Written by Lacie Wever, HRSD Community Education and Outreach Specialist Published on April 7, 2025
Even though the Earth is made of about 71% of water, we all know there is no water to waste! This is why it is so important for students to learn more about wastewater. What happens to the water that goes down your drain from your sinks, toilets, showers, and washing machine? How is water cleaned enough to go back into the environment while also protecting nature? As Education and Outreach Specialists, we’ve created several lesson plans and activities to help teach your students all about wastewater.
HRSD works to ensure our communities will have clean waterways and reliable water resources by treating wastewater and recovering natural resources to protect public health.
As part of accomplishing this mission HRSD is committed to supporting environmental education and outreach inside the classroom and in our community! We’ve created an HRSD classroom filled with resources to help you teach your students about the importance of wastewater and water quality.
What You’ll Find in our HRSD Classroom to teach wastewater to your students:
Amazing Aquifer
- Your students will love answering big questions like “What does an aquifer really look like? This hands-on model will help your students learn about the Potomac Aquifer, the importance of groundwater, and how groundwater is stored and removed.
- SOLs Covered: 3.7a&c, 3.8a&b, 4.8a, 6.8a, 6.8c&d, ES.8b&c, ENV.10, ENV.11 ENV.12
- Access the FREE Lesson Plan here.
Bay In A Bottle
- If you’re ready to make to make waves in the classroom, this is for you! Let your students create their own miniature Chesapeake Bay in a bottle! This activity teachers to vial process of wastewater treatment in Hampton Roads, showing how we clean wastewater and release water back into the environment.
- SOLs Covered: 4.7c, 4.8a
- Access the FREE Lesson Plan here.
Edible Aquifer
- Get ready for a deliciously educational adventure as students build an edible aquifer model to understand how water is stored underground. It’s a tasty way to teach critical environmental concepts!
- SOLs Covered: 3.7a&c, 4.8a, 5.9a&b, 6.6f, 6.8d, 6.9a-c.
- Access the FREE Lesson Plan here.
Just Throw It Away
- Students learn what’s really in the water that flows to HRSD’s treatment plants! This hands-on activity challenges students to create their own “wastewater” from everyday household items. It’s messy and fun, but no need to hold your nose – it’s all part of the learning process!
- SOLs Covered: 3.8, 5.9b, 6.6f, 6.8d, 6.9a-c, BIO.8, ES.6c, ES.8c, ES.10e
- Access the FREE Lesson Plan here.
Washing Water
- In this STEM-packed lesson, students will design, build, and test their own water filters. It’s a perfect project for encouraging teamwork, problem-solving, and creative thinking, while teaching students about improving water quality.
- SOLs Covered: 3.8a&b, 5.9b, 6.6f, 6.8d, 6.9a-c, ES.6c, ES.8c
- Access the FREE Lesson Plan here.
Water Cycle In a Bag
- Bring the water cycle to life with this simple (and fun) experiment! This activity lets your students see the stages of the water cycle in action, all in a zip-lock bag! It’s a hands on way to teach about evaporation, condensation, and precipitation – and your students will be amazed by the results!
- SOLs Covered: 3.7a-Access the FREE Lesson Plan here
Over the years we’ve curated these interactive lessons and educational material to help teach students about water quality, wastewater treatment and the value of water. These resources help to bridge the gap between education and practical, real-world environmental issues while also aligning with STEM objectives and Virginia SOL standards
HRSD’s classroom is a valuable resource for educators because it provides free, educational tools to help educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards!