Chapter 1: Water and Your Body

Chapter Introduction

Picture an elephant family at a watering hole.

A river curves through the grass. The water is calm. The sun is high. A herd of elephants — a big one, a middle one, a small one, a very small one — has walked a long way to get here. The matriarch (the oldest grandmother elephant who leads the herd) walks into the water first. She trusts the path. The others follow. The babies stay close. The grandmother watches. No one swims off alone. No one goes in too deep. They drink. They cool off. They splash. They take care of each other.

This is the way elephants have lived with water for as long as elephants have existed.

Hi. I am the Elephant.

I teach about water. Water is one of the most important things in the world. Without water, no animal can live. Without water, no plant can grow. Without water, no human can think, run, breathe, or even cry. Water is so important that your body is mostly water — more than half of you is water, right now, as you read this.

This is the first time you and I are talking about water together. I am gentle. I am steady. I am patient with water, because water has been the most important thing to my kind for millions of years. We never hurry when water is around. We respect it. I will teach you to respect it too.

This is also a special chapter for another reason — it is the last G3 chapter in the whole Library at your grade. You have already met the Bear, the Turtle, the Cat, the Lion, the Penguin, the Camel, the Dolphin, and the Rooster. I am the ninth. Once you finish this chapter, you have met all nine of us at your grade. The whole team is in your corner.

In this chapter, you will learn three big ideas.

The first big idea is that water is in you. Your body is mostly water, and water helps every part of you do its work. You drink water. You eat foods that have water. You lose a little water all day long. Your body never stops needing water.

The second big idea is that your body tells you when it needs water. Thirst is the main signal. Knowing how to listen helps you take care of yourself, with help from the trusted grown-ups in your life.

The third big idea is the most important one. Water is wonderful AND water deserves great respect. The Elephant has a rule for kids around water, and it is one of the most important rules in the whole Library: kids do not go in water alone. Ever. The Bear, the Turtle, the Cat, the Lion, the Penguin, the Camel, the Dolphin, the Rooster, and I all agree on this and on every safety rule that matters.

Are you ready? The Elephant is patient. The Elephant is ready. Begin.

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Lesson 1.1: Your Body and Water

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Tell that your body is mostly water
• Name three jobs water does inside your body
• Name two places water comes from (drinking and food)
• Notice that you lose a little water all the time
• Understand that kids in different places have different ways of getting water

Key Terms

The Elephant Watches

The Elephant has been watching water for a very, very long time. I will tell you what I know.

Your body is mostly water. This is one of the most surprising things about being a person. If you look at yourself in the mirror, you do not look watery. You look like skin and hair and eyes and shape. But inside, more than half of you is water [1, 2]. Your blood is mostly water. Your brain is mostly water. Your muscles are mostly water. Every tiny piece of you (called a cell) is mostly water. You are like a soft, walking, talking water sculpture wrapped in skin.

You did not have to do anything to become this way. You were born this way. Every human is. Every animal is. Even plants are mostly water. Almost every living thing on Earth is mostly water.

That is why water matters so much. Without water, your body would stop working. With water — and with all the other things the Bear, the Turtle, the Cat, the Lion, the Penguin, the Camel, the Dolphin, and the Rooster taught you about — your body works beautifully.

What Water Does in Your Body

Water has many jobs inside you. The Elephant wants you to know a few of the big ones.

1. Water helps your blood flow. Your blood is mostly water. It travels through tubes called veins and arteries, carrying food, oxygen (from your breath — the Dolphin told you about this), and other things your body needs to every part of you. Without enough water, your blood gets thicker and harder to push around. With enough water, your blood flows easily [3].

2. Water helps your brain think. Your brain is mostly water too. When your body has enough water, your brain works well. When your body is low on water, your brain feels foggy, you get tired, you may feel grumpy, and it gets harder to pay attention. The Turtle told you about your amazing brain in Your Brain and You. The Turtle and I agree: a thirsty brain is a slower brain. Drink water and your thinking gets clearer [4].

3. Water helps your body stay the right temperature. When you get hot, your body makes sweat — and sweat is mostly water. The sweat dries on your skin and carries heat away from your body. This is one of the most important ways humans stay cool in hot weather. The Camel told you about this in Heat and Your Body. The Camel and I agree: water in equals sweat out equals body cool. No water means no sweat means no cooling.

4. Water helps food move through you. Every time you eat, the food has to travel through your body to be used and to leave. Water helps with every step of that journey. Without enough water, food gets stuck. The Bear told you about food in Food and Your Body. The Bear and I agree: real food and water work together.

5. Water helps your body get rid of things it does not need. When your body uses food, water, and air, it makes some stuff it does not need anymore. Most of that leaves through your pee. Your pee is mostly water. Without enough water in, there is not enough pee out, and the leftover stuff stays inside your body longer than it should [5].

There are even more jobs water does — for your skin, your eyes, your joints, your spit, your tears, your snot. Almost everything your body does, water is in there somewhere, doing its part.

Where Water Comes From

How does water get into your body? Two main ways.

1. You drink it. Glasses of water. Cups of water. Sips from a water bottle. Water fountains at school. Water from the tap. Water in milk, juice, soup, tea, and other drinks. Most of the water you take in comes from drinking.

2. You eat it. Many foods are made of water. Fruits and vegetables are especially watery — watermelon, oranges, strawberries, grapes, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, peaches, peppers. Soups have lots of water. Yogurt and milk have water in them. Even foods that do not look watery (like bread, meat, eggs) have some water inside. The Bear told you that real foods help your body. The Elephant adds: real foods also give you water. When you eat a piece of watermelon, you are eating a little snack and a little drink at the same time.

You Lose Water All Day Long

Here is something most kids never think about. You lose a little water all day long.

• When you sweat, water leaves through your skin.
• When you breathe out, a tiny bit of water leaves with your breath (you can see this on a cold day — your breath makes a small cloud).
• When you go to the bathroom, water leaves your body.
• When you cry, water leaves through your eyes (tears!).
• When you spit, drool, or have a runny nose, water leaves there too.

