Conservation Projects for Kids
When children learn about our earth and the precious resources on it, they are more inclined to preserve and take care of those resources. Water is arguably the most important resource we have, since without water life is impossible. Here are some ideas and projects for teaching children not only about water, but about the importance of conserving it for future generations.
The hydrologic cycle is the process of water evaporating from the ocean and ground into condensation and the formation of clouds then back down as rain or precipitation and collecting into the oceans, lakes, and rivers again. Illustrations and coloring pages of this process can be found all over the internet, notably at EnchantedLearning.com. Since evaporation is the first stage in the hydrologic cycle we will focus on activities illustrating it first. Heating a pot of water until children can see the steam rising from it is an easy way to visually show them how water evaporates from the ocean. To illustrate condensation, take a sheet of cardboard and place it in the freezer for an hour. Then hold it six to eight inches above the steaming pot of water. Show your children how water droplets form on the underside of the cardboard. If you hold the cardboard for a few minutes, it will eventually be unable to hold all the collected water and the droplets will "rain" back into the pot as precipitation. To further educate your children about the water cycle visit the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's website to print out a water wheel your kids can turn to illustrate the complete cycle.
Now that your children understand where water comes from, it is important to follow up on this knowledge with an education of conservation. The best way to illustrate this point is to teach them about your local water supply and the ways your local government is conserving that supply. Are there restrictions about watering your lawn or washing your car in the summer? Show them the water meter on the side of your house and explain that you must pay for all the water you use, even if it is just going down the drain. Ask your children if they can think of any ways they can use less water, such as filling a pitcher and putting it in the fridge instead of letting the water run for a cold drink. Turning off the water when they are washing their hands or brushing their teeth or taking shorter showers is other ideas. Teaching your children to conserve water when they are younger encourages them to practice a lifetime of conservation.
For more information about water conservation please visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.centralbasin.org">Central Basin</a>
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