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Our Water, Our Lives: A Series of Water Units for Intermediate Elementary

The goal of Our Water, Our Lives is to help students realize that they can contribute solutions to water-related challenges with their unique experience and knowledge. As students learn about the science of water, its uses for human and ecological systems, and its role in the development of culture, they begin thinking of themselves as future leaders that will solve these STEM-centered problems.

Overview for Teachers 

Water is crucial to human survival. Historically, humans have settled close to bodies of water for this reason. Our Water, Our Lives is a collection of educational Water Units that cover water resources and water-related challenges for communities and regions in the United States.  The goal of Our Water, Our Lives is to help students realize that they can contribute solutions to water-related challenges with their unique experience and knowledge. As students learn about the science of water, its uses for human and ecological systems, and its role in the development of culture, they begin thinking of themselves as future leaders that will solve these STEM-centered problems.   

Each unit includes multiple lessons uniquely designed to provide relevance to a region or state while increasing engagement. These units can be used to learn about local water issues and understand the differences and similarities faced in other parts of our country. Each lesson in the unit aims to connect relevant aspects of regional and state hydrologic sites and resources, and link them to water quality, water availability, drought, or floods. Additionally, the lessons incorporate USGS science and information using an approach that teachers will be comfortable applying in the classroom. Lessons can be utilized individually or as a unit, depending on the teacher's goal. 

Lesson topics include: 

  • Understanding the importance of a region or state’s hydrologic resources. Learning how different components are connected (i.e., streams, rivers, bays, etc.). Photos, models, charts, graphs, and USGS sources are utilized to assist students in understanding this focus.  

  • How do human activities affect local hydrologic sites?  

  • What do local hydrologic resources support? Communities are centered around their local industry, which is often linked to water. Local industry is crucial to the economy, culture and is characteristically a point of pride to the community. Think about your local community and what is at the center of who they are as a people.  

  • STEM-Inspired Model Development Lesson – Building a creative or innovative solution to a current or future problem. 

 

Our Water, Our Lives: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Our Water, Our Lives: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Our Water, Our Lives: California

Our Water, Our Lives: California

Our Water, Our Lives: Floods

Our Water, Our Lives: Floods

About the Author 

Sergio de Alba is a sixth-grade teacher at R. M. Miano Elementary and was a 2021-2022 Department of Energy Albert Einstein Fellow at the USGS. He has spent the last twenty years researching and developing innovative STEM and social studies programs to succeed in rural communities.  

Sergio's teaching philosophy is centered on developing the whole child and assisting learners in discovering their gifts and talents while focusing on relevant issues faced in their communities. He has helped students achieve remarkable success academically and as individuals through his programs. His focus is on developing successful students by providing a foundational understanding of practical strategies and learning the value of becoming productive community members.  

In his school, Sergio has led the development of an orchard and fifteen gardens on school grounds, within which students learn about environmental science, agriculture, economics, math, and engineering. These grounds also serve as hubs for community engagement by bringing together STEM education with the livelihood and expertise of many students' families. Sergio works passionately to reduce inequities in K-12 STEM education.