So your body is always losing a little water. That is why you have to keep putting water back in. Every day. Forever. Your whole life. Your body is like a watering can with tiny holes all over — water keeps trickling out, so you have to keep filling it up.

Different Kids, Different Water

The Elephant wants you to know something important.

Kids live in many different places, and water looks different in different places.

• Some kids live near oceans, rivers, or lakes. Water is everywhere — in the air, in the ground, in stories grown-ups tell.
• Some kids live in dry places. Water is more precious. Grown-ups may save it carefully.
• Some kids live in cities with tap water. They turn on a faucet and clean water comes out.
• Some kids live in places where water needs to be carried or treated before drinking. Grown-ups handle that.
• Some kids have conditions that need special care with water. They use feeding tubes, drink special drinks, or need certain amounts watched by doctors. They and their trusted grown-ups know what is right for their body.
• Some kids cannot swim yet, some kids can swim, some kids love water, some kids are scared of water. All normal. The Elephant never makes anyone feel different than they are.

Whatever your water story is, the Elephant is for you. Bodies are different. Family lives are different. Water is the same essential thing for every kid — and every elephant.

Notice Your Water

Here is a small thing the Elephant loves doing.

Take a moment right now. Notice your body. Are you a little thirsty? A little not? Have you had water yet today? When? Yesterday?

If you have a glass of water nearby, take a small sip. Notice how it feels. Cool on your tongue. The little path of it going down. Maybe a tiny softening inside.

That little drink just went into your blood, into your brain, into your muscles. It is already starting to help every part of you do its work. The Elephant thinks that is wonderful — every sip, every day.

Lesson Check

1. About how much of your body is water?
2. Name two jobs water does inside your body.
3. Name two ways water gets into your body.
4. Name two ways water leaves your body each day.
5. Have you had water today? How does your body feel right now?

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Lesson 1.2: Listening to Your Body's Water Signals

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Name the main signal your body sends when it needs water (thirst)
• Tell what urine color can show about your water
• Name three times your body needs more water than usual
• Understand that water is the best drink for most situations
• Notice your own thirst signal during a day

Key Terms

The Elephant Drinks Slowly

The Elephant drinks slowly. Did you know that? An elephant can drink a lot of water at a time — sometimes many gallons. But the Elephant takes time with each drink. We dip the trunk into the water, fill it up, lift it to our mouth, and let the water flow in. We pause. We drink again.

We do this because we know how to listen to our bodies. When the body wants water, we drink. When the body is full, we stop. We work with the signals our body gives us, not against them.

You can do this too. Your body sends signals about water all day long. The Elephant will teach you the main ones.

The Main Signal: Thirst

The biggest water signal your body sends is thirst.

Thirst is a feeling. Your mouth gets a little dry. You think about a cold drink. You feel like you want water. Sometimes thirst is small. Sometimes thirst is big — your mouth feels really dry, your throat feels scratchy, your lips feel chapped.

Thirst is your body saying: I want some water, please.

The Elephant has good news: most of the time, drinking water when you feel thirsty is exactly right [6, 7]. Your body is a smart system. It tells you when it needs water. You listen. You drink. The system works.

You do not have to drink huge amounts. You do not have to drink on a perfect schedule. You do not have to count ounces. For most kids most of the time, the answer is simple: drink water when you are thirsty. The Elephant trusts the signal. So can you.

Another Signal: Your Pee

Here is a signal most kids never think about. Your pee tells you about your water.

When you go to the bathroom and look in the toilet, your pee should mostly be pale yellow — about the color of lemonade or pale hay. If your pee is pale yellow, your body is doing fine on water [8].

If your pee is dark yellow or orange-yellow, that may mean your body wants more water. Drink some. Wait. Check again next time.

If your pee is completely clear, like water from the tap, all day long — your body might have enough water already, or even a little more than it needs. (For most kids, having clear pee once or twice a day is fine. Having clear pee every single time, all day, every day, might mean you are drinking more than your body needs.) Your trusted grown-ups can help you figure it out.

If your pee is very dark, brown, or pink/red — tell a trusted grown-up. That can mean you are very low on water, or it could be something else that needs a doctor's eyes.

You do not have to stare at your pee. Just notice it once in a while. The Elephant thinks of pee color as a tiny weather report your body gives you several times a day.

When Your Body Needs More Water Than Usual

Sometimes your body needs more water than other times. The Elephant wants you to know when.

1. When you move a lot. Running, playing, biking, climbing, swimming, dancing — moving makes you sweat. Sweating means losing water. The Lion told you in Moving and Your Body that drinking water is one of the body signals to listen to during movement. The Lion and I agree.

2. When it is hot outside. Hot weather means more sweat. More sweat means more water leaving you. The Camel told you about this in Heat and Your Body. The Camel and I agree: drink water often in hot weather, even before you feel thirsty.

3. When you are sick. When you have a fever (your body running hot from being sick), or when you are throwing up, or when you have diarrhea — your body is losing extra water. Sick bodies need more water than well bodies. Your trusted grown-ups will help you. Sometimes a doctor's help is needed if a sick kid cannot keep water down. That is what trusted grown-ups handle.

4. When you have been laughing or crying a lot. Tears, drool, laughter, crying — small amounts of water are leaving you. A glass of water afterwards is often welcome.

You do not have to remember every situation. Just notice your thirst. Most of the time, your body will let you know.

Water Is the Best Drink (Most of the Time)

There are many things to drink in the world. The Elephant likes most of them. But the Elephant wants you to know that plain water is the best drink for most situations.

Why?

• Water is what your body is mostly made of, so water is the easiest thing for your body to use.
• Water has no sugar to overload your body.
• Water has no other things added in that your body has to deal with.
• Water is the original drink — humans have been drinking water for as long as we have been humans.

Other drinks are fine in their place:

• Milk gives you water plus food (protein, fat, calcium for bones). The Bear is friends with milk for kids who can drink it.
• Juice has water and some vitamins, but also a lot of sugar. Small amounts are fine for most kids; lots of juice every day is more than most kids need. Your grown-ups decide.
• Tea (without lots of sugar) and broth are mostly water with some flavor.
• Soda and sweet drinks have a lot of sugar. Not the same as water for your body. Most days, mostly skip these. Special days, fine in moderation. Your grown-ups decide.
• Sports drinks are mostly water with sugar and salt added. Made for adults doing very long, very hard sports. Most kids do not need them; plain water is better for everyday activity. Your grown-ups decide.

