Pre-K - 12 Programs
FREE, Fun, and Educational!
Dive into water education with a classroom presentation, tour, classroom printables, or mascot appearance from the Water Conservation Office. From water conservation to the water cycle, we are sure to offer something to complement your educational goals. All activities correlate with the Georgia Performance Standards and Core Curriculum. Good for school groups, summer camps, homeschoolers, science nights, and even adult groups.
To schedule, contact Laurie Loftin.
To schedule, contact Laurie Loftin.
What teachers are saying...
"The kids connect back to this experience all the time."
"We loved every minute!"
"This was outstanding. I have been teaching for 33 years and this is one of the best I have participated in."
"The kids connect back to this experience all the time."
"We loved every minute!"
"This was outstanding. I have been teaching for 33 years and this is one of the best I have participated in."
- Activities & Presentations
- Tours
- Special Events & Activities
- Classroom Printables
- Mascot
- Online Resources
- Water Drop Box
Activities and Presentations
The Water Conservation Office is available to bring FREE, educational, and fun activities and presentations to you. These are appropriate for school groups, summer camps, homeschoolers, science nights, and even adult groups.
Grade recommendations are given, but most activities are adaptable upon request. Don't see what you are looking for? Let us know what topic you like and we can pull together a hands-on learning activity to meet your needs! All activities correlate with the Georgia Performance Standards and Core Curriculum.
To schedule, contact Laurie Loftin.
8-4-1, One for All
Grades: Upper Elementary - High School
We use water as individuals, but who else in our community uses water? Representing eight different water users, students must safely carry one water container "downstream" while navigating through water management challenges.
Topics: water conservation, water management, natural resources, social studies, government, social studies
Cloud Painting
Grades: Pre-school - 2nd
With inspiration from "It Looked Like Spilt Milk," students create a rainstorm in a cup, then make their own cumulus clouds with shaving cream.
Topics: water cycle, clouds, weather
Grades: 2nd - High School
Take a step through time as we compare water usage in Athens over the past two centuries. Students represent various Athens' water users and discover the effects different user types have on our supply. Special note: Must be done outdoors.
Topics: conservation, water quantity & quality, consumptive use, social studies
Community Helpers
Grades: Pre-K - 2nd
Our work is often hidden, but people in the water industry definitely help keep our community flowing. This interactive version of Just Pipe Up is adapted for our younger learners and introduces water workers as important community helpers.
Topics: water, community helpers, color identification, cooperative play
Drop in the Bucket
Grades: Pre-K - High School, Complements specific 4th Grade standards
Uses visuals to demonstrate the amount of water on Earth and what percentage is available for our use. Incorporates percentages and graphs.
Topics: water quantity, geography, mathematics, graphing
Grades: Pre-school - 5th
Frogs are disappearing at an alarming rate. Learn about frogs in our area and how your actions with water impacts the future of frogs, as well as ours.
Topics: water quantity, water quality, life sciences, frogs
The FOG Relay
Grades: Pre-school - 5th
Stop FOG from going down the drain! Discover how Fats, Oils, & Grease can change their state of matter, moving from a liquid to a solid, and lead to costly and unpleasant sewage backups. Participate in a relay and learn how to fight FOG!
Topics: states of matter, water protection, citizenship
H2Olympics
Grades: 3rd - 8th
Compete in a Water Olympics to investigate two properties of water, adhesion and cohesion. Can you make water defy gravity?
Topics: properties of water: adhesion, cohesion, surface tension, capillary action
Incredible Journey
Grades: 3rd - 8th, Complements specific 2nd & 4th standards
Students become water molecules and simulate the movement of water within the water cycle. Some water drops get stuck in clouds and glaciers while others are passed through an animal!
Topics: water cycle, clouds, states of matter
Just Pipe Up!
Grades: 3rd - High School
Students build a pipeline in a puzzle activity to represent the delivery and collection system of water to and from homes. Learn about various career opportunities within water.
Topics: water cycle, city planning, career opportunities
Grades: All
Students work in teams to compete in a water-hauling game to develop an appreciation for our readily available water supplies. Special note: Potential for getting wet, so must be done outdoors.
