Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Clean Water and Sanitation is all about ensuring everyone has access to safe drinking water and proper toilets/hygiene facilities. It focuses on keeping our water sources clean from pollution and using water wisely so we don't run out. This goal is essential because clean water and good hygiene prevent the spread of diseases and keep communities healthy.
Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Clean Water and Sanitation is all about ensuring everyone has access to safe drinking water and proper toilets/hygiene facilities. It focuses on keeping our water sources clean from pollution and using water wisely so we don't run out. This goal is essential because clean water and good hygiene prevent the spread of diseases and keep communities healthy.
Introduction to Goal 6
A curriculum designed for Goal 6 that inspires the values and competencies behind this mission for grades 5-12.
Featured Lesson: Creative Writing
Waves of Words: Writing for Water
Dive into Goal 6 through the lens of creative writing. This lesson provides hands-on activities and creative exploration designed to bring the concepts to life for students.
Lessons
Dance/Movement Exploration
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through dance/movement.
Flowing Colors: Art for Clean Water
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through art.
Waves of Words: Writing for Water
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through creative writing.
Dancing for Our Water: Movement for Change
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through dance/movement.
Color Field for Clean Water: Painting the Vision
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through art.
DANCE/MOVEMENT EXPLORATION
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through dance/movement.
Dancing Our Story For Clean Water
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through dance/movement.
Making Music to Remember Clean Water
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through music.
Painting With Words for Clean Water
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through creative writing.
Water Works: Bringing Clean Water Stories to Life
Explore Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all through drama.
These learning objectives are organized into five categories that together form a comprehensive approach to understanding and engaging with this goal.
Knowledge
- •
Identify and define the importance of clean water and good sanitation for human health, the environment, and daily life.
(Cr1.1.MS, Cn10.1.MS) - •
Recognize that access to clean water and safe sanitation is not equal for everyone around the world, and understand that pollution and water scarcity are challenges.
(Cn10.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS) - •
Understand that protecting and conserving water are important responsibilities for everyone.
(Cn10.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS)
Discourse
- •
Explore and describe how feelings and messages about water and sanitation are expressed through various art forms (visual art, creative writing, dance, drama, music) by reflecting on visuals, words, movement, sounds, and stories.
(Re7.1.MS, Re8.1.MS) - •
Participate in respectful discussions about water-related challenges and how people and communities can work together to ensure clean water and sanitation for all.
(Re9.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS) - •
Communicate their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas about Global Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation through creative expression in various artistic mediums.
(Cr3.1.MS)
Attitudes
- •
Develop empathy and compassion for individuals and communities facing challenges with water and sanitation, fostering a deeper understanding of their daily struggles.
(Re8.1.MS, Cn10.1.MS) - •
Appreciate the fundamental value of clean water and the importance of good hygiene for a healthy life and a healthy planet.
(Cn11.1.MS) - •
Cultivate a sense of personal and collective responsibility for conserving water, preventing pollution, and advocating for clean water for everyone.
(Re9.1.MS)
Capacity
- •
Develop critical thinking skills by observing and discussing how different artistic elements (like colors, textures, rhythms, movements, descriptive words) can represent challenges and solutions related to water and sanitation.
(Re9.1.MS, Cn10.1.MS) - •
Practice collaboration and communication skills through engaging in group art projects, shared writing activities, and coordinated movement, drama, or musical performances to tell stories about water's journey and impact.
(Cr2.1.MS, Pr5.1.MS) - •
Develop creative expression skills through purposeful experimentation with diverse artistic mediums (visual art, creative writing, dance, drama, music) to communicate their understandings and feelings about Clean Water and Sanitation.
(Cr3.1.MS)
Action
- •
Identify simple and age-appropriate actions they can take to conserve water, reduce pollution, and promote good hygiene in their daily lives, schools, and homes.
(Pr6.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS) - •
Participate in collaborative artistic projects that creatively express messages of hope and support for clean water and sanitation for all.
(Cr3.1.MS, Pr6.1.MS) - •
Reflect on their personal role in contributing to a world with clean water and sanitation for all, fostering a sense of personal global citizenship.
(Re9.1.MS,Cn11 .1.MS)
Empowering youth to become active agents of change in the pursuit of ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Recognizing that even small, consistent actions, sparked by their creative explorations, can contribute to a larger global impact.
Taking Action Beyond the Classroom
Here are ways your students can extend their learning and apply their understanding of Global Goal 6 in their wider community and beyond.
Become "Fairness" Storytellers: Choose a favorite piece created in the lessons, and share with family, friends, or local community groups (like a library reading hour, a scout meeting, or a community center). This allows them to use their art to tell a powerful story about why clean water and good sanitation matter for everyone.
Concrete Action: Aim to share their creative work related to water and sanitation with at least three people outside of school.
Design Water-Wise Reminders: Inspired by the art, creative writing, and music lessons, design simple, colorful posters or short jingles for school bathrooms or at home. These reminders can encourage actions like "Turn off the faucet!", "Short showers save water!", or "Wash your hands with soap!"
Concrete Action: Create and place Water-Wise Reminders in relevant locations at home or school.
Local Water Check: Investigate a local water source (like a nearby creek, pond, or even storm drain) safely. Then, create an art piece or descriptive writing piece to show what the water looks like, sounds like, and what feelings it evokes. This can help them connect to Target 6.3 (improving water quality) and Target 6.6 (protecting ecosystems).
Concrete Action: Observe a local water source and create a Local Water Check artwork or writing piece to share with the class or a friend.
Research a Water Champion: Research a real person (from history or today) who has made a significant positive impact on access to clean water, sanitation, or water conservation, either locally or globally. Then, write a short paragraph, draw a picture, or create a short presentation about this Water Champion, explaining how their actions connect to Global Goal 6.
Concrete Action: Research and present one Water Champion to share with family or the class.
Benchmarking Progress
A quick view of the official UN targets for this goal paired with the indicators that track global progress. Use these to connect classroom inquiry with real-world data.
Target 6.1
By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
Indicators
- 6.1.1
Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
Target 6.2
By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
Indicators
- 6.2.1
Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water
Target 6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
Indicators
- 6.3.1
Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated
- 6.3.2
Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality
Target 6.4
By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
Indicators
- 6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time
- 6.4.2
Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources
Target 6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
Indicators
- 6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management
- 6.5.2
Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation
Target 6.6
By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
Indicators
- 6.6.1
Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time
Target 6.a
By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies.
Indicators
- 6.a.1
Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan
Target 6.b
Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management.
Indicators
- 6.b.1
Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management