Summary
Children will discuss the importance of water for health, with the help of a watered and slightly dehydrated plant as an example. They will create their own flavoured water and share with the group.
Prep time
45 minutes
Activity duration
40 minutes
On this page
- Learning goals
- Materials
- Planning considerations
- Connecting to Canada’s food guide
- Activity instructions
- Optional learning extension
Learning goals
- Describe why their bodies need water.
- Identify different ways to drink water throughout the day.
Materials
- Potable water
- Small cups, 1 per child
- Water jugs, 1 per group
- Whiteboard and whiteboard markers
- 2 herb plants, like basil, or 1 bouquet of flowers, split into two smaller bouquets
- Frozen or fresh vegetables and non-citrus fruits, frozen or fresh herbs, and more whole ingredients to flavour water, such as:
- mint
- basil
- cucumbers
- raspberries
- blackberries
- strawberries
- pears, sliced
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon sticks
- apples, chopped
Planning considerations
- Collect two similar herb plants that require frequent watering.
- Prepare plants or bouquet a few days beforehand by watering one regularly and occasionally watering (skipping a few waterings) the other.
- Be sure to keep both plants alive, in order to restore the mildly wilting plant.
- Individuals who will handle or prepare food must wash their hands before doing so.
- Prepare water flavouring stations.
- Provide a water jug, potable water, cups, and an assortment of vegetables, fruits, herbs and more to flavour water.
- Ask parents or guardians to identify any concerns about food allergies and dietary restrictions for the flavoured water that will be shared.
Tip: Be mindful that children have varying access to water. For example, for some children who live in Indigenous remote and isolated communities, access to and availability of water may be limited. Before choosing to undertake this activity, make sure it is relevant to the children in your group and be prepared to address access to safe drinking water with compassion.
Connecting to Canada’s food guide
- Review Make water your drink of choice for your activity planning.
Activity instructions
Engage
- Discuss the importance of water. Explain that most of our body is made up of water and why our bodies need it.
- Present two plants or bouquets to the children.
- Present one regularly watered plant or bouquet and one that hasn’t been watered as regularly and is starting to wilt.
- Explain to children that, just like humans, plants need water. If they don’t get enough water, they can become weak. Discuss how the same can happen to us when we don’t drink water regularly.
- Discuss with the children that our bodies lose water many ways. For example, through:
- sweat
- breathing
- going to the washroom
- Explain that it is important that we help support our bodies by drinking water regularly.
- Re-water the plant or bouquet with children for a few days and discuss how plants can become rehydrated when we provide water.
Explore
- Divide children into groups, ask them to wash their hands. Send each group to a different station.
- Explain to children that water can be enjoyed in many ways, such as:
- warm, cold, or room temperature
- with meals and throughout the day
- infused with vegetables, fruit and herbs
- Explain to children that they will have access to different vegetables, fruits, herbs, and other flavours that they can use to create their own flavoured water. Each group should think of a unique name for their flavoured water creation.
- Invite children to choose different items to flavour their water, smelling the items before choosing. Instruct children to rub herbs between their fingertips to help release the scents. Each group can select foods that appeal to them.
- Allow time for children to make their water combinations and invite them to let the water sit for a few minutes for the flavours to infuse. Invite children to press some of the fruits and herbs to release more flavours.
- Invite children to smell and taste their water infusion if they want. If a child decides that they do not wish to try it, you can invite them to politely decline by saying “No, thank you.”
- Invite children to fill their reusable bottle with their infusion, if they wish, and use what is remaining to water nearby plants or gardens.
Explain
- Bring the group back together and ask children to share what combinations they made with their team as well as the name they thought of for their creation.
- Ask:
- Was the water infusion easy to make?
- What did you include in your water infusion?
- Did your group enjoy the taste or smell of the water?
- Invite children to reflect on different ways they can make sure they drink water throughout the day, for example:
- carry a water bottle
- drink water with meals
- stop at the water fountain throughout the day
- Ask children to share their ideas with the group and write a list of their ideas on the whiteboard.
Optional learning extension
Ask children to draw what they learned about how to include water throughout the day. For example:
- carrying a water bottle
- drinking water with meals
- stopping at the water fountain throughout the day
Post their creations and have them walk around the room and review the work of their peers.
