Torquay Primary School students have decorated their water tank with murals creating an art and a sustainability project in one. Footscray City primary School students watering the vegetable garden as part of their maths unit on measuring fluids Click to View Video – Outcomes and projects from the water theme. The Water theme provides opportunities for many wonderful projects. Click to View Video – Creating a wetland at Southmoor Primary School. The whole school got involved with creating a beautiful wetland onsite at Southmoor.

Water

Recurring droughts remind us how important it is to conserve Australia's very limited water resources.

Schools use many kilolitres of water annually - to water ovals and garden beds, flush toilets and for drinking and tap water. Leaking taps can account for significant water wastage. So schools can play an active role in reducing water consumption and modelling water wise projects and activities for local communities.

Students can make a big difference by reducing their school's impact on their catchment. Students have installed rainwater tanks that have been connected to the school toilets or gardens. They have worked with their communities to reduce pollution entering stormwater drains and impacting on local waterways. They have encouraged changes in school cleaning practices such as sweeping rather than hosing down pathways.

What can Sustainable Schools expect to achieve?

Schools can expect to achieve the following outcomes from the Water theme:

• Schools will develop creative water saving and stormwater pollution projects that will enhance student learning, improve the school environment and provide working examples for the local community.
• Students will initiate projects in the school and community
• Schools can expect to reduce their water consumption by 15% in the first year.
• Students and staff will develop skills and knowledge and be actively engaged in water and stormwater conservation projects.

Sustainable Schools facilitators will help schools to:

• Undertake a water audit
• Undertake a stormwater pollution audit
• Undertake a risk assessment to consider occupational health and safety issues
• Identify relevant curriculum
• Help staff and students develop knowledge and skills
• Set realistic and achievable targets
• Develop and implement an action plan
• Help utilise knowledge and expertise in the local community

Inspiring schools

The Water theme offers many exciting opportunities for attractive and engaging whole school projects. Visit our Case Studies to see some of the fantastic things participating schools have achieved - for example Torquay and Antonio Park Primary Schools.

Resource Links

Water and stormwater units of work for CSF 1 to 6 - produced by Gould League as part of the EPA Living Sustainably Series.

Every Drop Counts - Primary and Secondary
Curriculum resources produced by the Gould League for Melbourne Water.
Visit Gould League's online shop

Living Water Literacy Kit
This resource provides real life readers to use in literacy blocks and helps kids learn ways to use water wisely.
Visit Gould League's online shop.

Melbourne Water Website
Visit Melbourne Water's informative website for further information and resources to support the Sustainable Schools water theme.