1. Learn about the science of water and the water cycle.
2. Research information about water pollution in America and around the world.
3. Conduct climate and weather experiments in school and/or at home.
4. Create your own opinions, ideas and inventions.
5. Write about water with your teacher’s help, and send us your work so you can be a published author on STEAM City Kids!

If you learn about the SCIENCE of water and the water cycle, you can come up with creative ways to help save our clean water. Research stories in the news about people who do not have clean water and why they do not have clean water. As you research and learn, find a topic that sparks your interest. Then, write your own article, create a project, design artwork or develop a video about water conservation. Work with your teacher in class, and your teacher will send it to us. Then, we will publish your work online! YOU are smart, creative, and you have the power to inspire other kids and even adults!!

Water is one of our most important natural resources. It helps to create and sustain life. People, plants and animals all need clean water to survive. When we drink water, take a bath or brush our teeth, we are using the same water that the dinosaurs used! There is no space alien who drops off new fresh water for us each year as he flies around the galaxy in his space truck. Instead, nature recycles all of our water as it passes through each stage of the water cycle. We learn in school that water goes through 3 states of matter as it passes through the water cycle: liquid, solid and gas.

Over the years, as human populations and businesses grow, water pollution becomes a greater concern. This makes it difficult for many people to gain access to fresh, clean water. When we use chemicals on plants, the toxins make their way to into rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans.

It’s important that we all work together to keep our waters clean and safe. You can help educate other kids and adults about the science of water, the water cycle and pollution.

In 2014, the people living in Flint, Michigan started drinking water that had lead inside! Lead is a poisonous metal. If it’s in the drinking water, it causes harm to the body and mind. Look at a map of the United States. (Seriously, find a map in your classroom or do a Google search online to find a map. Then, look at the state of Michigan.) Flint is surrounded by the Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Michigan. If there are so many freshwater lakes around the city of Flint, why is the water from homes and schools toxic?

Residents used to get their drinking water from the city of Detroit, Michigan. To save money, the government switched the water source from Detroit to the Flint river in 2014. The local Flint river is contaminated with lead. The government then switched the water back to Detroit’s water, however, residents still suffer from the toxicity. CLICK HERE to read an article from TIME for Kids.

A doctor in Flint, Michigan, is part of a team that started noticing signs of lead poisoning in children. They sounded the alarm by warning the local authorities. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is the program director for the pediatric residency at the Hurley Children’s Hospital at Hurley Medical Center. She and her co-workers were not treated nicely when they waved the red flag. Government officials refused to believe that Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha was correct, but she did not give up on the children of Flint.

Dr. Mona inspired people all over the nation. TIME Magazine honored Dr. Mona by adding her to their annual list of influential people. In an interview, she stated, “I am honored and humbled to be on the TIME 100 Most Influential People list,” Hanna-Attisha said. “However, the most influential people in my world are the people of Flint – the smart, strong and resilient people of Flint that are approaching their third year of unsafe water. I hope this recognition continues to bring awareness to the ongoing Flint water crisis, and the very human story behind the crisis.” She added, “I would like to thank TIME magazine for the honor and everyone for their votes and extensive support.”