The Elephant is not telling you what to drink. Your grown-ups know your family. The Elephant is just sharing what the body uses best: water, most of the time, is the answer.

When Working With Trusted Grown-Ups About Water

Like everything else the Coaches teach, water is something kids work on with trusted grown-ups.

Trusted grown-ups handle:

• Making sure the water you drink is safe (clean tap water, filtered water, or other approved water depending on where you live)
• Helping you bring a water bottle to school or activities
• Helping you remember to drink water on hot days or active days
• Watching for signs that you might be low on water (very tired, very thirsty, dark pee, headache, dizzy)
• Deciding what kinds of drinks fit your family
• Helping you with water care when you are sick

Your job as a kid:

• Drink water when you are thirsty
• Tell a grown-up if you feel very thirsty, dizzy, or sick
• Tell a grown-up if your pee looks really dark
• Drink more on hot days, active days, and sick days
• Ask grown-ups questions about water when you have them

It is a partnership. You and your grown-ups. The Elephant has been working with elephant matriarchs and elephant calves like this for millions of years. The pattern works.

Notice Your Thirst

Here is a small thing the Elephant wants you to try.

Today, pay extra attention to your thirst. Notice when you start to feel thirsty. Notice what it feels like for you (dry mouth? thinking about a cold drink? feeling kind of foggy?). Notice when you drink — and how you feel after.

Most kids do not pay attention to thirst very much. It is one of those signals that arrives quietly. Once you start to notice, you will hear it more easily next time. The Elephant thinks this is one of the most useful body-listening skills a kid can learn.

Lesson Check

1. What is the main signal your body sends when it needs water?
2. What color should your pee mostly be? What does dark yellow pee mean?
3. Name three times your body might need more water than usual.
4. What is the best drink for your body most of the time?
5. The Elephant says drinking water and working with trusted grown-ups is a partnership. What does that mean?

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Lesson 1.3: Being Safe With Water

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Tell why water deserves great respect, even though it is wonderful
• Name the most important rule about kids and water
• Name three places where extra care around water matters
• Know what to do if someone is in trouble in the water
• Know what to do if a feeling about water feels really big

Key Terms

The Elephant Is Going to Be Honest

The Elephant is going to be honest with you. This is the most important lesson in this chapter, and one of the most important lessons in the whole G3 Library.

Water is wonderful. Water is essential. Water is one of the best things on Earth.

And water deserves great respect. Because water — for all its goodness — can also be dangerous. The Elephant says this because the Elephant has seen kids hurt by water. The Elephant says this because the Elephant cares about you. The Elephant says this not to scare you, but to help you live a long, happy life with water in it.

The most important thing in this chapter is this: kids do not go in water alone. Ever. Not in pools. Not in lakes. Not in oceans. Not in rivers. Not in streams. Not in big bathtubs as a small child. Always with a trusted grown-up watching closely. Always.

The Bear, the Turtle, the Cat, the Lion, the Penguin, the Camel, the Dolphin, the Rooster, and I — all nine of us — agree on this. We are part of the same team. So are you. So are your grown-ups.

Let me explain why this rule matters so much.

About Drowning

The Elephant is going to use a hard word now: drowning. The Elephant uses it because you deserve to know what it means and how to be safe from it.

Drowning is when someone breathes in water instead of air. When a person's mouth or nose is under water and water gets into the lungs (the parts the Dolphin told you about in Breath and Your Body), the body cannot get oxygen. Without oxygen, the body cannot work. Drowning is a serious water emergency.

The Elephant wants you to know two things about drowning that most kids do not know:

1. Drowning can happen fast. Sometimes very fast. A child in trouble in water can run out of air in just a minute or two. There is no time to wait or to figure things out.

2. Drowning often looks quiet. This is one of the most surprising things. In movies, drowning looks like loud splashing and yelling for help. In real life, drowning is often very quiet [9]. A drowning person may not be able to splash because they are using all their energy just to keep their head up. They may not be able to yell because they cannot breathe. They may look like they are just standing in the water with their head tipped back, eyes wide. They may bob up and down. They may not look like they are in trouble at all.

This is why a trusted grown-up has to be watching very closely when kids are in water. Not on their phone. Not reading. Not far away. Not chatting with friends. Actually watching. Their eyes on the kids. Lifeguards do this for a living. Good parents do this when their kids are swimming. The Elephant is firm about this because most drowning that hurts kids happens fast and quiet, exactly when a grown-up looks away "just for a minute."

The Rules That Keep Kids Safe Around Water

The Elephant has a clear list. These are not maybe-rules. These are always-rules. Every time. No exceptions.

1. Never swim alone. Ever. Even if you are a strong swimmer. Even if it is shallow. Even if it is "just a minute." Always with a trusted grown-up watching closely. The Penguin and the Dolphin already told you parts of this rule. The Elephant says it for all water, every time.

2. The grown-up watching must really be watching. Reading a book is not watching. Looking at a phone is not watching. Talking to a friend across the pool deck is not watching. Watching means: eyes on the kids, alert, ready to act. At public pools and beaches, the grown-up may be a lifeguard. At home or with family, it may be a parent or other trusted adult. Either way — the grown-up's job is to watch [10].

3. Only swim in safe places. Places where:

• Trusted grown-ups have said it is okay
• There is a way out of the water
• Lifeguards are around (at pools and beaches)
• The water is the right temperature and depth
• The bottom can be seen or is known

4. Wear a life jacket in boats and around open water. A life jacket is a floaty vest that helps keep you above water. In boats, on docks, around rivers and lakes and oceans — kids wear life jackets. Every time. No exceptions. Even if you are a good swimmer. Boats tip. People fall in. Cold water comes as a surprise. Life jackets save lives [11].

