Skip to Content


Break the Cycle: Water bottle life cycle

Time: 30-50 minutes

Lesson description: This lesson introduces the concept of the life cycle of a water bottle and compares cradle-to-grave product life cycles with cradle-to-cradle. Students conduct taste test of tap vs. bottled water to see which they really prefer. With remaining time or as a homework students can find out where their tap water comes from and what happens to it when it goes down the drain.

Suggested subject areas: Science, economics, engineering, business, or social studies

Lesson components and description:

Break the Cycle Lesson plan: Gives an overview of the lesson materials and a step-by-step guide for each lesson. ()

Water Bottle Fact Sheet: Gives facts about the life cycle of a water bottle to be used when going through the lesson. ()

Water Bottle Life Cycle pictures: Provides images of the water bottle life cycle for students to arrange in the proper sequence. ()

Break the Cycle power point: The presentation steps the instructor and students through this activity with appropriate facts and discussion points, as well as additional links to internet video resources. ()

Arizona Water Consumption

Time: 30-40 minute lesson for grades 4-8

Lesson description: This activity has students discover how their personal water consumption for a specific set of activities compares to yearly rainfall averages in Phoenix. The activities addressed go beyond the often mentioned indoor water-use activities (flushing the toilet, brushing teeth, washing dishes) and reveal how activities less intuitively associated with water use a considerable amount of water. Completion of the activity leads students to discover that their activities consume a significant amount of water especially when compared to the amount of rain that falls where they live. The discovery is designed to challenge students to think about ways to conserve.

Suggested subject areas: Science and/or social studies

Lesson components and descriptions:

AZ Water Consumption Lesson Plan Gives an overview of the unit along with step-by-step instructions for the activity ()

Student Worksheets Consumption Chart Worksheet () provides to students with a chart to fill out based on their water consumption. Water Bottle Worksheet () provides students with a graphic to illustrate their water consumption.

AZ Water Consumption Presentation This presentation follows the step-by-step instructions and provides data for the activity ()