Virtual Peel Children’s Water Festival
These sessions were recorded in April 2022. Access these videos to use in your classroom if you are not able to join the Children’s Water Festival in person.
Video: PCWF Day1 Apr5 2022 1
Run time: 1 hour, 26 minutes
Sessions
Just a Drop in the Bucket
Region of Peel
Although the Earth is covered mainly by water, only a small amount is available for drinking.
Using graduated cylinders to demonstrate the world’s water supply, we will show students the different types of water on earth, and just how much of this water we can actually use.
Microplastics: A Tiny Danger
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Microplastics are tiny bits of plastic that often go unnoticed in beaches, parks, and urban areas – but the impacts they cause are anything but small!
For “Microplastics: A Tiny Danger”, students will learn about microplastics, from what they are and why they are a problem, to what we can do to make a difference! The TRCA will also show students how to sort and identify microplastics through a fun and simple sifting activity.
How Much Does it Take?
Region of Peel
This activity teaches students about the concept of virtual water – the amount of water embedded in the food products we use. Using images of common food products, students will have the opportunity to see how much water goes into making the food we eat; from growing, processing and transporting it.
Video: PCWF Day2 Apr7 2022
Run time: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Sessions:
Waste Reduction: Drastic Tales of Plastic
Ecosource
In this Workshop, students will examine waste reduction strategies and investigate the lifecycles of plastic products.
Students will also learn about the impacts of waste on natural habitats and communities, and what actions they can take to address the environmental impact of that waste.
A Little #Less Salty
Region of Peel
Can we find a balance between salt use and the environment?
During the winter season, road salt is used to reduce slips, trips, and falls on icy and snowy sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. Road salt helps ice melt quicker, however; too much salt has negative effects on the environment.
In this presentation, students will learn about how salt works to melt ice, the effects of salt on the environment, and tactics for us all to be a little less salty.
Sewer Detectives
Region of Peel
Students will be introduced to Peel’s extensive wastewater system and be able to identify the difference between wastewater and storm water.
They will learn about the importance of monitoring what is poured down the sink or flushed down the toilets in their home.
Using an interactive sorting game students will learn which products can enter our sanitary sewer system and which ones need to be disposed of elsewhere.
Video: PCWF Day3 Apr12 2022
Run time: 1 hour, 31 minutes
Sessions:
A Picture of Health
Credit Valley Conservation
Presenter will “fish” in the Credit River and students will learn about tolerant and sensitive species. Students will guess if different fish species are tolerant or sensitive and will learn more about how climate change affects our local species.
Busy with Benthics
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
There is a whole world of life in lakes and rivers. Some of the tiny animals living at the bottom of waterbodies are known as benthics.
For “Busy with Benthics”, students will learn about these amazing creatures called benthic macroinvertebrates and the significant role they play in healthy aquatic ecosystems.
In addition, the TRCA will share how we look for these creatures through a stream study and how students can conduct their own stream studies!
Video: PCWF Day4 Apr14 2022
Run time: 1 hour, 24 minutes
Sessions:
Best Foot Forward
Region of Peel
The Best Foot Forward PowerPoint presentation will educate students on pedestrian infrastructure, such as pedestrian signals and how to use them, and pedestrian safety dos and don'ts when crossing the street or walking on sidewalks.
Trivia questions, pedestrian safety scenarios, and a video are used to teach and engage students throughout the presentation.
Students will take away how they can practice putting their "best foot forward" to be safer pedestrians on their community.
A Stormwater Story
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)
Where does the rain go? In “A Stormwater Story”, students will learn about the impacts of stormwater in urban areas and discover how to take action to protect drinking water, wildlife habitat, and more. Using the TRCA’s enviroscape model, students will follow the journey of stormwater runoff from roads, neighbourhoods, and farmlands to our waterways.
Sort it Out
Region of Peel
This activity will challenge students to sort their waste through a virtual waste exercise. Students will be given a list of items, typically found at home or school, and put their knowledge of the different sorting streams to the test. They can then apply their skills in their everyday lives when creating the ultimate wasteless lunch.
Water and wastewater
- Water conservation challenge
- Pledge to conserve water
- Microplastics
- Water footprint calculator
- Water footprint
- Wastewater detectives
- FOGS a call to action
- Why do we grit roads?
- Science for kids: salt and ice experiments
- Rain to runoff: road salt in our city worksheet
- Rain to runoff: a stormwater story
- Community learning events (TRCA)
- At home with nature (TRCA)
Videos
- How much water is on earth?
- The basics of freshwater
- In winter, let’s all be #LessSalty
- Why do we put salt on icy sidewalks?
- How the Region of Peel cleans your wastewater
Waste
- Workshops, games, and other resources
- Compost comic strip
- Thinking outside the lunchbox
- The wasteless lunch reflection
Transportation
- Peel Children’s Safety Village spring into safety drawing contest
- Safety on two wheels
- Bike, blade, and board safety
- Resources for educators – bicycle safety
- Active Transportation BINGO sheet 1 (winter)
- Active Transportation BINGO sheet 2
- Active Transportation BINGO sheet 3
- Active Transportation BINGO sheet 4
- BINGO road safety sign game
- Walking your way to safety
- Pedestrian safety
- Active Transportation projects
- Walk and Roll to school – a guide for parents