5. Never go into water you do not know. Streams. Rivers. Ponds. The ocean. Unfamiliar pools. You do not know how deep it is, how cold it is, what is under the surface, how fast the water moves. Trusted grown-ups check first. Then you decide together.

6. Even strong swimmers follow these rules. This is important. Some kids think that being a strong swimmer means they do not need a watcher. That is not true. Strong swimmers also get tired, also get caught in currents, also get hurt, also can drown. The rule is the same for every kid.

Water at Home

The Elephant has to say one more important thing. Water at home can also be dangerous.

Most kids and their families think of water danger only at pools and beaches. But many child drownings happen at home:

• Bathtubs. A young child should never be in a bathtub alone, even for a minute. Even with a small amount of water. Especially babies and toddlers.
• Buckets. A bucket of water can be enough for a very young child to drown in. Buckets should be emptied right after use, especially around small children.
• Kiddie pools and inflatable pools. Same rule as bigger pools — kids do not swim alone, even in small pools at home. A grown-up is always watching.
• Toilets. Very young children can drown in toilets. Toilet lids closed, bathroom doors closed when small children are around.

If you have younger siblings or visit families with younger kids, you can help by telling a grown-up if you ever see a young child near water alone. You do not have to be the watcher (that is the grown-up's job), but you can be a helpful big sibling or friend by speaking up.

Cold Water and Hot Water Take Extra Care

The Penguin already told you about cold water in Cold and Your Body. Cold water cools the body fast, can make kids tired quickly, and is one of the most serious water dangers. The Elephant agrees with everything the Penguin said. Around cold water, the rules in this chapter matter even more.

Hot water needs care too:

• Bath water. Trusted grown-ups check the temperature before you get in. Water that is too hot can burn skin in seconds, especially for younger kids.
• Faucets. Some sinks and showers have very hot water that comes out fast. Be careful turning on hot water. If you are unsure, ask a grown-up.
• Cooking water. Boiling pots, steaming kettles — these are grown-up territory.

If Something Scary Happens Around Water

The Elephant has to teach you something important and you may have to remember it for the rest of your life. If you ever see someone in trouble in water — they go under and do not come up, they look scared, they cannot get to the side, they are bobbing strangely, anything wrong — here is what to do:

1. Yell for a grown-up. RIGHT AWAY. Loud. Run if you have to. Get a grown-up faster than you have ever gotten anyone in your life.

2. Do NOT jump in to help. This is the hardest part. You may want to. You may feel like you have to. But the Elephant is firm: never try to rescue someone in water by going in yourself. A drowning person can panic. A drowning person can grab on to a rescuer and pull them under. Many kids who have tried to save a friend have drowned themselves. The grown-up has training. The grown-up will know what to do.

3. If you have something safe to reach with, like a long stick or a life ring, you can reach it toward the person from outside the water — only if a grown-up tells you to. From the side. Not by going in.

4. The grown-up may call 911. In the United States, 911 is the phone number for emergencies. Real people answer fast and send help. Other Coaches — the Lion, the Penguin, the Camel, the Dolphin, and the Rooster — have all told you about 911. The same rule: kids tell grown-ups; grown-ups make the call.

5. Stay close. Be ready to do whatever the grown-up asks.

The Elephant hopes you never see this. Most kids never do. But if you do, you know what to do.

Feelings About Water

The Turtle taught you that all feelings are okay. Every other Coach has agreed. The Elephant agrees too.

Some kids LOVE water. They love swimming, splashing, baths, water games. They feel free in water.

Some kids are SCARED of water. They do not like getting their face wet, or putting their head under, or going to the pool. Their fear is real.

Some kids are LEARNING TO SWIM. They are nervous and proud at the same time.

Some kids CANNOT SWIM YET. Maybe their family has not had a chance to teach them. Maybe they have not had access to a pool or lessons. Maybe they live far from water.

All of these are normal. All of these are okay. Whatever your relationship to water is, the Elephant sees you and does not judge.

If you cannot swim and would like to learn, talk to a trusted grown-up. Many places have swim lessons for kids. Learning to swim does not mean you can swim alone — the rules in this lesson still apply for every kid, swimmer or not. But knowing how to swim is a real skill that helps protect you for life. The Elephant thinks every kid who can have swim lessons should have them. Trusted grown-ups know how to find them in your area.

When a Feeling Feels Really Scary or Unsafe

The Elephant is going to be careful and clear here, because this part matters most.

Sometimes a feeling can get really big. Maybe a feeling about water — about almost drowning, about being scared of swimming, about something that happened around water — sticks with you and is too big to carry. Maybe a feeling about your body or your life makes you not want to be here, or want to hurt yourself.

If a feeling like that ever comes up — at any time, about water or anything else — tell a trusted grown-up right away. Not later. Right then. The grown-up will not be mad. The grown-up will be glad you told them.

There are special phone numbers grown-ups can use when feelings get really scary or unsafe. The Elephant wants you to know these exist, so that if a feeling like this ever happens, you can tell a grown-up, and the grown-up can use one of these helpers. You do not have to remember the numbers. The grown-ups in your life can use them.

For a water emergency — when someone is drowning, hurt in water, or needs help right away:

• A grown-up can call 911. In the United States, 911 is the phone number for emergencies. Real people answer fast and send help. Kids your age do not call 911 on their own (unless a grown-up has taught you to and there is no grown-up around) — you tell a grown-up, and the grown-up makes the call.

Helpers grown-ups can call when feelings feel really scary or unsafe:

• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: a grown-up can call or text 988, day or night. Real people answer. They help right away.
• Crisis Text Line: a grown-up can text the word HOME to 741741, day or night. Real people answer by text.

Helpers grown-ups can call about other big or hard worries:

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357, day or night. Real people answer.

These helpers are for grown-ups to use when you and they need them. Kids your age do not call helplines on their own. You tell a trusted grown-up first. The grown-up takes care of the rest.

The Bear, the Turtle, the Cat, the Lion, the Penguin, the Camel, the Dolphin, the Rooster, and I are all saying the same thing. We agree. You are part of a team. You are not alone.

This is what all nine of us teach.

Water Has Always Been the Most Important Thing

The Elephant will end this lesson — and your G3 cycle — with one quiet thought.

