Elizabeth David, a science teacher at Pinedale Elementary School, has developed an innovative educational unit titled "Where Does My Drink of Water Come From?" This unit is designed to teach students about the journey of water from its source to their school faucets, integrating various data tools and resources to enhance learning.
Unit Objectives and Activities
The unit aims to connect students with the path their drinking water takes through interactive lessons that cover water sourcing from headwaters, creeks, and lakes, through municipal systems, and ultimately to their drinking glasses. Students engage in mapping exercises, data analysis, and hands-on experiments to trace and understand this journey.
Interactive Data Tools Used
- Google Earth – Visualizes the upstream journey of water to its headwaters.
- Wyoming Student Atlas Online Story Maps – Helps students explore the concept of river basins.
- River Runner – Tracks water flow from headwaters down through the river basin.
- Wyoming SnowTel Data – Provides local data on snowpack and its contribution to the water supply.
- USGS Stream Gauge Data – Offers data on stream flow relevant to the students' local water sources.
Learning Outcomes
Through this unit, students not only learn about hydrology and the environmental science behind their daily water use but also develop skills in data analysis and scientific inquiry. The activities are designed to be developmentally appropriate for upper elementary students and focus on fostering a lifelong interest in science and environmental stewardship.
Future Directions
The unit will be assessed to determine its impact on students’ understanding and their ability to tell data-informed stories about their water supply. Future iterations may include more diverse data tools and expanded topics related to water use and conservation.
Contact for More Information
For more details about this educational unit or to get involved, please reach out to the TRKE program coordinators or directly to Elizabeth David at Pinedale Elementary School. Link to full lesson plan