Topics: water quantity, mathematics, world issues
Money Down the Drain
Grades: 3rd - High School, Complements specific 3rd Grade standards
Why pour money down the drain when every drop counts? Simple calculations illustrate the losses associated with a dripping faucet to emphasize the need to adopt water efficient habits.
Topics: water conservation, mathematics, practical life
Parachute into a State of Matter
Grades: 3rd - High School, Complements specific 4th Grade standards
H2Oh, Yeah! How do water molecules do that? Use a parachute to create energy and see how water molecules change from a solid to a liquid and to a gas based on the level of energy.
Topics: water cycle, states of matter
Water Charades
Grades: Pre-school - 3rd, Complements specific 3rd Grade standards
Students explore the ways we use water in our everyday lives through a game of charades. Learn a few simple water conservation tips for protecting this precious resource we depend on every day.
Topics: water conservation
Watery Foods
Grades: Pre-school - 12th
A large percentage of our bodies is made up of water. Explore how much of your body weight comes from water, why it is important for your body, and how much water is in food.
Topics: health, life science, math, importance of water
Water Footprint
Grades: Upper elementary - High School
You have heard of a carbon footprint, but do you know about a water footprint? Students become aware of the hidden water we use in our everyday lives, empowering them to take greater action to reduce water consumption.
Topics: water conservation, water resources, water management, mathematics
Tours
We turn on a tap and water appears; flush a toilet and it goes away. But how does this "magically" happen? Give your students a greater understanding of their world with a tour to a public utilities facility.
For more information or to schedule a tour, visit our Tour page.
Tours are recommended for 3rd Grade and up. Please contact our office for special considerations.
Drinking Water Treatment Plant
Tours are perfect for expanding on the 3rd grade conservation standard!
See firsthand how our drinking water is treated before being delivered to homes and schools. The guided tour can stand alone or accompany any of our programs to correlate to the class unit of study.
Topics: water conservation, natural resources, health science, water science, water infrastructure
Designed to meet GPS S3L2
Water Reclamation Facility This tour is ideal for fourth graders studying decomposers or fifth graders meeting microorganisms.
Our facility is swimming with beneficial microorganisms! Students learn the important role these tiny bugs can play in our everyday life, as well as discovering what happens to the water they send down the drain.
Topics: life science, microorganisms, decomposers, water infrastructure, natural resources
Designed to meet GPS S4L1 & S5L4
Special Events & Activities
The following activities are a little out of the ordinary, so they are in a category all their own. Read through to see if one of these will fit in with a science night, festival, carnival, literacy project, or theme you are developing.
To schedule or for questions, contact Laurie Loftin.
Edible Aquifers
Grades: Pre-school – 8th
An aqui-what? Learn what an aquifer is, how it plays a role in our water supply, and why we should conserve water. Participants create an aquifer they can consume using ice cream and other goodies. Class size is limited.
Topics: water conservation, earth science, supply and demand
Grades: All ages
Using a tabletop model, students explore the man-made water cycle. Discover where our water comes from, how it is transported to our homes, and how it is treated after use. A wonderful visual!
Topics: natural resources, water infrastructure, city planning, community
Little Lily’s Pad Hop
Grades: Pre-school – 5th
Little Lily is the Water Conservation Office (WCO) ambassador and she wants to hop to your classroom! Inspired by Flat Stanley, the WCO provides everything you need to begin a classroom literacy project that combines family involvement and water conservation. Little Lily visits student’s homes, then students share Little Lily’s water adventure in a classroom journal. We can tailor her visit to meet your needs, be it a few months to the whole year! Learn more about Little Lily’s Pad Hop
Topics: water conservation, literacy, family involvement, citizenship, natural resources, life science, metamorphosis, water cycle, frogs
Lily’s Pad Game
Grades: Pre-school – 3rd
Ready, set, hop! Children use basic math and strategy skills to make it to the finish line of a life-size board game. Along the way they learn the dos and don’ts of water conservation.
Topics: water conservation, math
Toilet Toss Trivia
Grades: Any age level
You bring the people, we bring the toilet! Participants answer water trivia questions before tossing a ball into the toilet (don’t try this at home!) and winning a prize. Great for festivals, carnivals, and science nights.
