Barbara Payne SaveWaterTexas.com

SOME BACKGROUND… • Clients: All major water agencies in Harris, Ft. Bend, and Montgomery Counties • Some of the largest school districts in TX • Decided not to “reinvent the wheel” • Teaching water conservation principles before wasteful habits engrained • Young students still “take things home” to parents.

Creating a Successful

Education Program • Research and understand your

target market

• Identify state requirements

• Discover pathway to the classroom

• Establish rapport with key contacts

Use Water Wisely

Creating a Successful

Education Program • What do you want to “teach”?

• Who do you want to teach?

• Is anyone else already doing this?

• Assemble the best team possible

• Involve educators

Use Water Wisely

Finding the Right Niche

Goal: Teach Water Conservation

Obvious choice was elementary

level science

5th Grade was where the topic

“fit”

‘Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember.

Involve me and I understand.’

“TRICKLE DOWN” APPROACH

• Invited Superintendents of 7 local ISDs to meet with key local and State Water Leaders

• Agenda included updates on Rising Cost of Water, Conversion to Surface Water, and an invitation to participate in an “On Campus” and “In the Classroom” approach to Water Conservation Education.

WENT STRAIGHT TO THE TOP…

“TRICKLE DOWN” APPROACH

• Agreement by Superintendents; they provided the link to the Facilities Managers for each ISD

• We scheduled aseries of Workshops for these managers

• Classroom instruction (TWDB & Leak Expert)

• On site demonstrations; videotaped for distribution to school facility mangers

ON CAMPUS = FACILITIES MANAGERS

“In the Classroom” Superintendents identified Team

Leaders for Elementary

School Science

Solicited Teacher suggestions

about “missing” water curriculum

Adopted unique

approach

Taking the Show on the Road • Restrictions about student travel

• Traveling “Billboard” for Conservation

JOURNEY TO PANSOPHIGUS…

• Dramatic original illustrations by a young local artist.

• Created a Reader’s Guide that includes reading comprehension and science questions.

• Matching graphics for the Mobile Teaching Lab tied everything together.

A Fifth Grade Student Novel

MOBILE TEACHING LAB…

• Hands-on Educator workshops provided experience with teaching materials

Teaching Teachers to Use the Lab and Classroom Materials

WATER IS LIFE EXPANDS

By Popular Request… • Teachers asked that we develop a younger

introduction to the Journey “characters” and WATER IS LIFE was born – Grade 2

• Mobile Lab is still booked every school day and for special community events.

• Wear and tear…retrofitted with new exhibits AND an exterior facelift.

Water Environment Association of Texas; Texas Section of the

American Water Works Association

Change in Direction

Discovered VOID in 4th Grade

Social Studies

Local Educator invited us to come up with

“Water” Programs to fit Social Studies

TEKS

Adopted unique approach

Learning from the past… Social Studies “VOIDS” at grades 2, 4 &7

Not teaching SS in 4th grade classrooms

Windmills and Barbed Wire Settled Texas!

A water conservation education program Aligned with the 2nd, 4th and 7th grade

Social Studies TEKS

The SaveWaterTexas.com Assembly Team

4th Grade Assembly

“Cookie” and her downsized Chuck Wagon

!