Eco Experience
with Eco Chick
Eco /ˈēkō/ adjective; not harming the environment; eco-friendly
Volume 13 ~ March 2022 ~ The Water Edition
Eco Tips and More
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."
Hey People!
Ah, March...the launch pad into Spring! In like a lion, out like a lamb...let's see if this old adage holds true with climate change and all. Here's hoping for a nice wet month for World Water Day! ~Tana
In this issue:
- World Water Day
- 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
- OSU's Underground Story of Water in Oregon
- Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant VEarthual Field Trip
- 4J/EWEB Partnership and YOU!
- 4J Climate Connections
- STEM teaching tools #69 and #68
- Read.Watch.Do.
- BRING Education opportunities
- Earth Day is coming, Earth Day is coming...
World Water Day!
Here are some helpful links:
Groundwater Foundation-What is Ground Water? Interactive
Groundwater Foundation Activities
UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals:
6-Water and Sanitation:
WLL-6 Water and Sanitation resources
14-Life Below Water:
"We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women's empowerment."
UN Sustainable Development Goals
As many of you who know me, I am a climate change super nerd...and I LOVE the 17 Sustainable Goals!! They are such a great compliment to Draw Down solutions and Regeneration. Sure, climate change is in here, but as we all know there is more than just a climate crisis going on-more of a humanity crisis.
So in comes the 17 SDG's. It's a beautiful framework to view the interconnectedness of many social justice issues. There are abundant resources available and I am available if you ever want to chat about the wonderful potential they have for classroom learning and intersectionality between subject areas.
Here a couple of solid introductory resources:
Teaching the Sustainable Goals
Teacher GuideMy super fave:
World's Largest Lesson The focus is on being a Changemaker. There are lessons for PK and up. With World Water Day coming up, its a great time to get your feet wet with Goals 6 and 14.
OSU's Underground Story of Water in Oregon
Check this out!
OSU-Underground Story of Water in Oregon helps you understand ground water, specifically in Oregon. Lots of additional links to learn more.
"All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was."
VEarthual Field Trip-EWEB's Hayden Bridge Water Filtration Plant
Give me an A...STEAM! Sign up for the Water is Life mural project
Pre-drawn Water is Life mural and all materials supplied.
Students paint with Eco Chick for 1-2 sessions!!
Ta da! A beautiful masterpiece for your school site!
4J/EWEB Education Partnership and You!
Here are a few water related activities I can bring to you and your students:
K-5 Give Me an A...STEAM!
The Give Me an A...STEAM! project is designed to bring an art element to your classroom learning. 4J/EEP's Eco Chick will provide a Water is Life mural painting experience for your students. Perfect for teachers that participated in the Virtual Salmon project or are teaching water related lessons, such as FOSS Water and Climate. Let's connect and discuss how to get your students creating. This works best with a 45-60 minute session and a second 30 minute follow-up to add fun details.
K-8 Eugene's Three Water Systems Gallery Walk
Eugene's Three Water Systems involves a small group gallery walk with various learning materials to engage with. It is designed to help students gain an understanding of our local water systems and why water conservation and protection is vital to life on the planet. This activity includes a Blue River watershed model demonstration. (45-60 minutes)
K-8 Wonder Wander
Wonder Wanders are designed for K-4 students and their teachers to GET OUTSIDE to notice and wonder in their school yard surroundings. This 45-60 minute experience includes an introduction and optional read aloud story, an outdoor Wonder Wander guided by 4J/EEP's Eco Chick, time for students to take advantage of the teachable moments being outdoors in a non-recess moment provides, time to share with partners and the whole group, and an optional follow-up SeeSaw lesson. And, they are FUN! Rain ponchos, fingerless gloves, and hand lenses are provided to get a macro and micro view rain or shine.
Coming this Spring:
K-12 Earth Day Ideas and Activities
K-12 Climate Education Resources
K-8 Only Rain Down the Drain
Email-shepard_t@4j.lane.edu to schedule any of these experiences for your class today!
