Schools Water Portal – A unique resource for teachers on Water Education

The Central CBSE Board of Secondary Education has included large number of concepts related to conservation of natural resources in its syllabi of different subjects.  The CBSE Board has also advised schools to set up Eco Clubs as far as 08 years back. Moreover it has brought out Teachers’ Manual for Classes I – VIII priced at Rs. 30/- and Class IX priced at Rs. 40/- which are available in the Publication Stores, CBSE, Shiksha Sadan, 17 Rouse Avenue, Institutional Area, New Delhi-110002.

There are a number of activities related to the conservation of water as a natural resource in these manuals :

Classes I–VIII Teachers’ Manual: Activities:

1. Class 3 : Activity 4 – Water for Life

2. Class 4 : Activity 5 – Safe Drinking Water

3. Class 5 : Activity 5 : Water Cycle in Nature

4. Class 6 : Activity 2 : Purifying Water by Solar Energy

Class IX Teachers’ Manual: Activities : Chapter 1 :

Activity 1 : Transpiration and Water Cycle

Chapter 5 :

Activity 1 : Water Conservation

Water is one of our most precious natural resources, crucial for sustainability and growth.  Water mismanagement remains a key concern today and the importance of increasing water consciousness and values 

among our young ones cannot be overstated, especially the problems of dwindling freshwater resources, contamination of water bodies, neglect of traditional water harvesting structures, the human and environmental impacts of large dams etc.  Though water as a theme, spans almost all subjects in the curriculum, many teachers feel that transferring these concepts into their behaviour patterns and lifestyles continues to be a challenge.

Can water education be made fun? The schools water portal http://schools.indiawaterportal.org  certainly thinks so. National Knowledge Commission (NKC) and Arghyam, a non-profit trust, have created this national web portal to equip the young generation with knowledge of water sector problems, their causes and practical solutions. The National Knowledge Commission has created the ‘Schools Water Portal’ an excellent open web based platform for sharing learning resources on water amongst educators, students, school management and parents.