Why do we need to drink water?
All living things need water to live. Find out why we need to include water in our diet.
In this article you can learn:
- why we need to drink water
- how to stay hydrated
- signs of dehydration
This resource is suitable for Health and Wellbeing for primary school learners.
Video - Why do we need water?
In this video, the Great Spoon explains why we need water in our diets and how much water is in different kinds of food.
THE GREAT SPOON In a world where all living things need hydration, one glass of water is on a quest to save all!
WATER Whatâs hydration?
THE GREAT SPOON Adding water.
WATER Why didnât you just say that, oh great and wise Spoon?
THE GREAT SPOON Hydration sounds more great, and wise.
PLANT Help me. Help me!
WATER Hang in there Plant, Iâll⊠Whatâs that word again?
THE GREAT SPOON Hydrate.
WATER Iâll hydrate you!
PLANT Well stop talking and hurry up then! Thank you Water, wanna hang out?
WATER Iâd love to⊠but I have people to hydrate.
THE GREAT SPOON Water is very busy â it has many important jobs to do and takes many different forms. Itâs hidden in lots of things we see and use today; It's in tea, it's in tomatoes, it's in apples, it's inâŠ
WATERMELON Watermelon!
WATER Yes, thatâs rightâŠ
THE GREAT SPOON Itâs even in people.
EVERYONE People?!
THE GREAT SPOON Human beings are made from approximately 60% water. Thatâs nearly two thirds of every person.
WATER It's true!
THE GREAT SPOON Foods like cucumber, celery, lettuce, peppers and tomatoes contain around 95% water!
WATERMELON And watermelon.
WATER Yes, WatermelonâŠ
EGG What about eggs? Is there water in eggs?
WATER Around 75% of an egg is water!
EGG Woo-hoo! Hang on⊠I hear crying.
WATER Duty calls! What are you crying for? Get it? âWat-erâ you crying for? Oh never mind⊠I will save you!
PARENT Oooh thatâs it sweetie. A nice drink of water. You were thirsty werenât you, poppet!
WATER Panic over! I have eliminated the thirst. Anything to help you and your baby stay hydrated. Itâs important to remember, you should always drink plenty of water, especially in hot weather. It helps keep your body working properly. Another wet day at the office! I love my job!
What happens if you don't water plants?
If you do not water plantsâŠ
- they begin to look dry and have droopy leaves.
- their colour fades and green leaves start to turn brown.
- eventually, they will die.
Just like plants, humans also need water to stay healthy.
In fact, more than sixty percent of our body is made up of water. 60% is more than half of our body!
Why do we need water?
- Water keeps our bodies working well and helps us stay fit and healthy.
- We lose water every day when we sweat, breathe and go to the toilet.
- This water needs to be replaced by drinking and eating.
How to stay hydrated
Being hydrated means giving your body the water it needs to work properly.
- Drink about six to eight cups of water a day. Children under 8 years old should drink around four to six cups. Remember, we can also get water from what we eat and other drinks, like milk.
- Drink more water on days when you are very active. For example, playing football, dancing or riding a bike all make your body lose more water.
- Drink more on hot days. Your body loses more water when you sweat.
- Drink with every meal. This is one easy way of adding more water into your day.
- Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day.
- Eat foods that contain a lot of water. Fruit and vegetables, such as strawberries and cucumbers, have a high water content. Eating soup is another way of keeping our bodies topped up with water.
Image caption, Drink six to eight cups of water a day
We should aim to drink six to eight cups of water a day. Younger children don't need quite as much. Remember you also get water from eating some foods, like fruit, and other drinks, like milk.
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What happens if we do not drink enough water?
- If we do not drink enough water, we feel thirsty, tired and unwell.
- Not getting enough water can make us When your body does not have enough water to work properly..
- Drinking water is one of the easiest and best things we can do to be healthy.
Test your knowledge
Quiz
Challenge
Design and draw a poster to encourage your friends to drink more water.
Try to include:
- Information about why we need to drink water
- Tips for children who do not like water to encourage them to drink more of it. For example, keeping it in the fridge or adding slices of fruit for flavour.
Discover some top tips on creating an eye-catching poster: How to make a poster
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