24 June 2008
Students across Melbourne will receive a valuable lesson about water conservation when school returns next term, with the launch of a new education resource today.
Water – Learn it! Live it! is a free education program aimed at primary and secondary schools which encourages them to include water conservation lessons in the classroom.
Launching the new education resource on behalf of the metropolitan water industry, Managing Director of City West Water, Anne Barker, said the kit would give schools new ideas and tools needed to teach students about the importance of saving water.
“The drought, one of the worst on record, has taken its toll on Melbourne’s water supply, and climate change will pose long-term challenges for our young people,” Ms Barker said.
"The program encourages students to save water in their homes and schools. Every drop saved puts less pressure on our catchments and goes towards helping the long term sustainability of our water supply.
“Young people face a drier future and we want to teach them water conservation habits for life,” she said.
The new resource provides a framework for schools to include water conservation lessons in all areas of the curriculum. It also incorporates the new Victorian Essential Learning Standards and current learning theories.
“Younger students might learn about how water is used in the community while older students might tackle more challenging projects like researching the impacts of drought or developing water saving technologies,” Ms Barker said.
“Many schools already involved in the program have incorporated water conservation lessons in really innovative ways, including students carrying out a school water audit, hosting water forums and planting drought tolerant gardens.”
Water: Learn it! Live it! has been developed by Melbourne’s four water authorities, City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne Water. More than 190 Melbourne schools have signed up since it was launched two years ago.
Schools can to become accredited as a Water – Learn it! Live it! school by working through a series of milestones. More than 100 schools have achieved accreditation, including two reaching ‘gold’ level accreditation.
Schools need to reduce their water use, incorporate water conservation lessons across all grades and promote water conservation messages to their local community to achieve the top ‘gold’ level accreditation.
"I encourage all Melbourne schools to get involved in the Water: Learn it! Live it! program. It is vital that future generations understand what a precious resource water is,'' Ms Barker said.
Some Water: Learn it! Live it! star schools
Niddrie Primary School
In the spirit of Wallace and Gromit, Niddrie Primary School students made two water themed claymation films last year. The Raindrop Escapade follows the journey of three raindrops, while Residential vs. Industry tackles the misconception that big companies use more water than households. The students have also recorded a song and will perform it at a story telling competition in August.
The school has also installed four rainwater tanks to flush toilets and irrigate the oval and set up a weekly environmental forum called the Unwasteables. They were the first school to receive gold accreditation through the program.
Hillsmeade Primary
Students and staff at Hillsmeade Primary School have slashed their water use to less than one bucket each. The school celebrated World Environment Day with lots of water related activities and are making a ‘save water’ themed patchwork quilt. They also held a showerhead exchange for parents, family and teachers.
Hillsmeade Primary also participates in the Schools Water Efficiency Program, a Victorian Government water audit and retrofit program. They recently received silver accreditation for their involvement in the program.
Kingswood College
Kingswood College at Box Hill has made a song and dance about water, producing a school musical with a water theme. Students wrote and performed the production to an audience of 800 people.
The school has also included water conservation lessons in the classroom and taken practical steps to save water around the school grounds, installing rainwater tanks, dual flush toilets and flow restrictors on taps. They received bronze accreditation in April.