Water is one of the most important things on Earth. The Elephant family has known this for millions of years. Humans have known it for as long as humans have existed. Every animal, every plant, every cell in every living thing — needs water. You are mostly water. Your blood, your brain, your tears, your sweat. Water is what you are, more than anything else.

That is why the Elephant treats water with respect. Not fear. Not avoidance. Respect.

Drink water when you are thirsty. Eat real foods that have water in them. Move with the seasons and the day. Take care of your body, your brain, your sleep, your breath, your feelings, your eyes, your warmth, your coolness. Stay close to the trusted grown-ups who love you.

And around water — always, every time, no exceptions — be with someone who is watching.

The Elephant has walked many long miles to many watering holes in the millions of years of being an elephant. We have always gone with the herd. We have always kept the babies in the middle. We have always returned home together.

You are part of a herd too. Your family. Your friends. Your teachers. Your community. The Bear, the Turtle, the Cat, the Lion, the Penguin, the Camel, the Dolphin, the Rooster, and I.

The Elephant is patient. The Elephant is ready. The Elephant is in your corner — and so is everyone else on the team.

Goodnight, little reader. You have met all nine of us now. Welcome to the herd.

Lesson Check

1. What is the most important rule about kids and water?
2. Why does the Elephant say drowning often looks quiet, not loud and splashy?
3. Name three rules that keep kids safe around water.
4. If you ever see someone in trouble in the water, what is the FIRST thing you should do? What should you NOT do?
5. If a feeling about water — or any feeling — ever feels really scary or unsafe, what is the first thing the Elephant says you should do?

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End-of-Chapter Activity: A Day of Water

The Elephant has one activity for you. It is gentle. It takes one day of noticing, with a trusted grown-up's help at the end. You can do this any day.

What You Need

• A piece of paper or a small notebook
• A pencil
• One day of your normal life
• A trusted grown-up to share with

What You Do

Step 1 — Make a water sheet. At the top of your paper, write the date. Below the date, make four boxes:

• Water I drank today
• Foods I ate today that have water in them
• My thirst signal
• A water safety rule I want to remember

Leave room under each one.

Step 2 — Notice as you go. Across one normal day, fill in the boxes.

• Water I drank: just count or estimate. Three glasses? A water bottle full? A juice and two glasses? You do not need exact amounts.
• Foods I ate that have water in them: watermelon, oranges, soup, yogurt, milk, grapes, cucumbers — any food you ate that is watery. List as many as you can think of.
• My thirst signal: how did your thirst feel today? Were there moments you really wanted water? Times you forgot to drink? Times you drank a lot at once?
• Water safety rule I want to remember: pick one of the rules the Elephant taught in Lesson 3. Write it in your own words.

Step 3 — Notice your pee once. (The Elephant knows this is funny. The Elephant is still going to ask.) Once during the day, when you go to the bathroom, just notice the color. Light yellow? Dark? Clear? Write it down. You do not have to share this part with anyone if you do not want to.

Step 4 — Share with a trusted grown-up. Show your water sheet to a trusted grown-up. Read out the safety rule you wrote. Ask them: What is your favorite way to drink water? Listen to their answer.

Step 5 — Keep the sheet. Save your water sheet somewhere safe. The Elephant thinks water sheets are fun to look back at.

What You Will Get From This

You will notice the water in your day — drinks, foods, signals — more than you ever have. You will lock in one important water safety rule for life. You will share something small with a grown-up who loves you.

That is a small habit. It is also a big skill. The Elephant thinks both are true.

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Vocabulary Review

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Chapter Review

These questions are not a test. They are a way to check what you remember. Take your time. Look back at the lessons if you need to. There are no tricks.

1. About how much of your body is water?

2. Name two jobs water does inside your body.

3. What is the main signal your body sends when it needs water?

4. Name three rules that keep kids safe around water.

5. Why does the Elephant say drowning often looks quiet?

6. If you ever see someone in trouble in the water, what is the FIRST thing you should do?

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Instructor's Guide

This guide is for parents, caregivers, teachers, and other grown-ups using this chapter with a child in Grade 3 (ages 8-9). It is also the closing chapter of the entire G3 Library cycle — the ninth and last of the nine Coach chapters at this grade level.

What This Chapter Teaches

This is the foundation chapter for water in the CryoCove Library. The chapter teaches three big ideas at age-appropriate depth:

1. Your body and water. Bodies are mostly water (more than half), and water does specific jobs in the body: helps blood flow, helps the brain think, helps the body stay cool, helps food move through, helps the body get rid of what it does not need. Water comes from drinking and from food. Kids lose water all day through sweating, breathing, going to the bathroom, crying. Inclusion of diverse water-access contexts (kids near oceans, in dry climates, in cities, with conditions affecting hydration, who can or cannot swim, who love or fear water) is load-bearing.

2. Listening to your body's water signals. Thirst is the main signal — and for most kids most of the time, "drink water when you are thirsty" is exactly right. Urine color is a secondary signal (mostly pale yellow is fine; very dark or very clear-all-day are notes worth telling a grown-up about). Three contexts in which the body needs more water than usual: movement, hot weather, illness. Water is presented as the best drink for most situations, with brief honest framing of other drinks (milk, juice, tea, soda, sports drinks). NO prescriptive intake amounts at G3 — the chapter explicitly avoids "X ounces per day" framing. Kids work with trusted grown-ups about water.

3. Being safe with water. This is the safety-critical lesson, paralleling the prior G3 Lesson 3 structures, and treated with the same gravity G3 Light gave solar retinopathy. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in children ages 1-4 and a major cause through age 14. The chapter teaches the never-swim-alone rule as the central message. Six clear rules: never swim alone, the watching grown-up must actually be watching, only safe places, life jackets in boats and around open water, never enter unfamiliar water, even strong swimmers follow the rules. Home water hazards (bathtubs, buckets, kiddie pools, toilets) are addressed. Cold water and hot water carryforward from Penguin and brief hot-water mentions. If someone is in trouble in the water: yell for a grown-up RIGHT AWAY; never go in to rescue someone yourself; grown-ups call 911. This rule is critical — many kids drown trying to save a friend, and the chapter is firm about it. The two-tier protective framing matches prior G3 chapters: everyday water safety (rules) + emergency response (911). Inclusion of kids learning to swim, scared of water, who cannot swim yet — all normalized; swim lessons recommended with grown-up help where possible.

