Action 1: Bring My Water Bottle

What it is 

Youth learn about the importance of reusing water bottles by exploring plastic pollution, its impacts on the environment and decorating their own reusable water bottle. 

Why it matters 

Every year, billions of disposable cups and bottles are thrown away after a single use. Most end up in landfills or oceans, where they take hundreds of years to break down. By bringing your own reusable water bottle, you reduce waste, save energy, and help keep our planet clean. 

Getting started 

Time: 40 minutes 

Grade level: 3-5 

Materials: 

• Means to share the video, Everything We Know About Ocean Plastic Pollution So Far
• Earth On Us—Plastic Bottles survey – 1 per person
• Writing utensils – 1 per person
• Plastic Bottle Pledge Banner (See Facilitator Prep)
• Permanent markers, acrylic paint, and other materials to decorate a reusable water bottle, such as included optional stickers or other stickers
• Optional Bring My Water Bottle sign: Post this in your program space, or pass out copies to youth to post in various places to encourage others to take the “Bring My Water Bottle” pledge!

Facilitator Prep: 

• Youth will be signing the Plastic Bottle Pledge Banner, so consider printing it out large, such as on an 11×17 piece of paper, or printing out multiple copies so that everyone has room to sign their names. Alternatively, you can reproduce your own banner on a large piece of butcher paper. 

Background 

Bringing a reusable water bottle supports the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) framework, which encourages using resources wisely and reducing waste at every stage of a product’s life cycle¹. 

¹US Environmental Protection Agency. (2026). Sustainable materials management basics. EPA.gov. This lesson is part of Earth On Us, by Daniel Chen. © 2026 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. University of Minnesota Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats upon request. 3 

Sustainable materials management looks at the whole lifecycle of our day-to-day materials, from extraction of those materials from mines, forests, and other natural places, to how those materials get used to make various products, to their distribution to warehouses and stores, to how they get used, and finally to what happens to them once they’ve reached the end of their use. The most sustainable end-of-use management method is to reuse the product, followed by recycling/composting, or reusing it for heat, electricity, or fuel. Landfill is another end-of-use option, but not the most preferable. 

What to do 

Step 1: Learn why it matters (5 minutes) 

1. Ask youth to share their ideas about why bringing their own water bottle is a better idea than using a disposable bottle.

2. Try this:
   • Count how many disposable bottles or cups you might use in one week.
   • Multiply that by 52. Surprised? That’s how much you could save every year just by bringing your own!

3. Share that using reusable bottles
   • Reduces the need for single-use plastics
   • Saves natural resources and energy
   • Lowers greenhouse gas emissions
   • Builds lifelong habits that protect the environment

Step 2: See the science (10 minutes) 

4. Ask youth what happens to disposable plastic bottles when we’re done with them. Then explain that plastic bottles don’t just disappear—they break into tiny pieces called microplastics that pollute soil and water. Making new plastic also uses a lot of oil and energy. When you reuse, you help stop pollution before it starts.
5. Watch a short video showing how plastic travels from land to ocean: Everything We Know About Ocean Plastic Pollution So Far 

Step 3: Take the pledge (5 minutes) 

6. Make your promise to the planet! Sign your name on the Pledge Banner (see Facilitator Prep for banner preparation suggestions) to show your commitment and receive your sticker. Display it proudly at your club, school, program space, or event to inspire others to join the movement! 
7. Go to EarthOnUs.org under Actions → Bring My Water Bottle, and make the pledge!

Step 4: Decorate a reusable bottle (10 minutes) 

8. Make your reusable bottle personal and fun to encourage yourself and others to use it!
   • Draft your water bottle design on the scratch paper.
   • Decorate your bottle using eco-friendly stickers, paint pens, or your own drawings.
   • Show it off to friends, family–every bottle is unique!

Step 5: Take the survey (5 minutes) 

9. Distribute the Earth On Us – Plastic Bottles survey for youth to take.

Step 6: Celebrate! (5 minutes) 

10. Gather everyone to wrap things up. Ask:
    • How do you think taking the water bottle pledge will make a difference?
    • What are some other steps you can take?
11. Remind youth that small actions make big impacts! By remembering to bring your water bottle, you’re protecting the planet, one sip at a time. Keep it up and encourage your friends and family to do the same. 

Take it further 

Do youth want to learn more? Help them find out where their local recycling goes! Here are some ideas on where to find this information: 

• Check your city or county website for their waste management section
• Call your local waste hauler or municipality directly
• Find recycling options for your area at Earth911.com or RecycleNation.com

Your voice can motivate others! Share your story at https://earthonus.org to inspire youth around the world. Your story will be featured on the Earth on Us website to inspire other youth! Consider including: 

• Event Details (date, location, number of participants)
• Pictures (e.g., completed survey forms, signed pledge banner, decorated bottles, event pictures)
• A blog or summary about your event