(written collaboratively by kids in Book Clubs)

An extreme drought is happening here in CA, the most extreme drought in the state’s history! Our state reservoirs are 60% empty and the water prices are soaring. You might know we’re in a drought, but you might not know some of the ways to help and there are so many ways…

After sharing our PSA at our school assembly, a reporter from The Coast News, Aaron Burgin, came to interview our Book Club. We decided to try our hand at reporting and interviewing some other classes at our school to see how they are saving water…

“When I start a shower, I collect the cold water in a bucket and use it to water my plants,” Ella from Mrs. Hamilton’s third grade class shared. Sean from Mrs. Payte’s second grade class said his whole family is timing their showers. Timing your shower is very important because if you take too long of a shower, extra water can be wasted. Chloe from Mrs. Hamilton’s said she doesn’t fill her bath all the way, which is very important if you don’t take showers. Simone, also from Mrs. Payte’s class, said she doesn’t leave the faucet on after she washes her hands. Similarly, Wyatt, from Mrs. Hamilton’s class, doesn’t leave the water on while he brushes his teeth. Charlie from the same class said to turn the shower off while you soap up your hair to wash it. Kids in Mr. Redding’s second grade class also had great ideas. Eve puts buckets outside to collect rainwater and Cassidy said to only fill a glass of water up as much as you’re going to drink. It’s not just older kids who have smart water-saving strategies… In Mrs. Paccione’s TK class, Kate said to use rainwater for the fish tank, and in Mrs. McNamara’s class Mila reported that she used to leave the water running, but now she turns it off! Nice work, Mila! And thank you to all the classes who helped us with these interviews!

A solution to the drought problem is to take five-minute showers, which would save 5, 500 gallons per person every year. Plants, people, and animals need water to survive. So, we invite you to be a superhero and think of more water-saving ideas to stop the drought!