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Put a.,f sticker next to things that need water. Put an X sticker next to things that don't need water. A message to parents Children have an important role to play when it comes to conserving water. They can help by: learning how they can use less water '" IN ""'-, o pointing out ways your family could cut water use teaching classmates and friends the importance of saving water. o This calendar can help you teach your child about saving water. It has: activities you and your child can enjoy liz pictures for your child to color tips to help your whole family become water-savers! Other tips and answers to activities can be found on the sticker sheet. Help your child use the tips in the calendar to conserve water- a gift that keeps on giving! ~ ~ 2012 Edl1lon 2012 Ch,w1ll\!,1 Bt!t Camp.." tnc All IIl}IlIli r e.~!ned Punted In USA GhdlllllllQ Bet! Com ~,,"~, OoP CorrmllC\lry Pt~ C t. Soum Oet:rfleld, MA 01373 To reorde, call!sh) 628 1733 01 \'lllt 'IrWW.channlno ~ e l l.com and ask IOf Item numbtl PS5010S \OJ-l1-Aj Pric. lisl K How '0 use 'his calendar Complete the calendar by filling in the dates in the spaces provided. Use the stickers provided to note holidays and other special days marked 1). Use the birthday cake stickers to note family birthdays! Help your child write in school vacations, religious holidays you celebrate and other important events.
--=-~--- " -- '~----------------- The earth recycles our water. No new water is created. This means the water we use today is the same water that was around millions of years ago! Follow the arrows to find out how our water cycle works. Water vapor cools and :::::.::_'Ollect, ;nlo doujr..., "..,.. ~ When the clouds get too heavy, water falls to the earth as rain, snow, sleet or hail., \'\\\\\\\ \ \ \\ \ \ \' \ \ \ \\ \ \ \' \ \ \ \\ \ \ \\. \ \.' \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ The rain, snow, sleet or hail soaks into the ground. This is called ground water. \ ~ ~ ~ The sun heats up water on the earth's surface. Some of it turns into vapor and rises into the sky. ~ ~ ~ ~ Any rain, snow, sleet or hail that does not soak into the ground flows into lakes, rivers and oceans. This is called runoff.
Write down 4 ways you use water each day. Then draw a picture of one of them. Add stickers to decorate your drawing. By changing just a few habits, you could end up saving.- many gallons of water each day!
New Year's Day is January 1. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the third ~ Monday in January. With your child, write down the ways you already try to conserve water. Think of more ways together. Take a walk with your child. Point out all the things you see that need waterto live. Ask your local water utility if they can do a water audit on your home. Help your child make signs about saving water to hang around your home. Talk about how it's everyone's responsibility to conserve water. With your child, brainstorm ways to use less water to do tasks around the house. Learn about water treatment facilities with your ch ild. Go online, or visit a library together. Tell your child it's also everyone's responsibility to help keep water clean. 1""1
Add the missing stickers. Color in each gallon jug to see how much water can be saved doing everyday activities. = 1 gallon / ~ ( Turning off the water can save: 00, Throwing trash in the trash can instead of the toilet can save: 000 Shortening your shower by 1 minute can save: Doing 1 full load instead of 2 small loads can save: 00000 00000 00000
Groundh ug 20 " sday Teach your child ry 14. 0. that conserving more water now can help ts' Day make sure there is d Monday 0 enough for everyone ry. in the future. Teach your child to completely turn off faucets. I Take your child to the hardware store. Buy aerators with flow restrictors for your faucets if you don't already have them. Explain to your child how your family gets water-for example, from a well or water treatment facility. Help your child find out where your water supply comes from (such as a river or reservoir). Go online, or visit a library. ('} If your community has any water shortage rules, explain them to your child. When they are in effect, follow them.