What This Chapter Does NOT Teach

This chapter is intentionally light on certain content that becomes appropriate at later grades:

• No prescriptive water intake amounts. No "X ounces per day," no body-weight-based calculations, no specific daily targets. The chapter teaches signals (thirst, urine color, more-needed-when contexts) and trusted-adult collaboration. Grade 6 introduces descriptive intake ranges.
• No water chemistry vocabulary beyond simplest. H₂O, polarity, hydrogen bonding, aquaporins, osmolality, electrolytes — none of these are named at G3. Grade 6 introduces water as molecule.
• No hyponatremia or overhydration content beyond the briefest signal. EAH is rare in children and discussing overhydration prescriptively could confuse the "drink when thirsty" message at G3. Brief informational mention in pee-color section.
• No alkaline / structured / hydrogen / mineral water claims. Wellness-water marketing reaches families increasingly via social media; the chapter does not engage these at G3 (they receive critique at Doctorate level). At G3, plain water is the answer.
• No detailed CPR or rescue technique. Lesson 3 explicitly teaches kids NOT to attempt water rescue. Rescue is a grown-up's job with grown-up training. Kids alert grown-ups; grown-ups handle.

How to Support the Child

A few things you can do that align with the chapter's framing:

• Model "drink water when you are thirsty." Have water visible in your home. Take sips during your day. Children imitate what they see.
• Make water at meals normal. Water glasses on the table at meals. Water bottles in backpacks.
• Reinforce the never-swim-alone rule. This is a one-conversation rule that protects your child for life. Make it concrete: every body of water, every time, with a watching grown-up.
• Watch your own watching. When supervising swimming, put the phone away. Lock eyes on your child. The chapter explicitly addresses the distracted-watching pattern that contributes to many child drownings — your direct attention matters.
• Use life jackets every time around open water. No exceptions, regardless of swimming skill. Boats, kayaks, paddleboards, docks, beaches with surf — life jacket on the kid.
• Make swim lessons available if possible. Many community pools, YMCAs, and aquatic centers offer affordable lessons. Some communities have free or low-cost options. Worth asking about.
• For families with younger children: the chapter's older-sibling-help-watch-younger-sibling thread is real. Reinforce that even with the older child's help, the grown-up is the watcher.
• Be the one your child can come to about a water worry. The chapter explicitly tells the child to talk to a trusted grown-up. Make sure they know you are that grown-up.

Watching for Warning Signs

Beyond the acute water-emergency signs the chapter teaches, please contact your pediatrician or a qualified clinician if you notice:

• A child who is persistently thirsty even after drinking, with frequent urination, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss — diabetes can present this way and warrants evaluation.
• A child whose urine is consistently very dark, who reports painful urination, or who is not drinking enough — talk to your pediatrician.
• A child showing extreme fear of water that interferes with bathing, hygiene, or normal activities — pediatric counseling can help.
• A child who has had a near-drowning event — post-event medical evaluation matters (delayed effects can occur).
• Any mention of not wanting to be here, wanting to hurt themselves, or feeling hopeless — these require immediate response.

A brief note for clinicians and educators: exercise-associated hyponatremia (overhydration) is rare in elementary-school-age children in typical activity contexts. Discussing overhydration prescriptively at G3 could compete with the "drink water when thirsty" message that genuinely protects most kids in most situations. The chapter therefore omits explicit hyponatremia content. Grade 6 introduces hydration ranges; later tiers engage hyponatremia at clinical depth.

Verified resources (May 2026):

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, 24/7.
• 911: for any acute medical or safety emergency, including water emergencies (drowning, near-drowning, water-related injuries, severe dehydration).
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741, 24/7.
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357, 24/7.
• Your pediatrician is the best starting place for any non-emergency hydration or water-safety concern.

Note: the NEDA helpline (1-800-931-2237) is not functional as of this writing. Use the National Alliance for Eating Disorders number (866-662-1235) instead if water-restriction or water-loading patterns appear alongside body-image concerns.

Pacing

If you are using this chapter in a classroom:

If you are using this chapter at home, two lessons per week is comfortable. Lesson 3 is the longest and most safety-critical; budget extra time, and the never-swim-alone rule and emergency-response rules are worth reinforcing every spring before summer water activities begin.

Lesson Check Answers

Lesson 1.1:

1. More than half. (Your body is mostly water.) 2. Any two of: helps blood flow, helps brain think, helps body stay cool, helps food move through, helps body get rid of what it does not need. 3. Drinking water (and other drinks) AND eating foods with water in them. 4. Any two of: sweating, breathing out, going to the bathroom, crying, drooling, spit, runny nose. 5. The child's own observation.

Lesson 1.2:

1. Thirst. 2. Pale yellow (like lemonade). Dark yellow may mean the body wants more water. 3. Any three of: when you move a lot, when it is hot outside, when you are sick (especially with fever or throwing up), when you have been laughing or crying a lot. 4. Plain water. 5. It means kids work with grown-ups about water — grown-ups handle the big decisions (safety, kinds of drinks, when extra water is needed) and kids handle their part (drinking when thirsty, telling grown-ups when they feel off).

Lesson 1.3:

1. Kids do not go in water alone. Always with a trusted grown-up watching closely. 2. Because in real life, a drowning person often cannot splash or yell — they are using all their energy to keep their head up and they cannot breathe. So a drowning person can look like they are just standing in the water with their head tipped back. 3. Any three of: never swim alone, the grown-up must actually be watching (not on phone), only swim in safe places, wear a life jacket in boats and around open water, never go into water you do not know, even strong swimmers follow these rules. 4. FIRST: yell for a grown-up right away. DO NOT: jump in to help yourself — you can drown too. 5. Tell a trusted grown-up right away. The grown-up can call 988, Crisis Text Line, SAMHSA, or 911 depending on what is needed.