Topics: Water-related trivia questions are grade specific and selected based on the GPS/Common Core standards for the grade
Water Concentration Games
Grades: Pre-school - 8th
Play an over-sized game of Memory! Great for carnivals, science nights, or as an extension of another activity, students make matches of images and vocabulary words. Themes include:
- Don't "Frog"-get the Frogs of Georgia - Match the frogs who reside within our state.
- Water Conservation Concentration - Learn tips for conserving water while testing your memory.
- Where's the Water? - Focuses on the water cycle, clouds, and states of matter
- Who Needs Water? - All living organisms need water! In a twist, you must match the baby to the adult image.
Water Cycle in a Bottle
Grade: Pre-school – 8th
Students get their hands a little dirty building their very own terrarium. See the water cycle in action right before your eyes! This activity requires clean, 2-liter bottles with lids to be collected by class and prepared by WCO prior to scheduled visit.
Topics: water resources, water cycle, life science
Water Conservation Fortune Teller
Grade: Pre-school – 8th
Enter the Water Conservation Fortune Teller’s tent, look into the plasma ball, and discover how you will be conserving water in the near future. Great for festivals, carnivals, and science nights.
Topics: water conservation
Classroom Printables
Looking for a water-themed activity you can quickly turn to on a rainy day? Download any of our classroom printables and create educational and fun activities the students will enjoy.
Drip, Drip, Drip Card Game
Grades: All
We all need water for bathing, cleaning, and drinking. In this card game, can you collect enough water to meet the needs of your community? Watch out for a drought! That limits our water supply.
Topics: water conservation, environmental health, supply and demand
Tooth Brushing Sequence Cards
Grades: Pre-school - 3rd
Turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save 2-5 gallons of water each time you brush. If 300 million
Topics: water conservation, hygiene, health
Water Career Bingo
Grades: All
Looking for a career that is rewarding, life-saving, and in demand? Consider a water-related profession. Clean water will always be needed, so this pool of professionals can't dry up. Learn about a few of the careers available while playing an entertaining game of bingo.
Topics: career opportunities, career awareness
- Water Career Bingo Pull Slips and Job Descriptions
- Water Career Bingo Cards
- Water Career Bingo tokens (regular bingo chips may be used instead)
Grades: Upper elementary
Print a crossword all about water conservation.
Water Conservation Pledge Card
Grades: All, specific grades listed
Take a pledge to conserve water
Topics: water conservation, community, citizenship, natural resources
- Water Conservation Pledge Card, Grades Pre-school - 2nd
- Water Conservation Pledge Card, Grades 3rd - 6th
Grades: Upper Elementary - High School
Play a game of Jeopardy all about water. Categories include Water Cycle, Water General, Properties of Water, Water Weather, and Water Conservation. Students can form teams and play. Click on the number of points in the category to reveal the answer. The first group to say "Water!" shares their guess to earn points. Click on the water drop in the bottom right corner to discover the question, then click the water drop on this slide to return to the points board. The team with the right answer may then select another category and points amount. Keep score to determine which team made the biggest splash.
Topics: water cycle, water conservation, properties of water, weather, general water
- Water in Jeopardy Game PDF (works properly when opened in Chrome or Internet Explorer)
- Water in Jeopardy Answers and Questions
Grades: All
Print coloring sheets of Lily Anne Phibian, the Water Conservation Office mascot, to share with your students.
- Lily Anne Phibian, Grease Avenger: Lily Anne fights Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) to protect our sewer systems and water resources. You can, too! Never put down the drain. Recycle it or put it in the trash can instead.
- Lily Anne Phibian, Cheerleader: Hip,
hop , hooray! Save water today! Lily Anne wants to cheer you on in your water conservation efforts. - Lily Anne Phibian, Plumber: You can stop leaks in three easy steps: 1) Check for leaks, 2) Twist and tighten connections, and 3) Replace older or broken fixtures.
Grades: All
Word finds, mazes, and coloring pages await in this special coloring book about drinking water treatment and delivery in Athens, GA.
Make the coloring book more meaningful! Take a tour of the Drinking Water Treatment Plant and receive a coloring book at the end of the tour.
DWTP Coloring Book as PDF
Water Reclamation Facility Coloring Book
Grades: All
Decomposers, mazes, and coloring pages await in this special coloring book about the water reclamation process in Athens, GA.