Complete this maze and learn how water can travel to and from homes. The treatment facility uses energy to clean the water so it's safe for us to use. Water from above or below ground is pumped to a water treatment facility. The water is then pumped through pipes to our homes. The water is released back into a local body ~ ~ ~ of water. End Wastewater goes back to a wastewater treatment facility to be I-----'- cleaned a9ct.11 H~ I '.'"~
Daylight Saving Time beg ins at 2 a.m. on Go to the library with the second Sunday \\ your child. Research in March. Turn off the hot water how water is used to heater when you're make thermoelectric SI. Patrick's Day 0 going to be away for power and other types is March 17.... more than a few days. of energy. Help your child see how much energy it takes to move water. Fill up a gallon jug with water. Have your child carry it 100 steps. Ask a local water treatment facility to give you and your child a tour. If you run water and it's too hot, turn the hot water faucet down rath er than turning the cold water faucet up. Use hot water to clean only very dirty clothes. Encourage older children to take short showers, not baths. Turn the thermostat on your water heater down to 120'F (unless your dishwasher needs warmer water). I nsulate your water heater. Ask the manufacturer for advice. 0
World Health Day is April 7. Earth Day 1) is April 22..... Ask your child to help you fill a pitcher of drinking water to keep in the fridge. Teach him or her to use it instead of letting the faucet run. If you're waiting for tap water to heat up, save the cold water and use it for something else later. Teach your child how to wash vegetables or fruits in a bowl-not under running water. Thaw food in the fridge or microwave- not under running water. Start a compost pile. Teach your child to use this instead of the garbage disposal. Chill tap water in Reuse water when Set a good example reusable bottles to possible. For example, for your child. grab and go. (Be water plants with the Never leave the sure to wash the water used to clean water running. bottles after each use.) fruits and vegetables. Consider getting an instant water heater 0 for your faucet.
~ Find the stickers that complete the sentences. Then draw a line between the picture and the description of ways to save water. 6 faucet Don't leave the running while washing up. u ~..----.. ~ Only fill ( liamutj:s] partway (or take short showers). Throw I trash j in the trash can, not the,... r~ ~----"-------1 ~(~ 6/Q)
MAY Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. Armed Forces Day Memorial Day is If you have small is the third Saturday observed on the last children, bathe in May. Monday in May. them together. When waiting for the Teach your child to shower to heat up, turn off the faucet while catch the cold water Limit showers to brushing teeth. Use a in a bucket. Use it to 5 minutes or less. cup of water to rinse. water plants. Install a low-flow shower head with a shut-off valve. (These use 2.5 gallons of water per minute or less!) Use the shut-off valve on your shower head while lathering. Close the bathtub drain before turning on the water. Save several gallons of water per flush by replacing an older toilet with a low-flow toilet. If you have an older toilet, add small plastic bottles filled with water to the tank. (These reduce the amount 0 of water used.)
Add the matching stickers! Next time your parent is planting in the garden l ask if you can help. Choose plants that don/t need a lot of watering. 1/ II 1/ l ) L ] [ ] [ ] r ~
Ask your child to put holes in your lawn by Flag Day is June 14. \l walking around in cleats Take your child to a or gardening shoes. local nursery to learn Father's Day is the (This will increase which plants do well third Su nday in June. water absorption.) in your climate. Cover bare soil around plants with mulch to help the soil stay moist. Help plant roots hold moisture better. Before planting, add mulch to the hole. Before planting grass, Take your child Choose organic versus consider using other to shop for an chemical pesticides ground covers that automatic shut-off and fertilizers. Limit need less water. valve for your hose. your use of them. Instead of lightly Avoid planting on hills watering frequently, Choose shrubs and or slopes where water water heavily plants that don't need a can drain off. less often. lot of watering to thrive Mark the calendar with information about any water restrictions or emergencies that Group plants with are declared in the same watering your community. 0 needs together.
There are lots of ways to use water outside. For example, water is used to: ~ stay 1$.!. + 0 Use the secret code below to see 4 ways we use water outside. -- * = a 1$ =e ~ =g Secret Code -:- = i»- = Yl 0 =1 + =0 $ =m +!+ = P ~ =r.. I, - 5... - <> = t., =w ~~:J ~ wash ~ fill 1$ * ~.. '; ;," ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- ------- ~:~., -:- $ $ -:-»- ~ w ~ ~ ~ + + o )'C, ~ ~ *.. '; ;,".. '; and -------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- ;," +!+ 0 *»- <> * healthy.