Chapter Review Answers

1. More than half — your body is mostly water. 2. Any two from Lesson 1.1's list. 3. Thirst. 4. Any three of the six rules from Lesson 1.3. 5. Because a drowning person often cannot splash or yell — they look quiet, not like the movie version. That is why a watching grown-up has to actually be watching. 6. Yell for a trusted grown-up right away. Never jump in to rescue someone yourself — grown-ups call 911 and handle the rescue.

Discussion Prompts

Open-ended questions to ask the child after the chapter:

1. What is one thing about water you learned in this chapter that surprised you?
2. About how much water did you drink yesterday? How did you feel?
3. What is your favorite watery food?
4. Do you love water, are you scared of water, are you somewhere in the middle? How did you get to feel that way?
5. Who is the trusted grown-up who watches you when you swim? What do they do well?
6. If a friend asked you to swim with them in a place no grown-up could see, what would you say?
7. The Elephant says drowning is often quiet. Why is that important to know?
8. You have now met all nine Coaches at Grade 3 — Bear, Turtle, Cat, Lion, Penguin, Camel, Dolphin, Rooster, Elephant. Which one is your favorite so far? Why?

Common Child Questions

• "How much water should I drink every day?" Drink when you are thirsty. Drink more on hot days, active days, and sick days. Your trusted grown-ups know your body. The Elephant does not have a number — water needs are different for different kids on different days.
• "Is sparkling water as good as plain water?" For most kids, yes — sparkling water without sugar is mostly just water with bubbles. Some kids feel full faster on sparkling water. Pick what you enjoy. Your grown-ups decide.
• "Can I drink water from a stream when hiking?" Not without a grown-up's help. Water in nature can have things in it that make people sick. Grown-ups carry water on hikes for a reason.
• "What if I drink too much water?" For most kids in normal life, this is not a concern. Your body tells you when you have had enough — usually you stop wanting water. If you ever feel sick from drinking lots of water (which is rare), tell a trusted grown-up.
• "Why does my friend's pee look different?" Pee color depends on water, food, vitamins, and other things. Most differences are normal. Very dark, very pink, or very red pee — tell a grown-up.
• "Why do I have to wear a life jacket if I can swim?" Because boats tip, water gets choppy, cold water comes as a surprise, accidents happen fast. Life jackets save the lives of strong swimmers all the time. The rule is the same for everyone.
• "My friend dared me to swim across a pond. Should I do it?" No. Even if you are a strong swimmer. You do not know how deep it is, how cold, what is underneath. Get a grown-up first. A real friend will not be mad.
• "My family does not have a pool or take us to lakes. How can I learn about water safety?" Many communities have free or low-cost swim lessons at community pools, YMCAs, or rec centers. Ask your trusted grown-up. Knowing how to swim is a real life skill. In the meantime, the rules in this lesson apply even at bathtub level — always with a grown-up watching, especially for younger kids.
• "I almost drowned once. Is that why I am scared of water?" Maybe — that fear is real and normal. A near-drowning is a serious thing that often leaves big feelings. Talk to a trusted grown-up. Counselors and therapists can help kids work through scary water experiences. The Turtle has more to say about feelings; the Elephant is in your corner.

Parent Communication Template

Dear families,

Your child is beginning the final chapter of the Grade 3 CryoCove Library cycle — Water and Your Body, the ninth and last of the nine Coach chapters at this grade level. After this chapter, your child has met all nine Coaches and learned the foundational concepts each one teaches.

What this chapter covers:

• That bodies are mostly water and that water does specific jobs in the body
• Where water comes from (drinking and watery foods) and where it goes (sweat, breath, bathroom, tears)
• That kids in different climates and circumstances have different water stories — all normal
• Thirst as the main hydration signal; urine color as a secondary signal; trusted-grown-up partnership about water
• The most important safety lesson: kids do not go in water alone, ever, and the watching grown-up must actually be watching
• Six clear water-safety rules
• Home water hazards (bathtubs, buckets, kiddie pools, toilets)
• Emergency response if someone is in trouble in the water: yell for a grown-up immediately, NEVER go in to rescue someone yourself
• 911 framing for water emergencies (carrying forward from prior G3 Coach chapters)

Tone: The chapter is gentle, steady, warm, and family-oriented. The Elephant character (Coach Water) is the matriarchal, water-loving, deeply patient Coach — appropriate for a chapter where water deserves great respect. The Elephant never makes any child feel different for their water story (whether they swim well, are afraid of water, cannot swim, or have not had access to water lessons). Water safety is taught with gravity but never with fear.

What this chapter does not teach: prescriptive water intake amounts ("X ounces per day"), water chemistry vocabulary, alkaline/structured/hydrogen-water claims, or rescue technique. Kids are taught explicitly NOT to attempt water rescue — that is a grown-up's job with grown-up training. Hyponatremia (rare overhydration) is also not centrally featured because at G3 it could compete with the "drink water when thirsty" message that protects most kids in most situations.

End-of-chapter activity: Your child will track water across one day — what they drank, what watery foods they ate, how their thirst felt, one safety rule to remember — and share with a trusted grown-up (you, if available). Please support this activity.

A note on Lesson 3: Lesson 3 is the heart of the chapter and the most safety-critical content in the entire G3 cycle for many families. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in children ages 1-4 and remains a major cause through age 14. The chapter teaches the never-swim-alone rule, the close-watching grown-up rule, the safe-places rule, the life-jacket rule, the open-water rule, and the home-water-hazards reminders with gravity. It also teaches kids what to do if they see someone in trouble: yell for a grown-up RIGHT AWAY and never attempt rescue themselves. If you read only one of the prior G3 chapters' Lesson 3s alongside your child, this is the one we recommend you read together.

Warning signs we ask families to notice: Beyond the acute water-emergency signs the chapter teaches, please watch for any unusual thirst patterns (could be diabetes), persistent fear of water that interferes with daily activities, near-drowning experiences (always merit clinical follow-up), or any mention of not wanting to be here. The chapter does not introduce or normalize any water-exposure practice that could be replicated unsafely.

