Water and Energy Education Newsletter

December 2020

Hello Teachers,  December is upon us and as we head into a new and hopefully brighter year, we are pleased to offer opportunities for you to participate in our education program. Let us bring environmental education into your classrooms in 2021!

In our ongoing partnership with Sonoma Clean Power, we have integrated energy and climate change education into several of our programs. Look for a new high school program on climate change in the Russian River watershed and new lessons for elementary students, all suited for distant learning. Our goal is to provide age-appropriate content aligned with NGSS. We emphasize activities that encourage students to think like scientists and feel empowered to make a positive difference.

K-12th Grades-Enrichment Steelhead in the Classroom Bring the excitement of rearing live fish into your classroom-virtually or in person. Have you raised steelhead in the past? If so, an important deadline is approaching. Apply for eggs by 12/15/2020! If you have not raised steelhead in the past, please sign up now for a virtual workshop. In this workshop, you will learn how to care for steelhead and receive free curricula. Workshop dates are: January 9th or January 23rd. Steelhead in the Classroom at Sonoma Water

K-5th Grades-Enrichment ZunZun Musical Assembly Invite Stephen and Gwynne to join your virtual classroom and your students will be up and moving to their music and moves while simultaneously learning about water and energy conservation.

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9th-12th Grades-Video Contest Russian River Watershed Association's Video Contest for High School Students Do you know a high school student interested in making videos or earning money? Encourage high school students to sign up. Deadline for submission is April 9th, 2021.

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K-12th Grades-School Supplies FREE Water and Energy Educational School Supplies, Student Workbooks, and Maps

A few examples:

Russian RIver Watershed Map This map, recently updated, highlights the numerous tributaries in the Russian River watershed 24" x 36" 5th Grade Workbook Discover Storm Water. 16 pages of informative text and activities designed to teach students where storm water goes and its impact on our environment. Rulers to help remind students that saving water also saves energy. 12" flexible ruler in centimeters and inches.

Elementary Pocket Folder Water Drip helps students learn ways to conserve water and not waste it. Pencils remind students that when we save water, we save energy. Water Hero Static Cling Stickers These fun, reusable stickers adhere to smooth surfaces like mirrors and windows. They will help your students and their families remember to only use water when they need it.

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Schedule a Synchronous Lesson with one of our Enthusiastic Educators

5th Grade-Synchronous Lessons Healthy Water Comes From Healthy Watersheds Students will engage with educators during four 30-minute live lessons and learn how the water they drink everyday comes from the Russian River watershed.

Now scheduling for Spring 2021 Lesson 1-Exploring our local ecosystem Lesson 2-Water quality for salmon Lesson 3-Our water system Lesson 4-Making a difference Learn More

3rd Grade-Synchronous Lessons Be an Energy & Water Hero This lesson series offers three 30-minute live lessons to encourage students to take action to protect our natural resources. Lesson 1-Storm drain pollution prevention Lesson 2-Where our drinking water comes from and water conservation Lesson 3-Renewable and non-renewable energy and climate change. Now scheduling for January 2021 Learn More 4th, 5th and 6th Grades-Asynchronous and Synchronous Lessons Where Does our Electricity Come From? This program includes four asynchronous lessons followed by one 30-minute live lesson. Your students will help us co-create an experimental inquiry with solar power during the live lesson.

Asynchronous Lessons: Lesson 1-What is renewable energy? Lesson 2-What is nonrenewable energy? Lesson 3-How is electricity made? Lesson 4-Where does our electricity come from? Synchronous Lesson-Let's investigate solar power together-virtually

Now scheduling for January 2021

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9th - 12th Grades-Synchronous Lesson Introduction to Climate Science and Predicting the Impacts of Climate Change in the Russian River Watershed In this 45-minute live lesson, students will learn about Sonoma Water's role in our community, local climate science, and how we plan for a future impacted by climate change.

Now scheduling for January 2021

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The 2021 Calendar is Here!

Look for one of these colorful calendars in your mailbox when you return to school in January. Our hope is that the calendar, featuring artwork by students from Sonoma and Mendocino counties, will bring a smile and a reminder to conserve water and energy throughout the year. After 25 years of carrying out the Water Awareness Calendar Contest, we have decided to make a change. We are working to develop a new program -A Call to Action- that will support students in carrying out a project that addresses a local environmental challenge. More details to come in 2021.

Wishing you a happy holiday season and a bright, hopeful New Year.

“The Passing of the Year” by Robert W. Service My glass is filled, my pipe is lit,    My den is all a cosy glow; And snug before the fire I sit,    And wait to feel the old year go.