"The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time."
4J Climate Connections
4J CJT Students Get Active!
The 4J Climate Justice Student team has representatives from all 4 region high schools. They meet every Wednesday and are very active in planning actions to bring awareness to climate change and the small things we can all do to make a big difference.
This month's action projects include:
-Working with Safe Routes to Schools on a high school transportation survey, as well as advisory lessons to share at each school and ultimately advocating for alternative transportation to school.
Friday, March 11th-Student clothes swap
Saturday, March 12th-Tree planting with Friends of the Trees
Sunday, March 13th, Climate Revolutions by Bike Rhody Ride
Join the 4J Climate Justice Team
The 4J Climate Justice Team is open to all 4J staff and students.
Our goal is to collaborate with staff and students to create learning opportunities regarding climate change for Pre-K through 12th grade students, as well as highlight/establish sustainable practices district wide and support student clubs in actionable projects. There are many ways to be involved with subcommittees-curriculum, student clubs, special projects and other ways that may work for you.
We will meet via zoom the second Tuesday of each month. Our next meeting is Tuesday, March 8 @ 3:45.
Passcode: climate
And, if you can't make it, please use this link to join the team and tell us how you'd like to be involved in 4J Climate Justice work this year!
4J Climate & Environmental Resources
Coming soon:
The 4J Climate and Environmental Resources is for (P)K-12 teachers featuring relevant articles, websites, units and lessons across the subject areas to compliment and infuse into the great lessons you already teach. The purpose of this resource to offer teachers a resource bank of vetted, solution oriented climate change/environmental information and lessons aligned to content standards in order to begin to envision ways to bring this valuable knowledge to our students, as requested by our students.
Look for this in April-just in time for Earth Day...and beyond.
STEM Teaching Tools #69
Using Local Phenomena to Communicate Climate Solutions
Communicating the reasons why we should respond to climate change is no longer enough. Climate science communication must be grounded in the real actions of local communities. Focusing on the local phenomena (e.g., sea level rise and flooding in New Orleans) that are challenging communities, and local responses will allow others to envision solutions and approaches appropriate for their own community—fostering collective agency and collaborative decision-making amongst local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and the public.
STEM Teaching Tools- # 68
Keeping Climate Science Learning and Instruction Focused on Creating Solutions and Building Community Resilience
Climate change is affecting us all. Young people and low-income communities of color are some of the most heavily impacted populations. As anticipated impacts worsen, people under 30 suffer from increasing levels of sleep disorders, despair, depression and substance abuse. Research has shown that teaching climate science alone contributes to anxieties and phobias. By also introducing students to climate solutions—along with opportunities to take scientific and civic action—climate learning can have a positive effect on students’ well-being and life and employment prospects.
To dig in further: STEM Teaching Tools Climate Learning
Read.
Article by local author of The Parents Guide to the Climate Revolution
Watch.
Do.
"When you put your hand in a flowing stream, you touch the last that has gone before and the first of what is still to come."
BRING's annual Student Product Design Challenge
Have some makers in your midst? Share this opportunity with your students!
By reusing discarded building materials, common waste items, and other supporting materials, you will think about ways to incorporate waste prevention, reuse, and the sustainability of materials and packaging in your everyday life. The more creative the better – we can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Student registration form-Register before April 29th.
🌎🌏🌍 SAVE THE DATE: Earth Day is April 22....Earth Day is April 22...🌎🌏🌍
Save some time in your schedules in April to celebrate our Mother Earth with activities and lessons!
"You are water, I'm water, we're all water in different containers. That's why it's so easy to meet. Someday we'll evaporate together."
4J/EWEB Education Partnership
TOSA-Climate, Energy, Conservation
Email: shepard_t@4j.lane.edu
Website: https://bit.ly/4J-eep
Phone: 541.790.5533