WaterWays — Fifth-grade students and their teachers can access 14 lessons, each with hands-on experiments and engaging quizzes, from this highly popular curriculum in its new online format. Completely updated to include correlation with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and Sunshine State Standards, lessons can be used individually or as a series, and are designed to supplement science, language and math curricula. Overall, the WaterWays curriculum focuses on leaving students with three major principles: that all natural systems are interrelated and interdependent, that human actions have an effect on these natural systems, and that everyone can make a difference in protecting our waterways. Go to http://www.sjrwmd.com/education/waterways/educators/.

The District has received several requests for information about discharge from the river in light of the recent hurricanes. Conversations with District scientists produced some interesting facts you might not be aware of. They are:

• The net discharge (how much water leaves the river each day) of the St Johns River (SJR) is not very great given the size of the river.
• Four much “smaller” rivers in Florida actually have greater discharges
• The SJR only ranks fifth among Florida’ rivers for discharge.
• Much more water flows past Mayport each day than the net discharge would suggest. It’s just that most of it is ocean water that came in during the incoming tide a few hours before.
• Long term net flow of the SJR at Jacksonville is 6,105 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 45,671 gallons per second (visualize this many milk jugs flowing past the Main Street bridge every second). This equates to an average daily discharge of 3,945,974,400 gallons.
• The average tidal flow is 7.7 times greater than the average net flow. In other words, only 13% of the water leaving the river is what would be considered river water. The other 83% is ocean water (diluted with river water) that moved upstream during the previous high tide.

More Hurricane resources

Weather Scope: An Investigative Study of Weather and Climate is an Internet-based multidisciplinary project that will enrich a student’ learning experience through “Unique and Compelling” applications of instructional technology.

In particular, this project taps into some of the exciting applications of the Internet in education by having students access real time weather data, interact with experts online, and publish their own work to the project web site. This standards-based real time data module has been created for use by students in the elementary and middle/high school grades to allow them to investigate weather phenomena both locally and in other places around the world. http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/information.shtml

Third grade students and their teachers can have fun learning about water by subscribing to the annual WaterDrops newsletter. Each issue contains at least three separate topic areas that are filled with word finds, water facts, web links and stories. WaterDrops can help students relate current water issues to their lives. Subscribe for your class set by emailing ldennard@sjrwmd.com.

The U.S. Geological Survey would like to announce a new Web site about the water cycle. Lauded as the most comprehensive Web site about the water cycle anywhere. It features a wonderful diagram of the water cycle and an in-depth discussion of each of the 15 topics in the diagram. The URL is: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html.

The State Farm is offering Good Neighbor Service-Learning Grants for $1,000. Grants will be awarded to young people ages 5-25, teachers, and service-learning coordinators to implement service-learning projects on National Youth Service Day, April 15-17, 2005. For more information, visit http://www.ysa.org/awards/partnerag/sf05/overview_parent.cfm.

Fun and Educational Web Sites

• ARKive – Wildlife Image Site, is trying to promote the conservation of the natural world through the power of wildlife imagery. The Web site features photographs of endangered and protected species worldwide and includes information on habitat, status, descriptions, threats, and biology. Visit http://www.arkive.org/.
• Visit the pH Factor! Miami Museum of Science at http://www.miamisci.org/ph/default.html to learn about pH.
• To learn about water conservation visit http://www.h2ouse.net/ Take a tour to investigate water saving opportunities in each area of the home. Click on each location to show you both the facts and specific advice to save water.
• Planning to visit a national park? The National Park Service’ Web site has a park guide that tells you everything you always wanted to know about a national park. Visitors to the site will find links to information about camping reservations, the national parks pass, volunteer opportunities and more. Information about individual parks is available by selecting a park by name, clicking on a state map or marking a special interest. Visit http://www.nps.gov/.

None at this time.

At your next workshop, consider using technology, adding suitable Web links to your agenda and offering follow-up mentoring for educators. These simple steps will go a long way in helping teachers comply with Florida’ Professional Development System Evaluation Protocol. Before the workshop, find out the focus areas of the teachers' and/or schools' professional development plans. Your Project WET workshop can offer assistance in meeting the individual, school and district professional development plan needs. Contact Deirdre Irwin at dirwin@sjrwmd.com for more information.

Before your workshop, send out a pre-workshop evaluation survey. This tool can provide you with information on your audience’ pre-existing knowledge levels and let you develop a better workshop that meets their specific needs and builds on pre-existing knowledge levels. For a copy of the survey, e-mail Lori Dennard at ldennard@sjrwmd.com.

In light of our recent weather, you might want to use Project WET’ Aftermath activity at your workshop. Staff has gathered a variety of articles about the aftermath of the hurricanes and their impact on many aspects of life in Florida. Email Deirdre at dirwin@sjrwmd.com to have copies e-mailed to you. Project WET facilitator’ materials may also be found HERE.