A note on completing the G3 cycle: This chapter completes your child's introduction to all nine CryoCove Coaches at the Grade 3 level. They have now met:

• Coach Food (Bear) — Food and Your Body
• Coach Brain (Turtle) — Your Brain and You
• Coach Sleep (Cat) — Your Sleep and You
• Coach Move (Lion) — Moving and Your Body
• Coach Cold (Penguin) — Cold and Your Body
• Coach Hot (Camel) — Heat and Your Body
• Coach Breath (Dolphin) — Breath and Your Body
• Coach Light (Rooster) — Light and Your Body
• Coach Water (Elephant) — Water and Your Body

This is the foundational layer that future grades will build on. Your child will meet each of these nine Coaches again at Grade 4 and Grade 5, then through the full K-12 spiral. The basics they learn now will spiral upward.

If you have any questions about any of the chapters, please reach out to your child's teacher or to us at the CryoCove team.

Warmly, The CryoCove Curriculum Team

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Illustration Briefs

Lesson 1.1 — Elephant Family at a Watering Hole Placement: After "The Elephant Watches." Scene: A wide gentle scene showing an elephant family at a watering hole at golden hour. The matriarch (a large adult elephant) stands closest to the water, with three smaller elephants of different sizes around her — a teenager, a young one, and a tiny baby elephant with its trunk reaching toward the water. The scene is peaceful and warm. To one side, Coach Water (the Elephant) — the same character — stands looking at the viewer with kind eyes, one ear gently raised. Above, soft text reads: "Elephants have always known that water is the most important thing. Your body knows too." Mood: gentle, ancient, wise, family-oriented. Show the warm tones of dusk. The water is calm, never threatening — but the matriarch's posture suggests watchful care, not casual. Aspect ratio: 16:9 web, 4:3 print.

Lesson 1.2 — A Glass of Water and Watery Foods Placement: After "Water Is the Best Drink (Most of the Time)." Scene: A simple, warm scene showing a child sitting at a table with a glass of water and a plate of watery fruits (watermelon slice, orange slices, grapes, sliced cucumber). The child is mid-sip with a slight smile. Beside them, a trusted grown-up has another glass of water and is eating a piece of watermelon too. To one side, Coach Water (the Elephant) stands warmly, trunk slightly lifted in a friendly way. A small label above reads: "Most of the water your body needs comes from drinking water and eating real food." Show diverse skin tones. Mood: peaceful, ordinary, warm. Aspect ratio: 16:9 web, 4:3 print.

Lesson 1.3 — A Trusted Grown-Up Watching Closely at the Pool Placement: After "The Rules That Keep Kids Safe Around Water." Scene: A friendly scene at a swimming pool. A child is swimming with a happy face, splashing gently. On the pool deck, very close to the water, a trusted grown-up sits with their full attention on the child. The grown-up is NOT holding a phone, NOT reading, NOT talking to anyone else. Their hands are free and they look ready to help if needed. A lifeguard chair is visible in the background with a lifeguard sitting alert in it. To one side, Coach Water (the Elephant) stands looking pleased, trunk slightly lifted in approval. Above the scene, a small label reads: "Watching kids in water = full attention. Always." Show diverse skin tones across the chapter. Mood: warm, normal, never scary — just showing what good water care looks like. CRITICAL: the watching grown-up's posture must clearly show active attention, not casual presence. The image teaches the right behavior. Aspect ratio: 16:9 web, 4:3 print.

Optional — Lesson 1.3: A Kid Wearing a Life Jacket in a Boat Placement: After "Wear a life jacket in boats and around open water." Scene: A simple, cheerful scene of a child in a brightly colored life jacket sitting in a small boat (rowboat or canoe) with a trusted grown-up. Calm blue water. The child is smiling, the grown-up is rowing or paddling, both have life jackets on, both look comfortable. To one side, Coach Water (the Elephant) stands at the shore watching peacefully. A small label reads: "Life jackets save lives — even for strong swimmers. Every time. No exceptions." Mood: bright, ordinary, peaceful. Show diverse skin tones. Aspect ratio: 16:9 web, 4:3 print.

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Citations

1. Institute of Medicine. (2005). Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate. National Academies Press.

2. Jéquier, E., & Constant, F. (2010). Water as an essential nutrient: the physiological basis of hydration. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 64(2), 115-123.

3. Popkin, B. M., D'Anci, K. E., & Rosenberg, I. H. (2010). Water, hydration, and health. Nutrition Reviews, 68(8), 439-458.

4. Edmonds, C. J., Crombie, R., & Gardner, M. R. (2013). Subjective thirst moderates changes in speed of responding associated with water consumption. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 363.

5. Sawka, M. N., Cheuvront, S. N., & Carter, R. III. (2005). Human water needs. Nutrition Reviews, 63(6 Pt 2), S30-S39.

6. Brown, C. M., Dulloo, A. G., & Montani, J. P. (2006). Water-induced thermogenesis reconsidered: the effects of osmolality and water temperature on energy expenditure after drinking. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 91(9), 3598-3602. (Cited here as part of the foundational hydration physiology literature.)

7. Sawka, M. N., Burke, L. M., Eichner, E. R., Maughan, R. J., Montain, S. J., & Stachenfeld, N. S. (2007). American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and fluid replacement. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39(2), 377-390.

8. Armstrong, L. E. (2005). Hydration assessment techniques. Nutrition Reviews, 63(6 Pt 2), S40-S54.

9. Pia, F. (1971). On drowning. Water Safety Films, Inc. (Foundational lifeguard education describing the instinctive drowning response pattern — drowning is often quiet, not splashy.)

10. Brenner, R. A., Saluja, G., & Smith, G. S. (2003). Swimming lessons, swimming ability, and the risk of drowning. Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 10(4), 211-216.

11. American Academy of Pediatrics, Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. (2019). Prevention of drowning. Pediatrics, 143(5), e20190850.

12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Drowning prevention. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. cdc.gov/drowning.

13. American Red Cross. (2024). Water safety for parents and caregivers. redcross.org. (Authoritative summary of pediatric water safety practices including supervision, life jackets, and emergency response.)