Medical Ambassadors International and Global CHE Network

CLEAN WATER I
Children’s Lesson

Date: 12/02 (revised 10/08) (1 HOUR)

OBJECTIVES: 1. Children will know that dirty water can make them sick.
2. Children will learn some ways to prevent contamination of water.

OVERVIEW FOR TRAINERS: This is a lesson for training children in community health, based on
S.E.A.N.’s materials and the Child-to-Child Activities Sheets, as well as on The WATER SCH2OOL’s
Teacher’s Training Manual for SODIS. This is the first session on clean water. It should be taught after the
lessons on hygiene. This can be divided into two shorter lessons.

PART ONE: Clean water

METHOD TIME KNOWLEDGE

Role Play: Two children have just 10”

finished a game of soccer.
1st Boy, I’m thirsty! There’s a
stream. Wait for me while I get a
drink.
2nd You can’t drink that water! It’s
not safe. That’s the same stream
where we wash our clothes and
where the pigs drink.
1st It looks clear to me. And I’m
really thirsty.
2nd But it is full of germs. It may
make you sick.
Second scene: The same children
meet two days later:
1st I feel awful. I was up all night
with an upset stomach.
2nd That’s too bad! I guess you won’t
drink from that stream next time.

----SHOWD questions----
S = What do you See?
H = What is Happening?
O = Does this happen in Our place?
W = Why does this happen?
D = What will we Do about it?

I. Where does clean water come 15” I. Where Clean Water Comes From:
from? Give each child a piece of
paper and crayons or pencils.
Ask them to draw and color a
picture of where clean water
comes from: falling from the sky
as rain, then to the earth,
streams, rivers, and lakes.
A. Can you drink rainwater? Is A. Yes, rainwater is clean and good.
it clean when it falls?
B. Why do we need clean B. Why we need clean water:
water? 1. We need water to drink.
2. We need water to cook with.
3. We need water for plants and
animals.
4. Water keeps us alive!
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CLEAN WATER I
METHOD
C. Where does our water
come from?
D. If we get water from lakes
and streams, what fills the
lakes and streams?
E. What happens when there
is not enough rain?
F. What happens when our
drinking water is
contaminated or dirty?
G. What are some illnesses
that can come from drinking
dirty water?
PART TWO: Clean and dirty water
II. Clean and dirty water
A. Why do we need clean
water? Show the picture,
Safe Drinking Water.
B. How can clean water
become dirty? Show the
picture How is the water
being contaminated? In this
picture, how is the river
water being contaminated
and made dirty?
C. Why does dirty water make
you sick?
D. What are germs? How do
they spread and make you
sick?
TIME KNOWLEDGE
C. Water comes from lakes and
streams.
D. Rain and other lakes and streams.
E. Water is precious. We must use it
carefully. If there is not enough
water:
1. Plants wilt and die. We may
not be able to grow food.
2. Animals and people become
thirsty.
3. We may not have enough
water to keep clean.
4. People suffer when there is not
enough water.
F. Dirty water can make us sick.
G. Use common names for common
local illnesses:
1. Stomachache
2. Diarrhea, vomiting
3. Worms, parasites
4. Illnesses—Typhoid, cholera,
dysentery
15” II. Clean and Dirty Water
A. Why do we need clean water?
1. For drinking
2. For brushing our teeth
3. To make ORS
4. To wash fruits and vegetables
B The water is dirty because:
1. The woman is washing clothes
in the stream.
2. The cow pooped near the
stream.
3. The child is pooping in the
stream.
4. The boy is collecting water
downstream.
C. It has germs in it.
D. Review what germs are and how
they spread (from the earlier
lessons on hygiene).
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CLEAN WATER I

METHOD TIME KNOWLEDGE

III. Game - Where germs live 15” III. Game – Where Germs Live
Dress one child in a long
garment or a long coat. Explain
to the others that this child is
called “germ.” Remind them that
germs are tiny creatures, too
small to be seen.
A. Germ has many homes. A. Germs may live:
Where do you think he 1. In garbage or decaying matter
lives? Let the children 2. In urine or feces (pee or poop)
suggest answers. As they 3. In leftover, uncovered food
mention each answer, write 4. On dirty animals
it on a small piece of paper 5. In dust
and pin or tape it on to 6. On flies
“germ’s” clothes. (You may 7. On dirty hands and bodies
have to prompt them or 8. On dirty cups and plates
give hints for some 9. On dirty pots and cooking
answers.) utensils
10. In dirty bottles and dirty water
jars
11. On dirty clothes
12. On dirty sheets and blankets
B. Show the picture How is B. What we can do to keep the water
the water being from getting contaminated
contaminated? What can
we do to keep the water
from getting contaminated?
As the children suggest
solutions, take the
corresponding pieces of
paper off “Germ.” Now the
germ has nowhere to live!
References:
D. Bailey, H. Hawes and G. Bonati (editors). 1992. Child-to-Child: A Resource Book. Part 2: The Child-to-Child Activity Sheets.
The Child-to-Child Trust. (Available from TALC)

Health Education Program for Developing Nations. Available from: http://www.hepfdc.info/

Study by Extension for all Nations. Training Children in Community Health—Trainer’s Manual and Resource Pack. 2001.
Devon, UK: S.E.A.N International.

The WATER SCH2OOL. 2007. Teacher’s Training Manual for SODIS

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CLEAN WATER I

ATTITUDE: Facilitators will help children to want to work to keep their water clean.

SKILL: Children will know that the germs in dirty water can make them sick. They will also
know some ways that water becomes contaminated.

EVALUATION: Facilitators will know children have learned the content of this lesson when they are
practicing good health habits so that the local water supply does not get more
contaminated; they are washing their hands and using a latrine; and the children
can recognize some ways that local water becomes contaminated.

MATERIALS: - Paper
- Crayons and markers
- Pencils and pens
- About 15 to 20 small sheets of paper, or Post-It Notes
- Scissors
- Glue/ pins/ tape
- A long coat or cloak
- Safe Drinking Water
- How is the water being contaminated?
- Poster board
This lesson is used in: Children – Water
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SAFE DRINKING WATER

Source: Health Education Program for Developing Nations. Available from: http://www.hepfdc.info/
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HOW IS THE WATER BEING CONTAMINATED?

Source: The WATER SCH2OOL. 2007. Teacher’s Training Manual for SODIS