Water Fact

Water has a high surface tension, which is the ability of a substance to stick to itself. This allows certain light items to float and small insects to be able to walk on water. It is estimated that it would take a force of 210,000 pounds to pull apart a column of water molecules that are one-inch-thick at the diameter.

In late March, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) launched its new Water Education Web pages as an online resource for teachers, parents, students, and the public. Resources include hands-on lesson plans, interactive games, science fair ideas and methods, and water resource information for a variety of audiences. The site has been designed both for adults and children to learn about our water resources. Visit the site at www.sjrwmd.com/education/.

SJRWMD’s latest publication, Wetlands, Where Cypress Bark Breaks the Waters Edge, is a visually appealing brochure designed to educate the public about valuable wetland resources in Florida and SJRWMD’s service area. To view it or to download a copy of the brochure, go to http://www.sjrwmd.com/publications/pdfs/br_wetlands.pdf. This brochure highlights the value and functions of wetlands, describes nine examples of wetlands systems found in SJRWMD, and features a colorful wetland key to help you identify wetland types. To order printed copies of this publication, go to http://www.sjrwmd.com/publications/index.html.

Center for Watershed Protection’s wetlands Web site

Wetlands are critical areas for habitat, water quality, biodiversity, and groundwater recharge. The Center for Watershed Protection’s wetlands Web site explains how and why wetlands should be part of watershed management. Included on the site are wetlands and watershed articles, a wetlands slide show, a wetlands primer, Web resources, a calendar of upcoming events, and a bibliography. This site is located at http://www.cwp.org/wetlands/index.htm.

What began nine years ago with one teacher and 15 students wanting to study the progress of the restoration of Rose Bay has led to a countywide initiative, involving three stewardship environmental education centers (scrub, estuarine  and freshwater swamp). The initiative will have every student in the county regularly visiting each center for service activities within the next three years. This bold initiative is supported by Florida Learn and Serve dissemination and infrastructure grants and numerous local partners. This is the first countywide initiative to involve all students in environmental service learning in Volusia Country.

The American Museum of Natural History looks at the world of the “ologist,” or someone who follows their curiosity about something until they finally get answers. Learn more by visiting http://www.ology.amnh.org/.

Earth science review games — Dave Robison, a prominent New York Earth science teacher, has created two review games for high school-aged Earth science students. Students can play “Earth Science Jeopardy” and “Geology Millionaire” online to help them review key Earth science concepts, while also having fun. Visit http://www.regentsearthscience.com/review.htm.

Science how-to’s — This site has something for everyone and is ideal for middle school-aged youth. Make a barometer, a hair hygrometer, a sun-star cooker, or a straw woodwind. Then learn how 3-D works, how clocks manage to keep time, how the ozone layer works, or how to control a soccer ball. Visit http://www.reachoutmichigan.org/funexperiments/agesubject/middleschool.html.

Fisheries Learning on the Web (FLOW) — This is a comprehensive curriculum about the Great Lakes ecosystem. Lessons are geared for the upper-elementary level grades and middle school students. Each lesson is aligned with national curriculum standards for science and social studies and features a hands-on classroom activity. Visit http://projectflow.us/.

Grab and Go With Science — The site offers science-based activities that are fun and readily repeatable. Visit http://www.nbtc.cornell.edu/mainstreetscience/grab_and_go/.

learningscience.org — This is an organization dedicated to sharing newer and emerging learning tools to teach science. The site is informative and easy to navigate and contains many Web interactives for students. Visit http://www.learningscience.org/.

“16 Ways to Be a Smarter Teacher” is the title of an article that can make every teacher smarter and more savvy as they go about “the business” of teaching. Teachers may find themselves asking, “What are my students going to do today?” instead of thinking “What am I going to do today?” Visit  http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/53/teaching.html

Awareness of Materials Science (ASM) International Foundation Teacher Grants. The purpose of these grants is to enhance awareness of materials science and the role of materials scientists in society. Maximum award: $500. Eligibility: K-12 teachers. Deadline: May 25, 2006. For more information, go to http://www.asminternational.org/content/Foundation/ LivingintheMaterialWorld/Living_Material_World.htm.

The Milagro Foundation grant applications are welcome from community-based, grassroots organizations that work with underprivileged children and youth in the areas of arts, education, and health. Maximum award: $5,000. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations in the United States. Deadline: N/A. For more information, go to http://www.milagrofoundation.org/apply.asp.

National Gardening Association Healthy Sprouts Award. This program invites applications from schools or organizations which plan to actively engage children in gardening to improve the quality of life in their communities. Maximum award for 2007: $200 gift certificate. Eligibility: Groups having at least 15 children between the ages of three and 18. Deadline: October 15, 2006. For more information, go to http://www.kidsgardening.com/healthysprouts1.asp.

Florida Wildflower Education Grant. Applications are being accepted now for the deadline: July 31, 2006, for the 2006-2007 season. Grants range from $1,500 to $25,000. Eligibility: Any association or person(s) whose project will further the goals of the Florida Wildflower Council, including educational institutions, public and private nonprofit organizations, governments, and community-based organizations. Contact Gary Henry at (850) 877-7101 or maximumH@worldnet.Att.Net. See details at http://floridawildflowercouncil.org.

SJRWMD, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the National Estuarine Research Reserve and Ducks Unlimited are hosting a Summer Water Institute for Elementary and Middle School Teachers on July 20-22, 2006, at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in St. Johns County.

• Day one features the new Project Webfoot for Grades 4-6
• Day two features hands-on science activities for the classroom. An optional Marine Collector Permit training will offered.
• Day three includes The Great Water Odyssey^SM for Grades 3, 4 and 5, as well as a Water’s Journey workshop, which is appropriate for middle school.

For more information or to register, contact Lori Dennard at ldennard@sjrwmd.com or (386) 329-4563. Registration ends July 10, 2006. Limited stipends will be available on a first-come basis.

WET Online

SJRWMD is developing an online WET workshop, which will be Web-hosted and administered by the North East Florida Educational Consortium. If you are interested in pilot-testing the online workshop, contact Deirdre Irwin at (386) 312-2310.

New evaluation form

Project WET has revised its workshop evaluation form. See a copy on SJRWMD’s new Water Education Web site at http://www.sjrwmd.com/education/projectwet/facilitators.html. Facilitators should begin to use this workshop immediately.

Workshop notices

Due to shipping changes at SJRWMD, you must give Barbra Siebert one month’s notice of all WET workshops so she can schedule payment and ship your supplies.

Thank you for all you do!