Drink Water
Healthy Beverages
Access to drinking water throughout the day gives students an opportunity to stay hydrated which may improve their cognitive function (readiness to learn), dental, and physical health. When water is encouraged and sugar-sweetened beverages are limited, students are more able to concentrate.Select from your favorite ideas below and launch a school-wide water campaign!
Educate yourself about hydration and healthy beverage choices:
- Be a Water Campaign Champion for Your School
- Water is the Best Choice (English | Spanish)
- CDC Rethink Your Drink
- CDC Water Intake Facts
- Complete trainings on how to increase water access at your school
Educate your students about hydration and healthy beverage choices
- Teach students about healthy hydration with Potter the Otter
Promote Sip the Water Drop throughout the school
- Use Sip logo on bulletin boards
- Display one of two Sip posters (Sip#1 or Sip#2) around school
- Introduce Sip to parents (English) (Spanish)
- Call attention to water fountains with posters and floor decals leading to the fountain
Make drinking water fun through songs and games
- The water song (pre-school and younger elementary)
- Hydration nation (older elementary)
- Water Word Search
Have students market water to their peers
- Assign students to write about their “water journey” as they set goals for healthy beverage choices
- Encourage students to create commercials for drinking water to share on the morning announcements
Create a classroom or school policy that makes water available throughout the day
- Allow students to have water bottles on their desk. Use stickers on bottles to remind them they are for water only.
- Decrease sugary beverages at celebrations and school events
- Offer water, unsweetened seltzer, or flavored water during classroom celebrations
- Set up a free water cooler at the concession stand at school events, and promote water with posters
- Make a classroom commitment to drinking water
Help to increase access to safe drinking water for students in your school through grants and school fundraisers
Be a healthy beverage role model
- Follow these tips for drinking more water
- Pledge to drink more water and fewer sugary beverages
- Track your water intake, and invite your students to do the same!
Educate parents through newsletters:
- Water is the Best Choice (English | Spanish)
- Making Better Beverage Choices (English | Spanish)
- Water for Healthy Bodies (English | Spanish)