World Water Day

Target audience (age): Ensino Mdio

Aim: getting aware of the importance of the water in
our lives and how each one can contribute to save and preserve it
Duration: 50 min
Organization: individual work or pair work, teachers choice
Material: worksheet, video
Preparation: watch video previously, make copies of the worksheet
When: March 22nd
Celebration: this date has been celebrated since 1993, when the United Nations Assembly declared
March 22nd as World Water Day. Since then, every year lots of activities are promoted and implemented
in several countries. One of the objectives of this day is to raise awareness of people and governments
to the importance of freshwater in Earths life
Procedure:
Warm up students by having a discussion on the current water crisis. Talk about its origins, whats
being done to overcome it and how the population can help.
Take the opportunity to elicit possible vocabulary related to the topic.
Information for the teacher:
In order to elicit vocabulary related to the topic, divide the class into groups of four students and give
each group a word to talk about. Some suggestions are: rainforests, weather changes, global warming,
water pollution, freshwater, sanitation. Allow some time for the students to get to a good definition of
the word and then ask them to share it with the whole class.
If possible, watch with them the video Our Thirsty World by National Geographic where some
astonishing facts concerning water are shown.
(Find it in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pXuAw1bSQo)
In case you use the video, ask these questions:
According to the video, whats the main use of freshwater in the world?
What are the main uses of indoor water in the US? Do you think its the same in Brazil?
How can the water consume be compared in developed countries and in the poorest countries?
What image from the video impacted you the most?
Hand out a copy of the worksheet to each student.
Ask them to read the facts about the water around the world and open a big discussion on each fact.
Read the text with them and allow some time for them to answer the questions about it.
Check the answers with the students.
Allow some time for them to answer the personal questions.
Ask them to form groups to discuss their answers.

Photocopiable Teachers copy

WORLD WATER DAY

1. Read the facts below. Check the ones that are true in your opinion.
(All alternatives are checked)

EVERY MINUTE A CHILD DIES OF

A WATER RELATED DISEASE

MORE PEOPLE HAVE A MOBILE

PHONE THAN A TOILET

2.5 BILLION PEOPLE LACK

ACCESS TO IMPROVED SANITATION

1 IN 9 PEOPLE LACK ACCESS

TO SAFE WATER

WOMEN AND CHILDREN SPEND

140 MILLIONS HOURS A DAY
COLLECTING WATER
2. Read the text.
Water is essential to life. Without water, life wouldnt exist. Water is vital for all human and economic
development. Nowadays, the possibility of water scarcity has received a lot of public attention. This is so
because although water is a renewable resource it is also a finite one. Only 2,53 percent of the earths water
is fresh and two-thirds of it is in glaciers and permanent snow. The supplies of freshwater are limited and its
demand only increases over the decades.Therefore, there are real reasons to worry and take action quickly.
Its crucial for all species survival that man understands that all his interference in nature has been
affecting the environment balance in a negative way. Endangered species, global warming and the
ozone layer hole are just some of these terrible effects.
Also, without water there is no energy, because it is required to produce nearly all forms of energy and
energy is necessary for all economical activities. So, its a big challenge for all governments to find a
solution for this problem, mainly in developing and emerging economies.
Besides, access to improved water and sanitation have a huge impact in the populations health. Many
diseases could be avoided if there were better conditons to obtain water.
March 22nd was stablished World Water day in 1992 by the UN in order to discuss important themes
related to this essencial resource to life.
In 2015, World Water Days theme is Water and Sustainable Development and its an important
opportunity to highlight waters role in the development of the nations.
(Adapted from http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/. Accessed on January 25th, 2015.)

Photocopiable Teachers copy

3. Give the definition of the words below. If necessary, use an English-English dictionary to help you.
Scarcity Insufficiency or shortness of supply
Renewable Able to be renewed
Survival The act of enduring under adverse circumstances
Balance A state of equilibrium
4. According to the text, what are some consequences of lack of water to the population?
It has a huge impact in the populations health.
5. And what are some consequences of lack of water to the economy? Why?
Without water there is no energy, because it is required to produce nearly all forms of energy and energy
is necessary for all economical activities.
6. Suggest a title for this text.
(Answers will vary)

7. Answer.
a) Do you know what is happening in Brazil concerning water?
(Answers will vary)

b) How can the population help?

(Answers will vary)

c) What do you do to save water?

(Answers will vary)

Photocopiable Teachers copy

Name:____________________________________ Date: ______________

WORLD WATER DAY
1. Read the facts below. Check the ones that are true in your opinion.

EVERY MINUTE A CHILD DIES OF

A WATER RELATED DISEASE

MORE PEOPLE HAVE A MOBILE

PHONE THAN A TOILET

2.5 BILLION PEOPLE LACK

ACCESS TO IMPROVED SANITATION

1 IN 9 PEOPLE LACK ACCESS

TO SAFE WATER

WOMEN AND CHILDREN SPEND

140 MILLIONS HOURS A DAY
COLLECTING WATER
2. Read the text.
Water is essential to life. Without water, life wouldnt exist. Water is vital for all human and economic
development. Nowadays, the possibility of water scarcity has received a lot of public attention. This is so
because although water is a renewable resource it is also a finite one. Only 2,53 percent of the earths water
is fresh and two-thirds of it is in glaciers and permanent snow. The supplies of freshwater are limited and its
demand only increases over the decades.Therefore, there are real reasons to worry and take action quickly.
Its crucial for all species survival that man understands that all his interference in nature has been
affecting the environment balance in a negative way. Endangered species, global warming and the
ozone layer hole are just some of these terrible effects.
Also, without water there is no energy, because it is required to produce nearly all forms of energy and
energy is necessary for all economical activities. So, its a big challenge for all governments to find a
solution for this problem, mainly in developing and emerging economies.
Besides, access to improved water and sanitation have a huge impact in the populations health. Many
diseases could be avoided if there were better conditons to obtain water.
March 22nd was stablished World Water day in 1992 by the UN in order to discuss important themes
related to this essencial resource to life.
In 2015, World Water Days theme is Water and Sustainable Development and its an important
opportunity to highlight waters role in the development of the nations.
(Adapted from http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/. Accessed on January 25th, 2015.)

Photocopiable Students copy

3. Give the definition of the words below. If necessary, use an English-English dictionary to help you.
SCARCITY ________________________________________________________
RENEWABLE ______________________________________________________
SURVIVAL ________________________________________________________
BALANCE ________________________________________________________
4. According to the text, what are some consequences of lack of water to the population?

5. And what are some consequences of lack of water to the economy? Why?

6. Suggest a title to this text.

7. Answer.
a) Do you know what is happening in Brazil concerning water?

b) How can the population help?

c) What do you do to save water?

Photocopiable Students copy