Independence Day 0 Ask your child to help you wash your car. Use a bucket of water instead of a hose. Use Wash your car on is July 4.. biodegradable soap. the lawn, if possible. Use a watering can instead of a hose to water plants. Teach your child that the best time to water a lawn or garden is when it's cool but not windy. If you have automatic sprinklers, install a rain shut-off device. This will turn the sprinklers off if it starts to rain. Use a broom, not a water hose, to clean up the sidewalk and driveway. Raise the blade on Use a rain barrel to your lawn mower. collect water from your Longer grass doesn't If using a sprinkler, roof. Use it to water need to be watered set a timer to remind plants and flowers. as often. you to shut it off. Check the forecast before watering. If it's going to rain, don't water. 0 If you have a pool, use a cover. Explain to your child that this reduces evaporation.
Add the missing stickers. Then color in all the things that your family recycles. --- "-"" " magazine,...-...;: - ~ ~ ""... ".. "".. ~ MILK o'bo\ \ tq,~q,'bo\ ~ ~ ('nr)'
Limit purchases of individually wrapped items. Instead of buying something new, try to fin d it secondhand. Set up a recycling area in your home if you don't already have one. Ask your child to help. Ask your child to donate any clothes or toys he or she no longer uses. If you use a commercial car wash, choose one that recycles its water. Take your child to buy reusable water bottles for the whole family. Support companies that have good water conservation practices. 0 Try to avoid buying things that have a lot of packaging.
Labor Day is the first Ask your child to Monday in September. National help you fill your Grandparents Day dishwasher. Patriot Day is is th e first Sunday Remember, only September 11. after Labor Day. run it when it's full. Teach your child to Give each family The next time you scrape dishes before member 1 water cup buy a dishwasher or loading them in the or bottle to refill each washing machine, get dishwasher. Only day. (This way you the most water-efficient rinse if you have an don't have to wash model you can afford. older model. multiple glasses.) With your child, check dishwasher and washing machine connections for leaks. Fix any you find. Teach your child to Hand-wash small wear clothes more amounts of clothes than once if they are or dishes in a sink still clean. or basin. Use the shortest wash cycle on your dishwasher or washing machine that still cleans your dishes or clothes. 0
Child Health Day is the first Monday Put food coloring in in October. your toilet tank. Wait If you have a well, 15-30 minutes. If the listen for the pump Columbus Day is water in the bowl when no water is being the second Monday 0 Halloween is 0 becomes colored, used. If it turns on and in October. October 31. you have a leak. off, you have a leak. Tell your child to let you or another adult know rt he or she ever sees a water leak or burst pipe. Show your child a recent water bill. Explain how bills can indicate possible water leaks. With your child, check toilets, faucets and bathtubs for leaks. Fix any you find. Read your water meter. Then read it again after not using water for a few hours. If the reading doesn't match, you have a leak. Have you r child help you check for leaks outside, too. Check hoses, sprinklers and faucets, for example. If you have a pool or spa, look around the pumps for leaks. 0
Follow the litter as it travels from the street to the river. Remember that anything that goes down a drain or into the ground can pollute our water supply. This means less clean water for us to use. ~~ nt 'f-----j/ ) ~
Choose detergents Election Day is the and cleaners that Tuesday after the fi rst contain little or no Daylight Saving Time Monday in November. phosphorus. (Too ends at 2 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day is much of this nutrient the fi rst Sunday ~ Veterans Day is the fourth T h ursday~ is bad for fish and of November. November 11. in November. other water life.) Dispose of used motor oil properly. Most automobile shops that sell oil will take it. Bring your used batteries to a store or collection center that recycles them. Teach your child that storm sewers and street drains go to bodies of water- and to never put trash in them. Bring extra paint and other hazardous products to special collection centers. Ask your child to help you make your own nontoxic cleaning products. Find instructions online. Teach your child that it's never OK to put hazardous substances down the drain or in the regulartrash. Follow the directions when using fertilizer. Don't use too much! (')
New Year's Eve is December 31. During dinner, share ways you saved water today. Ask your child to do the same. Talk to your child's school about teaching students how to conserve water. Offer suggestions to your employer about ways to save water at work. If you don't have a Talk to local hazardous waste government officials. disposal program in Find out what they your area, ask your Support programs are doing to local government to that help treat and conserve water. start one. reuse wastewater. Set a good example. Conserve water wherever you are. Compare a current water bill to some older ones. Tell others how much you're saving by following these tips. Help teach friends and neighbors about water conservation. Share,... what you know!