Teacher Name: Julia Maisel

Grade: 3
Title of Lesson: PSA for Water Conservation

Standards:
Arizona Science Standard:
3.C1.PO 6 Describe ways humans use Earth materials
Arizona English Language Arts Standard:
3.SL.4 Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and
relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

Lesson Summary:
After completing days one through four of the Water Conservation unit, students will create their
own public service announcement to share their recently acquired information about water
conservation. They will use the template, Listen a Minute and Save Water! to collect their
thoughts. Then, they will write their radio broadcast on a blank piece of paper. When they are
finished, they will share their broadcast with a small group of students.

Objective:
Students will be able to apply their knowledge of the water conservation unit by composing a
public service announcement and will share it with their peers.

Sub-objectives:
Students will be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of water conservation
Make connections to their daily lives
Develop a reflective writing piece
Integrate recently acquired information from the unit
This objective is relevant to students because the activity requires them to make connections
about water waste and ways to save water in their personal lives. They can use this information
to live a more sustainable future.

Evidence of Mastery:
The evidence of mastery for this assignment is the written public service announcement, or radio
broadcast. An exemplar student response will include:
A description of what it means to waste water (2 points)
At least two examples of aspects that waste water (2 points)
One unique thing that they learned from this unit (2 points)
At least five tips to save water (2 points)
Will make personal connections to daily life to establish meaning (2 points)
Their response will be worth ten points.
Prerequisite Knowledge:
Students will need to have a foundation of water conservation. They will need to know what
water usage, water waste, and water conservation are. They will also need to provide examples
of things that waste water and suggestions to save water.

Materials:
Pencils
Listen a Minute and Save Water!
Blank paper
Optional: any notes or completed activities from previous days in this unit to use as a
reference

Vocabulary:
Water conservation
Water usage
Access to water
Preserve
Conserve
Save
Reduce

Teaching Procedures:
1. The teacher will activate student interest by asking, How many of you like to listen to
the radio? As students respond, the teacher will share, A radio broadcast is an
announcement that allows you to share a message with thousands of people. Today, you
will be creating your very own radio broadcast about water conservation to share with
your classmates.
2. The teacher will distribute the Listen a Minute and Save Water template. He or she
should ask their students to get out a writing utensil as well as a piece of paper.
3. Next, the teacher should read over the worksheet with students. The teacher should
explain the criteria he or she is looking for in each public service announcement. This can
be written on the board for students to reference while writing.
4. Together, they can brainstorm one or two ideas about points they may want to include in
their broadcasts. For example, many people in Arizona get their water from the Salt
River, Verde River, or Colorado River.
5. Then, the teacher should tell students that when they are done filling out their template,
they can write their radio broadcast message on their blank piece of paper.
6. Give students independent time to write. At this time, the teacher should circulate around
the room and guide students as they create their writing piece.
7. The teacher should communicate the expectations of an exemplar piece again as students
write.
8. When students have finished their radio broadcast, split them up into small groups of
three or four students. (This can vary depending on class size.)
 9. The teacher should share with students that, A professional radio broadcaster will speak
clearly so that listeners can understand their message. Because they want people to
believe what they have to say, it is important for them to sound confident.
10. Give students five to ten minutes (depending on group size) to share their message with
their classmates.
11. When students have finished sharing, instruct students to return to their seats.
12. Finish the activity with a discussion. The teacher should ask students, Now that you
have learned so many cool and important things about water conservation, what are you
going to do in the future to protect earths water? Students will participate in a verbal
discussion about this question.

Resources:
Listen a Minute and Save Water!, created by the Southwest Florida Management District.

Ways of Thinking Connection:

This lesson plan incorporates Futures Thinking. It prompts students to make decisions about how
they can eliminate their water waste and save water. By actively engaging in this activity, they
will make personal connections about how they can have a water-wise future.