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Primary school
There's lots to learn about water
We have a great range of free resources specially designed for children in primary school and their educators. Your students can do their own watery experiments, learn about water's journey to and from their homes, and understand what makes water a precious resource we should never take for granted.
Wondering about water
Stage 1 lessons and resources
Looking for inspiration to improve water literacy in the classroom? These modules are ideal inquiry-based resources that help connect your students with water, discover its unique qualities and build value and care for water.
The modules 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.
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
Module 5
Module 6
Water and us
Exploring our connection with water.
Lesson plans
Water and Us (1021 KB) Lesson plan.
Worksheets
Water and Us (1.1 MB) Worksheets
Plan an Investigation (263 kB)
Resources
Water and Us (6.5 MB) PowerPoint
The Water Story (122 KB) and recording
What makes water water
Exploring what makes water a unique and wonderful substance.
Lesson plans
What Makes Water Water (1021 KB) Lesson Plans
Worksheets
What Makes Water Water (878 KB) Worksheets
Plan an Investigation (263 KB)
Resources
What Makes Water Water (3.1 MB) PowerPoint
Water on Earth
Exploring amounts and distribution of water on Earth.
Lesson plans
Water on Earth (388 KB) Lesson Plans
Worksheets
Water on Earth (1100 KB) Worksheets
Plan an Investigation (263 KB)
Resources
Water on Earth (4100 KB) PowerPoint
Water on Earth video
Test the difference (140 KB) practical investigation
Bluey: The Beach read aloud by Julia Gillard video
The water cycle
Exploring the water cycle and how we manage it to meet our needs.
Lesson plans
The Water Cycle (324 KB) Lesson Plans
Worksheets
The Water Cycle (706 KB) Worksheets
Plan an Investigation (263 KB)
Urban Water Cycle (760 KB) Activity Sheet
Resources
The Water Cycle (6200 KB) PowerPoint
The Water Cycle Song (152 KB)
Make a Water Cycle Model (228 KB) Experiment
Water experiment videos and brochures
Clean safe water
Exploring access to clean safe water.
Lesson plans
Clean Safe Water (333 KB) Lesson Plans
Worksheets
Clean Safe Water (1.3 MB) Worksheets
Plan an Investigation (263 KB)
Storyboard template (62 kB)
Resources
Clean Safe Water (5.2 MB) PowerPoint
How we filter water Video
Water experiment videos and brochures
Abby Lau from Malaysia Video
Azam Muhammed from Pakistan Video
Gippsland Water Teaching Resources - The Water Princess
Every drop counts
Exploring how we use and save water every day.
Lesson plans
Every drop counts (359 KB) Lesson plan
Worksheets
Every drop counts (2.0 MB) Worksheets
Plan an investigation (263 KB)
Resources
Every drop counts (3.3 MB) PowerPoint
How do we use water? interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open).
Water in your home video
Drip, drip, drip! (153 KB)
10 Easy ways to save water at school (106 KB) Fact sheet.
Understanding water
Drinking water
Did you know that all the water on Earth is all that we have?
Our natural water cycle moves water all around us, all the time, but less than 1% of fresh water is usable.
How we use water and conserve it is important to think about. The way we think, feel, value and use water contributes to our liveable cities.
Water quality and filtration is carefully managed to make sure your water is safe to drink straight from the tap.
Wastewater and water recycling
Have you thought about what happens to all the used water from your home or school?
We use wastewater treatment and water recycling to make water safe to be re-used or returned to the environment.
Stormwater
What happens when it rains on the road, your roof or your school's paved areas?
Stormwater rushes off hard surfaces and flows into drains that lead to creeks, rivers and the ocean.
You can help us care for our waterways by being mindful that the drain is just for rain!
Experimenting with water
Make a cloud to see part of the water cycle in action.
Make a cloud (588 KB) - Brochure
Explore how water evaporation works.
Water evaporation experiment (901 KB) - Brochure
Use red cabbage to make a natural pH indicator.
Make a pH indicator (939 KB) - Brochure
Make a simple water filter from things around the home.
Make a simple water filter (1.0 MB) - Brochure
Create your own mini earth terrarium.
Water cycle and terrarium (929 KB) - Brochure
Discover what breaks down and what doesn't.
Keeps wipes out of pipes (1.1 MB) - Brochure
Playing water games
Colouring sheets
- I pledge to have 4 minute showers (71 KB).
- I pledge to save water in every way (71 KB).
Songs
- How water gets to us (107 KB) song.
- The water cycle (152 KB) song.
Games
- Explore a water cycle diagram and test your knowledge about the water cycle in this interactive diagram by Earthguide.
- Explore the different parts of the water cycle with Thirstin the water cup by United States Environmental Protection Agency.
- Find out just how hard it is to manage a river catchment with climate change, increased demand for water and environmental problems putting our rivers under stress. Catchment Detox by ABC Science.
- Enjoy learning about or testing your knowledge with this natural water cycle game by South East Water, or explore the urban water cycle.
Other water resources
Using water
- How do we use water? (207 KB)- Lesson Plan
- How we use water? (2.3 MB) - Worksheet
- How do we use water? interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open)
Recycled water
- Recycled water (188 KB) Lesson Plan
- Does your school have purple taps? (7.2 KB) Information Booklet
- How do we clean recycled water? (1.2 KB) Worksheet
- Recycled water interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open).
The natural and urban water cycle
- The water cycle (203 KB) - Worksheet
- The natural and urban water cycle (104 KB) Lesson Plan
- Making a Water Cycle Model (226 KB) - Instruction Sheet.
- The urban water cycle (2.5 MB) PowerPoint
- Urban water cycle activity sheet (300 KB) - Worksheet
- How does water get to our tap? (126 KB) - Worksheet
- The urban water cycle (104 KB) - Lesson Plan
- The urban water cycle interactive whiteboard resource (this resource requires SMART Notebook to open)