Make the coloring book more meaningful! Take a tour of a Water Reclamation Facility and receive a coloring book at the end of the tour.
WRF Coloring Book as PDF
Mascot
Appearances
Contact Laurie Loftin to schedule an appearance.
Social Media
Lily Anne is very social. See what she is doing, learn about upcoming events, and stay in touch through any of the following social media links.

Coloring Sheets
Print coloring sheets of Lily Anne Phibian to share with your students.
- Lily Anne Phibian, Grease Avenger: Lily Anne fights Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) to protect our sewer systems and water resources. You can, too! Never put down the drain. Recycle it or put it in the trash can instead.
- Lily Anne Phibian, Cheerleader: Hip, hop, hooray! Save water today! Lily Anne wants to cheer you on in your water conservation efforts.
- Lily Anne Phibian Plumber: You can stop leaks in three easy steps: 1) Check for leaks, 2) Twist and tighten connections, and 3) Replace older or broken fixtures.
Online Resources
The Water Conservation Office is proud to work with many others across the world to promote wise water practices to protect this precious resource. Follow a link to find out more about what we are doing in Athens and what other groups can offer your students.
Athens Water Festival
Held every year at Sandy Creek Park the weekend after Labor Day, this free educational event offers fun and interactive activities from local water groups. Most activities meet Georgia Performance Standards, so encourage family attendance by offering your students extra credit for going to the festival!
EPA Sourcebooks
The Sourcebooks contain water related activities for grades K-12. Great resource for teachers.
EPA WaterSense
Worksheets related to fixing leaks and reducing water use are available for printing
Georgia Project WET
Our local Project WET connection. Educator workshops with curriculum guides full of water-related activities can be yours! Correlations between Project WET activities and the GPS and Common Core are easily found on this website.
To schedule a Project WET training for your group, contact Laurie Loftin.
NEW!! Microorganisms in Wastewater
See a video of the stars in our wastewater reclamation facilities. We couldn't get our wastewater clean if not for the help of these decomposers. This video is of actual microorganisms found in the water! Watch to the end to see what we consider to be the cutest microorganism of them all.
Project WET
Project WET Foundation has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education
Project WET Discover Water
Project WET has an interactive site for students to learn about the water cycle, explore watersheds, use water wisely, and much more. Includes tips for educators and parents to extend the learning.
Ripple Effect Film Project
An Athens-Clarke County contest for short water-themed films - open to local students from elementary to high school, as well as college students
Saving Water, Saving Money, Saving the Earth
A water conservation guide to get the kids involved and it provides links for parents and educators.
USGS (U.S. Geological Survey)
Contains selected USGS educational resources from topics such as water, tsunamis, earthquakes, biology, and ecosystems.
USGS Water Science School
Test your water knowledge and find water facts. Great for students.
USGS Water Watch
Find the current river levels and drought conditions for Athens, GA. Great for demonstrating how graphs and historical data are collected for practical use in everyday life.
Water.org
Find information about the world water crisis, water crisis facts, and what you can do to help. Gives students an appreciation for our water supply and understanding of how other communities must get their water.
Water Drop Box
Let water education flow into your classroom by reserving a Water Drop Box. These boxes are full of hands on activities, games, and teacher guides focused on water education. Both formal and non-formal educators within Athens-Clarke County can schedule to "rent" a Water Drop box for two week time periods. The Water Conservation Office will make a "water drop off" to your location. Use the materials inside to expand on water education in your classroom, then we will come and pick the Water Drop Box up at the end of two weeks. These boxes include many items that can easily be adapted for early learners through middle school.
We have the following Water Drop Box themes available:
- Water Concentration Games: Play a giant memory game! Game themes include Water Conservation Tips, Aquatic Ecosystems, Water Cycle, and Who Needs Water? (includes matching the young to the adult).
- Water Conservation: Interactive games, songs, books, and experiments reinforce the concept of water conservation.
- Water Cycle: Discover how water moves around the earth through the parts of the water cycle.
Do you have ideas for a Water Drop Box? A particular theme you would like to see? We are here to help make water education fun, exciting, and easy for your classroom, so share with us your ideas, comments, and suggestions.