🌊The Water Protectors

An Early Elementary Stormwater Education Program


For Grades K-2 | A Gateway to STEM, Environmental Literacy & MS4 Community Engagement

Overview:

The Water Protectors is a turn-key, standards-aligned educational program designed to inspire K-2 students to become Junior Stormwater Defenders. With a strong foundation in storytelling, science, and student empowerment, this curriculum introduces stormwater concepts in a fun and meaningful way through characters, coloring pages, videos, and interactive activities.


Activities can be done as individuals or in groups and some are virtual and others are in the classroom or outside. Learning opportunities exist for students beyond these events through PUDLE Outreach and Stormwater Defenders websites.


This program supports school districts and municipalities in meeting STEM learning objectives and fulfilling Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) education and outreach requirements by fostering environmental awareness in young learners and their families.

Educational Value:

Common Core and NGSS Alignment


Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):


  • K-ESS3-1: Students learn how humans impact the environment and what we can do to reduce those effects.
  • K-PS3-1/2-ESS2-3: Through weather-related discussion and how rain contributes to stormwater, children begin understanding earth and environmental science.
  • Science & Engineering Practices: Making observations, asking questions, construction explanations, and communicating ideas.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS):


  • Language Arts (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY): 
  • Reading short stories and character profiles
  • Writing or drawing reflections about water in their daily lives
  • Speaking and listening activities during discussions and class pledges


  • Math (CSS.MATH.CONTENT):
  • Counting and data collection exercises in Count the Drops
  • Matching and sequencing in Importance of Water

STEM Integration:

Science - Introduces concepts of water as a natural resource, the water cycle, and pollution.


Technology - Interactive videos and digital storytelling components engage auditor and visual learners.


Engineering - Students learn about Best Management Practices (BMPs) through superhero-themed problem solving.


Math - Activities such as tallying water use and interpreting basic charts introduce foundational math skills.


These elements are scaffolded for early learners and support cognitive development through observation, comparison, and evaluation.

MS4 Compliance Support:

This curriculum directly supports municipalities' MS4 Stormwater Education and Outreach permit requirements:


✔ Fulfills Public Education & Outreach Requirements:

  • Meets the EPA’s goal of informing the public on the impacts of stormwater runoff on water bodies.
  • Communicates stormwater issues in a way that is understandable and memorable to young audiences.


✔ Behavior Change & Community Impact:

  • Only Rain Down the Drain pledge encourages behavior change at school and at home.
  • Activities reinforce the importance of not littering, picking up after pets, and never dumping waste into storm drains.
  • Students share what they learn with family members, extending the message into the community.


✔ Measurable Deliverables for Reporting:

  • Participation metrics (e.g., badge and certificate completions)
  • Activity tracking (e.g., number of pledges signed, artwork submitted)
  • Public engagement through take-home family tip sheets


This makes the program ideal for documenting education efforts in annual MS4 reports.


What's Included in the Mission Pack:

Category Item Description
Teacher Tools Teacher's Guide Easy-to-follow lesson plans, discussion prompts, supplies and implementation tips.
Vocabulary & Glossary Simplified terms tied to water, pollution, and protection.
Assessment Ideas Informal methods to gauge comprehension through drawing, discussion, and activity completion.
Stormwater Defenders Headquarters Passport A suggested guided path through Stormwater Defender's virtual Headquarters.
Student Activities Story and Comic Books Origin story of the Stormwater Defenders and Sergeant Stormwater.
Character Coloring Pages Visual guides to the Defenders and The Degraders, helping kids pick a favorite.
Activity Sheets Matching, drawing, reflection, and counting exercises.
"Only Rain" Pledge Fill-in-the-blank stormwater protection pledge.
Water Protector Badge & Certificate
Family Engagement Take-home Tip Sheet Family-friendly summary of what was learned and how to support it at home.

Your Gateway to Adventure: Interactive Digital Headquarters Access!

With The Water Guardians mission pack, our youngest heroes-in-training gain exclusive access to the Stormwater Defenders Headquarters — a colorful, exciting world where students discover the magic of water, teamwork, and protecting our environment.


Through this digital adventure, students visit special Defender stations, unlock new knowledge, and complete fun missions — all designed to spark wonder, curiosity, and early environmental stewardship.

Here's the Journey Your Students will Embark on:

🎥 Storytime Theater: Importance of Water Video
Start the adventure with a beautiful, easy-to-understand story narrated by RH, showing why water is special and how we can all help take care of it.


🎶 Sing Along Hall: Stormwater Defenders Anthem
March, clap, and sing along with the Defenders’ inspiring anthem — a fun way to build excitement and team spirit!


🦸 Hero Headquarters: Which Defender Are You? Quiz
Students discover which Stormwater Defender they are most like, making them feel like true heroes on a mission to save the water!


🏡 Sarge’s Nature Playground:
See how plants, gardens, and special pavement help keep our water clean, just like Sarge teaches in his corner of the Headquarters.


🌿 TARP’s Erosion Adventure Room:
Explore how rain and mud move across the land — and learn about the special tools we can use to help keep the earth strong and healthy.


🧪 Super Sampler’s Science Lab:
Become a water scientist! Students learn how to spot pollution and see how even small actions can make a big difference for clean water.