World Water Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Water Day. For official information, themes, and resources, please visit the United Nations World Water Day website: www.un.org/en/observances/water-day.

Sunday 22nd March 2026

Understanding World Water Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's learn all about our amazing water and why it's so important! 💧🌍 World Water Day is a special day celebrated every year on March 22nd. It was chosen by the United Nations (UN) way back in 1993. The main idea of this day is to show everyone how important fresh water is and to encourage us all to look after our water resources carefully so there's enough for everyone, forever. Each year, World Water Day focuses on a different important idea about water, like keeping it clean or making sure everyone has access to it.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a fantastic and hands-on theme for exploring environmental awareness, sustainability, health and hygiene, understanding the world (science and natural resources), and personal, social & emotional development (PSED). It's about introducing children to the wonders of water, its many uses, and the crucial need to conserve it. This day offers wonderful planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about water both essential and fascinating!

Why Is Learning About Water Important for Young Children?

Integrating World Water Day and lessons about water into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) fosters environmental responsibility, promoting healthy habits, and building an early understanding of natural resources.

• Promotes Health & Hygiene: Teaches children why drinking water is vital for their bodies and how water is used for cleanliness (e.g., handwashing).

• Environmental Stewardship: Introduces the concept of water as a precious resource that needs to be conserved and protected.

• Understanding the World: Helps children comprehend where water comes from, its different forms, and its importance to all living things.

• Scientific Inquiry: Encourages exploration, experimentation, and observation through water play and investigations.

• Problem-Solving: Sparks thinking about how we can save water and use it wisely.

• Vocabulary Development: Introduces new words related to water, hydration, and the environment.

Engaging Water Activities for World Water Day (0-7 Year Olds)

Let's dive into learning about water for World Water Day with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on discovering, exploring, and appreciating this vital resource! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated 'Water' and 'Wetlands' resources, as well as broader 'The Human Body', 'The Environment', and 'Recycling' themed materials.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating water in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• The Importance of Water:

  • Start by discussing why water is so important to us. Use 'Wonderful Water! Display' for your learning area.

  • Talk about the many ways we use water with 'Wonderful Water! We Need Water To...’ resources.

  • Encourage children to think about 'How Do You Use Water? Sheets' and use the 'How Do You Use Water? Ideas Sheet' for inspiration.

  • Highlight the importance of drinking water for our health using 'Heat Health - 'Drink Some Water' Visual Communication Aid' and 'Heat Health - 'Drink Some Water' Reminder Wristbands'. This connects to our 'The Human Body' and 'Stay Healthy' themes.

• Water Play & Science Investigations:

  • Set up various water play stations. Explore capacity with 'Water Play - Capacity Challenge'.

  • Introduce objects and ask children to predict if they will sink or float with 'Test It In The Water!' Investigation Sheets'.

  • Engage children in 'Water Movement/Activity Challenge Cards' to explore water in different ways.

• Creative Water Activities:

  • Let children express their creativity with 'Decorate a Water Drop Multimat - Art & Craft/Playdough/Loose Parts'.

  • Provide 'Water - Border Sheets' and 'Water - Border Sheets' for writing or drawing about water.

• Water Themed Literacy & Numeracy:

  • Practice literacy with 'Water Drops Upper & Lower Case Alphabet Puzzle Game'.

  • Reinforce numbers with 'Water Droplet Numbers (0-20)' and 'Water Drops Counting Puzzles (1-10)'.

  • Have fun with 'Water Play - Under The Sea Alphabet’ (connecting water to the ocean).

• Exploring Wetlands:

  • Introduce children to the concept of wetlands as important water habitats. Use 'Wetland Types - Poster' and 'Wetland Types - Activity Sheets'.

  • Explore vocabulary with 'Wetland Word Cards'.

  • Encourage creativity with 'Wetlands Colouring' and 'Draw a Wetland Scene'.

  • Engage in a shapes activity with 'Wetlands Scene - Cut And Stick 2D Shapes Activity'.

  • Practice counting with 'Ducks and Their Ducklings Counting Puzzles (1-10)'. This connects to our 'Wildlife' and 'Endangered Animals' themes.

• Connecting to Our World:

  • Discuss how water is used in our homes ('Houses and Homes'), for food ('Food'), and for hygiene ('Handwashing and Hygiene').

  • Talk about ocean life ('Ocean', 'Under the Sea', 'Fish', 'Mermaids and Mermen', 'At the Seaside', 'Beach School') and how keeping water clean protects animals.

  • Discuss the weather and water cycle ('Weather').

  • Link to recycling and keeping waterways clean ('Recycling', 'The Environment').

• Explore More: Please visit our ‘Water’ page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme.

These activities offer great inspiration for making World Water Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering environmental awareness, healthy habits, scientific curiosity, and a deep appreciation for water, our planet's most precious resource.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘World Water Day’

Free ‘Water’ and ‘Wetlands’ activities for EYFS & KS1:

Water activities for EYFS & KS1:

Wetlands activities for EYFS & KS1:

Please visit our ‘Water’ page to browse our entire collection of educational materials on this theme.

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for March

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'World Water Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the United Nations (UN), which designated this event. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and to learn more about the importance and sustainable management of fresh water, please visit the United Nations World Water Day website: www.un.org/en/observances/water-day.