterSense for Kids: Water conservation ideas and game for kids from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Project WET Foundation, Discover Water: Games, videos, and more that help kids discover the role that water plays in their lives.

Water Science School from the U.S. Geological Survey: Information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can test your water knowledge.