1

An Elementary Catechetical Program

education.crs.org©2017 Catholic Relief Services. All Rights Reserved. 17US100

Thirsty for Water Activity: Grades 4-8

Read and discuss the following important facts and use them to complete the activity below:

• It takes about 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.

• By some estimates, approximately 55% of all the drinkable water in the U.S. is used for livestock agriculture.

• Keeping the faucet running while brushing your teeth can waste 4 gallons of water.

• Around 95% of the water entering our homes goes down the drain.

• As much as a third of all the clean, drinkable water available in homes is used to flush the toilets.

• The average person uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water each day.

• A study showed as much as 27 gallons of water is used hand washing dishes.

• We use up to 4 gallons of water each time we wash our hands and face, and another 25 gallons when we shower!

Use the facts above to fill in the blanks.

1. The ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is a major cause of water pollution, more than all other industrial sources combined.

2. We waste up to ___ ___ gallons of water when we shower.

3. We can waste up to 4 gallons of water when we brush our

___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

4. Most of the water in our house goes down the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

5. By some estimates, more than half of all the drinkable water in the U.S. is

used for ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

M I

L

A

2

education.crs.org©2017 Catholic Relief Services. All Rights Reserved. 17US100

True or false1. Clean water is used to flush toilets. T F

2. A person can use 80 gallons of water each day. T F

3. 1,800 gallons of water is used to make 14 pounds of meat. T F

4. A person uses only 1.5 gallons of water to wash their hands and face. T F

5. Animal feces end up in our waterways. T F

education.crs.org©2017 Catholic Relief Services. All Rights Reserved. 17US100

Thirsty for Water

Read and discuss the following important facts and use them to complete the activity below:

• It takes about 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef.

• By some estimates, approximately 55% of all the drinkable water in the U.S. is used for livestock agriculture.

• Keeping the faucet running while brushing your teeth can waste 4 gallons of water.

• Around 95% of the water entering our homes goes down the drain.

• As much as a third of all the clean, drinkable water available in homes is used to flush the toilets.

• The average person uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water each day.

• A study showed as much as 27 gallons of water is used hand washing dishes.

• We use up to 4 gallons of water each time we wash our hands and face, and another 25 gallons when we shower!

Use the facts above to fill in the blanks.

1. The ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ is a major cause of water pollution, more than all other industrial sources combined.

2. We waste up to ___ ___ gallons of water when we shower.

3. We can waste up to 4 gallons of water when we brush our

___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

4. Most of the water in our house goes down the ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

5. By some estimates, more than half of all the drinkable water in the U.S. is used

for ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___.

True or false1. Clean water is used to flush toilets. T F

2. A person can use 80 gallons of water each day. T F

3. 1,800 gallons of water is used to make 14 pounds of meat. T F

4. A person uses only 1.5 gallons of water to wash their hands and face. T F

5. Animal feces end up in our waterways. T F

M I

I

A

Handout