Embedded Files
RWLDs= Reading(s) Watching(s) Listening(s) and Doing(s)
Learning beyond the classroom
Learning beyond the classroom
In this class, we are using Chromebooks and many Google tools to learn how to create, collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve.
We use many digital learning resources provided to us via Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEA)
You can also access these resources at home! It is free, and each student has a unique username and password, allowing them to use many wonderful learning resources in class and at home.
Please email me if your student does not remember their access.
Follow Interesting links
Listen to the BRAINS ON! podcast episode titled "Water, water everywhere - but how does it get there? Where your family can learn about the water cycle from rain to your drain, the water in space, and all the important things our bodies do with water.
https://www.brainson.org/episode/2014/07/08/water-water-everywhere-but-how-does-it-get-there
Water Footprint Calculator watercalculator.org - Play with your student to find out your family's water footprint. Browse the educational resources and tips on how to save the water (and your $!). Ask your student about the Global Goal: Clean Water and Sanitation.
(External link, student AEA login required) Dive Deeper! For curious minds, to access cool resources related to the water in our lives, water in the environment, and water as a compound.
(External link) Students (and you! ) can satisfy their curiosity with the interactive topics related to social studies and science. In this unit we will use the resources related to the Hydrology Use student AEA to login.
Mr.Demo Reading recommendation: Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman - Young Adult novel, Urban Dystopia, reading for the entire family.
"The drought has been going on for a while now. Everyone’s lives have become an endless list of don’ts: don’t water the lawn, don’t fill up your pool, or take long showers... Until the taps run dry... Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation. She and her brother embark on a quest to unite with their parents.".
The book raises some really compelling questions about emergency preparedness and how people react in circumstances they should be able to predict but don't. Here is a reading group guide with compelling discussion questions and extension activities.
Interact with the embedded resources right on this page!
Watch this short tutorial about converting units and volume to metric systems ( liters and milliliters) . It will connect to our unit of human water consumption and help students analyze data from science reports that are provided in metric.
In this unit, we will practice skills related to Measurements and Data. Linked are practice quizzes and the relevant tutorials. (External link)
Embedded Google slides that I use in our classroom. There is a corresponding self-study quiz in a course's Google Classroom.
Important vocabulary: Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation
Ask your student about Global Goals: Clean Water and Sanitation and Life Below Water.
How One Smart Farmer Saved the Water: Embedded Video created by Lego League students at our school. It is a diary entry from the perspective of a farmer, water, a chemical called fertilizer, and a prairie root. It tells how prairie roots sponge up dirty water and stop agricultural runoff. More about the topic here: Plant the prairie roots: https://sites.google.com/uni.edu/roots/home
Did you know that the University of Northern Iowa has a Tallgrass Praire center that is open to the public?
Engage in an enrichment activity
Real World Connection
Real World Connection
Did you know about Water Conservation AdvocateS?
Did you know about Water Conservation AdvocateS?
In the real world, there are people known as water conservation advocates who work to promote the responsible use of water. These advocates raise awareness about the importance of conserving water and encourage individuals and communities to adopt water-saving practices.
How it applies to what is being taught: By learning about the human water cycle and how we can help with water quality, students can become water conservation advocates themselves. They can use their knowledge to educate their friends and family about the significance of conserving water and the impact it has on our environment. Students can create posters, write persuasive essays, or even organize a water-saving campaign at their school to spread the message.
There are several activities that students can do to promote water conservation. Here are a few ideas:
Create a poster campaign: You can design eye-catching posters that highlight the importance of water conservation and ways to save water. These posters can be displayed around the school or in the community to raise awareness. Perhaps parents can share your posters with their friends via social media.
Conduct a water audit: Students can perform a water audit at their school or in their homes to identify areas of water waste. They can measure water usage in different areas and suggest ways to reduce consumption, such as fixing leaks or using water-efficient appliances.
Organize a water-saving challenge: Students can challenge their classmates or family members to a water-saving competition. They can track their water usage and see who can reduce their consumption the most over a certain period of time.
Write persuasive essays or speeches: Students can use their writing and speaking skills to create persuasive essays or speeches advocating for water conservation. They can present their arguments to their classmates, school administrators, or local community leaders to inspire action.
Create educational videos: Students can work in groups to create educational videos about water conservation. These videos can be shared on social media platforms or presented in school assemblies to educate others about the importance of saving water.
Start a community garden: Students can start a community garden where they learn about sustainable gardening practices, including water-wise techniques such as drip irrigation. By growing their own fruits and vegetables, students can understand the importance of water conservation in agriculture.
I encourage you to be creative and think of innovative ways to promote water conservation in your school, community, and home.
Activities at home that prompt critical thinking and reflection on human water consumption.
Activities at home that prompt critical thinking and reflection on human water consumption.
Would You Rather Questions:
Would You Rather Questions:
Would you rather have an unlimited supply of water for your personal use or ensure that everyone in your community has access to clean water?
Would you rather take shorter showers for the rest of your life or limit your daily water usage for all activities?
Would you rather have a lush green lawn that requires excessive watering or a low-maintenance garden that conserves water?
Deep Question:
Deep Question:
How does our individual water consumption impact global water resources and the environment?
Applied Scenario-based Question:
Applied Scenario-based Question:
Imagine you live in a region experiencing severe drought. What steps can you take at home to conserve water and help your community during this challenging time?
Thought Experiment:
Thought Experiment:
Suppose you woke up one day and found that all the freshwater sources on Earth had disappeared. How would this impact human life? What actions could be taken to mitigate the crisis?
Riddles:
Riddles:
I am essential for life, yet I can also be wasted. What am I?
I am found in rivers, lakes, and oceans, but I am also invisible. What am I?
The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Note for EdTech required reflections DO NOT reflect here! This is just an example for you. Follow the template on the assignment requirements and submit in eLearning.
Example1: My AI-generated activity is called Real World Connections, and I created it by magicschool.ai. I modified it to fit my needs and to match my I CAN statements, and then followed by an expansion prompt, "What activities can students do to promote water conservation?"
Following is a link to the full resource: https://app.magicschool.ai/tools/real-world-connections?share=ffabfca1-13a3-46f5-8c4a-65c6f9610e35
Example 2: My AI-generated activity is based on my inquiry in EduAide AI: What activities can students and families do at home to think about human water consumption? I used the Planning and Engagement Activities generator in Teaching Assistant https://www.eduaide.ai/app/assistant . The AI suggested, "Students and families should engage in activities at home that prompt critical thinking and reflection on human water consumption. I added it to the workspace and picked from the suggested activities what seemed to be the most appropriate for my Thematic Unit.
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