Resource Details

• Why use Water, Science, and Civics?
• How to Use Water, Science, and Civics
• Water, Science, and Civics Lessons

Why Use Water, Science, and Civics?

Imagine a classroom where students are mastering social studies and science content as they:

• create digital public service announcements that educate the local community about how to decrease water pollution
• propose solutions at town hall meetings to keep Puget Sound healthy

Water, Science, and Civics engages students in these types of lessons. Not only do students master standards, but they also develop 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration with peers, digital literacy, and problem solving. They become thoughtful leaders who participate in problem-solving activities similar to ones they will encounter as active citizens in the future.

Recent research suggests that student engagement can help support student achievement now and in the future. Students who are engaged are more likely to excel in the classroom. ¹ Learning core content that helps them make real world connections can highly motivate students.

Washington State Standards Addressed

• Science Grade Level Expectations (GLEs)
• Social Studies Grade Level Expectations (GLEs)
• Technology Grade Level Expectations (GLEs)
• Language Arts Grade Level Expectations (GLEs)
• Environmental and Sustainability Education standards

Key Concepts

• Ecosystem services
• Media literacy
• Point and nonpoint source pollution
• Stormwater runoff
• Sustainability
• Sustainable development
• Watershed

How to Use Water, Science, and Civics

Water, Science, and Civics: Engaging Students with Puget Sound is a one-week unit comprised of a series of five interdisciplinary lessons. Though the lessons are designed as a comprehensive unit, each lesson can also stand alone. The lessons were pilot tested and reviewed by Washington educators, and all are aligned to science, social studies, and sustainability standards. Included in each lesson are ideas for discussion questions, background readings, and additional resources. All lessons are SMARTBoard compatible and have a number of integrated technology components including Google Maps and PowerPoint.

Water, Science, and Civics will lead your students through an exploration of the significance of Puget Sound. Students will learn specifically about the services the Sound provides for humans economically, socially, and environmentally. They will engage in activities that range from understanding the scientific impacts of human behavior on the Sound to activities that allow them to consider the many points of view involved in Puget Sound pollution prevention. The culminating lesson is an action project in which students create solutions to pollution in their local community.

Teaching your students about local and global issues that impact their lives can help them to create effective solutions. Water, Science, and Civics will help you do just that in a uniquely engaging way as students learn core social studies and science skills.

Compatible subject areas:

• Science
• Social Studies
• Technology
• Language Arts

Water, Science, and Civics Lessons

Download the complete table of contents.

Citations

¹ Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement (2007). “Using Positive Student Engagement to Increase Student Achievement,” http://www.centerforcsri.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=446&Itemid=5.

State Standards

Educator Quotes

Professional Development

Facing the Future offers the following professional development opportunities to help you learn more about Water, Science, and Civics: Engaging Students with Puget Sound:

• Webinar
• Workshop

Water, Science, and Civics Webinar

Engage students with Puget Sound and 21^st century skills. Using hands-on lessons, digital storytelling, and service learning, middle and high school students will be empowered to take action to strengthen the Sound’s ecosystems. Through interdisciplinary lessons, students investigate watersheds and stormwater pollution, explore local geography, and develop civic engagement.

Speakers

• Dave Wilton, MEd
  Assistant Outreach Director, Facing the Future

To learn more about our webinars, please visit our Webinar page. If you are interested in scheduling a webinar email or call us at 206-264-1503.

Water, Science, and Civics Workshops

Engage students with Puget Sound and 21st century skills. Using hands-on lessons, digital storytelling, and service learning, middle and high school students will be empowered to take action to strengthen the Sound’s ecosystems. Through interdisciplinary lessons, students investigate watersheds and stormwater pollution, explore local geography, and develop civic engagement.

Participants will take part in lessons that include:

• Technology-integrated components including interactive whiteboards, data analysis, and video storytelling,
• Resources to engage multiple learning styles (e.g., role-plays and interactive maps),
• Local service learning links for action projects,
• Correlations to Washington State science, social studies, and environmental and sustainability education standards,
• A digital video contest students can participate in between July and December, through which they can voice their opinions around how to keep Puget Sound healthy,
• Resources for learning about sources of stormwater pollution,
• Information on controlling and treating point and nonpoint pollution,
• Opportunities to explore interconnections between stakeholder needs and mitigation planning, and
• Connections to 21^st century skills including collaboration, systems thinking, critical thinking, and taking multiple perspectives.

If you are interested in having Facing the Future present at your next event email or call us at 206-264-1503.

Other professional development opportunities

Facing the Future also offers the following professional development opportunities for educators, schools, districts, and state departments of education:

• Educational Workshops, Inservices, and Consulting
  
• Keynote and Plenary Speeches
• Online Professional Development
• Webinars

To learn more about our upcoming workshops, webinars, and conferences, please visit our Workshop Calendar. If you are interested in having Facing the Future present at your next event email or call us at 206-264-1503.

Supplementary Materials

To complement Water, Science, and Civics: Engaging Students with Puget Sound, this section contains background information and additional resources to help educators and students learn more about global issues and sustainability.

Make a Sound Impact! Student Video Contest
Students can participate in Facing the Future’s video contest to help build a healthy Puget Sound.

Action Project Database
Find action projects in WA and King County

Climate Change Action Project Database
Find climate change action projects in WA and King County

Fast Facts and Quick Actions
Information on a variety of global issues and simple actions that students can take

Global Issues and Sustainability Resources
A collection of books, magazines, videos, websites, and reports related to global issues and sustainability

Global Issues Tours
An overview of various global issues such as biodiversity, climate change, and human rights

Newspapers in Education
Written for grades 5-10, the series can be used in full or in part to study specific topics. All articles include a student activity and "take action" idea.