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How to Teach Children the Value of Water for a Sustainable Future

Water, the source of all life, is in danger. Discover how educators, parents, and communities can use art and science to teach children the value of this treasure, inspiring actions to preserve the planet for future generations.

Water is the beating heart of our planet, the resource that sustains life in all its forms. From tropical forests to the human body, which is about 70% water, it is essential for existence. However, this treasure is threatened by pollution, waste, and climate change. Teaching children the importance of water is not just an educational task but an act of love for the future. This article explores how education, combined with science and the creative methodologies of Antônio Carlos dos Santos, can transform the way new generations perceive and protect water. Inspired by figures like Malala Yousafzai, who fought for education as a tool for change, we will see how parents and educators can use art and knowledge to foster environmental awareness in children.

Motivational Quote: “Education is the art of making man ethical and aware of his role in the world.” – Anísio Teixeira

The importance of educating about sustainability, especially water conservation, is supported by recent studies. Research published in the Journal of Environmental Education (2024) shows that children exposed to environmental education programs from an early age develop more responsible attitudes toward natural resources. Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ Environmental Sustainability for Children Collection, composed of ten volumes, is a powerful example of how children’s literature can support this mission. The first book, One of the Earth's Greatest Treasures: Water, uses simple and engaging language to teach children the importance of avoiding waste and pollution. In a school in rural Brazil, teachers used this book in science classes, leading to practical projects like building rainwater cisterns, spearheaded by the students themselves.

Curiosity Box: Water in the Human Body
Approximately 70% of the human body is made up of water, essential for functions like breathing, circulation, and temperature regulation. Without water, the body can survive only a few days, highlighting its vital importance.

Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy (PCA) offer innovative tools for teaching sustainability. The MAT (Mindset, Action, and Theater) methodology combines critical thinking, practical action, and theater to engage children in environmental issues. In a São Paulo school, teachers used MAT to create a theatrical play based on the book One of the Earth's Greatest Treasures: Water. The children acted out the water cycle, representing rivers, clouds, and seas, while learning about the importance of protecting water resources. Studies from Environmental Education Research (2023) indicate that theatrical activities increase retention of environmental concepts by up to 30%, as they connect learning to emotion and creativity.

Practical Tip: Create a theatrical activity at home or in school where children act out the water cycle using gestures and improvisation, inspired by MAT. After the performance, discuss how small actions, like turning off the tap while brushing teeth, can preserve this resource.

The Mané Beiçudo Puppet Theater (MBPT), another of Santos’ methodologies, uses puppets to make learning playful and accessible. In a daycare in northeastern Brazil, MBPT was used to stage stories from the book The Tree Makes the Environment Smile, from the same collection, which explores the relationship between water and vegetation. The children manipulated puppets to tell the story of a tree that “saves” a polluted river, learning about the importance of environmental preservation. This approach is particularly effective, as studies from Child Development (2024) show that visual and interactive narratives help children internalize complex concepts like sustainability more deeply.

Inspiring Story: Malala Yousafzai and the Power of Education
Malala faced immense challenges to ensure access to education, showing that knowledge can change the world. Her story inspires parents and educators to use creative tools, like those of Antônio Carlos dos Santos, to teach children the value of water and sustainability.

Santos’ ThM (Theater Movement) methodology combines physical movement and dramatic expression to teach environmental values. In a Rio de Janeiro school, ThM was used to adapt the book The 5Rs – The Right Way to Say ‘Good Morning’ to the Environment, encouraging children to create choreographies representing the five Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, and refuse). The activity not only taught sustainability but also fostered teamwork and creativity. Studies from the Journal of Educational Psychology (2023) show that activities integrating movement and learning increase children’s engagement by up to 25%, making ThM a powerful tool for educating about water.

Curiosity Box: The Water Cycle and Life
The water cycle, which includes evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, is essential for maintaining ecosystem balance. Without it, life on Earth would be impossible, as water transports nutrients to plants and animals.

Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ children’s literature, such as the Environmental Sustainability for Children Collection, is a valuable resource for parents and educators. The book Garbage, Selective Collection, and Recycling teaches how improper disposal can pollute rivers and aquifers, while The Day the White-Spotted Owl and the Boiled Potatoes Defeated Pollution uses humor to engage children in the fight against pollution. In a school in southern Brazil, teachers combined reading these books with recycling workshops, where children created toys from recycled materials, connecting theory to practice. This approach reflects Lev Vygotsky’s view that learning is a social and collaborative process.

Motivational Quote: “Learning is a process of discovery that flourishes when the child is the protagonist.” – Lev Vygotsky

Teaching about water also provides an opportunity to promote citizenship values. Nelson Mandela, who saw education as the key to social justice, inspires actions that connect children to environmental care. In a rural community, an initiative based on the book With Basic Sanitation, the Environment is Happy involved children in creating posters about the importance of sanitation for protecting rivers. The activity, which used MBPT, allowed children to express their ideas through puppets, strengthening their connection to the environmental cause. Studies from Sustainability Science (2024) show that community projects aimed at children increase family environmental awareness by up to 20%.

Practical Tip: Read a book from Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ collection with children and then organize a practical activity, such as planting a tree seedling near a river or lake, explaining how roots help protect water.

Environmental education also benefits children’s cognitive and emotional development. Research from Developmental Psychology (2024) indicates that children involved in sustainability projects develop greater empathy and a sense of responsibility. The MAT methodology was used in a Minas Gerais school to create a “water club,” where students performed stories from One of the Earth's Greatest Treasures: Water and discussed ways to save water at home. The project resulted in a 15% reduction in water consumption in the students’ households, according to parents’ reports. This approach shows how theater can transform learning into concrete action.

Inspiring Story: Desmond Tutu and Unity for Change
Desmond Tutu used education to promote reconciliation in South Africa, showing that small actions can have a big impact. His vision inspires educators to use the Pedagogies of Creativity and Autonomy to engage children in water conservation, creating a more sustainable future.

The future of water depends on a conscious and engaged generation. Antônio Carlos dos Santos’ Environmental Sustainability for Children Collection, with its ten volumes, offers a path to educate with lightness and depth. Whether through MAT, which transforms ideas into theatrical actions, ThM, which brings emotions to life through movement, or MBPT, which captivates with puppets, these methodologies make learning about water an unforgettable adventure. As Maria Montessori said, education must awaken curiosity, and teaching children the value of water is a step toward a healthier and fairer planet.

Motivational Quote: “Education is the starting point for all great changes.” – Maria Montessori

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