Classroom Presentations
Big or Small, Plug ‘Em All. Grades 3+. This hands-on activity helps students learn the importance of decommissioning an abandoned well as they “plug” their own mini-wells. Abandoned wells can be a direct pipeline for potential groundwater contamination. This demonstration is a great way to help show the significance of properly plugged wells.
Edible Aquifers. Grades 1+. This hands-on demonstration teaches students about aquifers, and their different layers. Just as the name implies, this program lets students build an aquifer, and then enjoy a tasty snack.
Sandtank Groundwater Flow Model. This tabletop model demonstrates how groundwater moves and how it affects wells, lakes and streams; the model also shows how groundwater contamination can occur. The Upper Republican NRD's sandtank groundwater flow model is available for educators to borrow, or NRD personnel would be happy to bring the model into a classroom, field day or camp situation.
Enviroscape. This tabletop display helps to visually demonstrate how surface and groundwater contamination could occur. The model includes all areas that could be involved with groundwater contamination. Also available for teachers to borrow, or presenters to demonstrate, this model is best used by smaller groups of 10 – 15 students.
Project Food, Land and People. The Upper Republican NRD has personnel trained as a facilitator in the Project, Food, Land and People curriculum. This curriculum includes 55 hands-on lessons for preschool through 12th grade, all related to agriculture. Project Food, Land and People is about more than just Science, there are lessons for Language Arts, Social Studies, Consumer Science, Math and Health.
If you are an educator and are interested in this set of lesson plans, please contact Heather Francis at heatherfrancis@urnrd.org. You may also contact Heather to obtain copies of the "Know Nebraska's Water" activity book.