Healthy Hydration for Children
A free, ready-to-teach program that helps elementary kids drink more water and spot sugar on a label. Built for teachers, school nurses, Scout leaders and coaches.
What kids learn
Four short lessons, each about 15 minutes, designed for grades K to 5. Teach them in one class period or spread across a week.
Free for schools, Scout troops, camps and youth programs.
- 1
Your body runs on water. More than half of a kid's body is water. Where it goes, why we need to refill, and how thirst works.
- 2
Pee color check. A silly-but-useful way kids can tell for themselves whether they need more water.
- 3
Sugar detectives. Kids read real drink labels, find added sugar, and count it out in teaspoons.
- 4
My water plan. Each kid makes a plan for drinking water at school and home, then tracks it for a week.
See it in action
Real draft materials from the program, so you can see exactly what you'd be teaching. Everything here is a sample and will be refined before the full kit ships.
- Sample lesson: Sugar DetectivesTeacher script, label cards, Drip video script
- Hydration Hero quizKids can play it right now
- Printable quiz and answer keyFor classrooms without devices
- Family take-home sheetThree easy challenges for home
- Sugar Detective worksheetRead labels, count teaspoons
- Water Champion certificateFor kids who finish their plan
A sample week
- Monday: Your body runs on waterLesson 1, about 15 minutes. The water tracker goes home.
- Tuesday: Pee color checkLesson 2. Kids learn the pale-yellow rule. Nobody shares their own color in class, and the home check is private.
- Wednesday: Sugar detectivesLesson 3. Pairs read label cards and spoon out the teaspoons.
- Thursday: My water planLesson 4. Each kid writes a plan for water at school and home.
- Friday: Quiz and certificatesKids play the Hydration Hero quiz, and the family take-home sheet goes in backpacks.
What's in the kit
- Teacher guide with scripts, timing and discussion questions
- Short animated videos starring Drip, a water drop who's always thirsty for adventure
- Printable water tracker and Sugar Detective worksheet
- An 8-question Hydration Hero quiz, online and printable
- A take-home sheet for families
- Stickers for kids who finish their water plan
Built on real guidance
Every lesson follows recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the federal Dietary Guidelines and the National Academies. Lessons teach water first and never promote a product.
The program is free and paid for by ShineWater, a drink company. The lessons teach water first and carry no brand messaging. Why we sponsor this.
Get the free kit
The full kit is rolling out now. Tell us about your group and we'll send it as soon as it's ready, plus the printables you can use today.