Experiments designed to help 5th grade students better understand water and the environment
MILWAUKEE (August 21, 2012) -- The grade-school science curricula in MPS and other Milwaukee County school systems will have a little “greener” aspect to it this semester, thanks to Veolia Water Milwaukee. Veolia is partnering with MPS on a comprehensive “Water Box” curriculum package designed to help 5th grade students better understand water and the environment. Introduced last school year, the program proved so popular that it is being expanded to include other Milwaukee county school systems for 2012-2013. The company expects to donate up to 200 of the kits to (and related training) to local teachers, free of charge.
The Water Boxes include a variety of science lab equipment as well as sample liquids (including calcium chloride, alum, soap, vinegar and oil) and solids (including activated carbon, clay powder, salt, sand and gravel.) They can be used to conduct up to 25 different experiments examining everything from evaporation and condensation to viscosity, pH, acid rain and water hardness. The experiments integrate science, technology, math and engineering insights while studying topics closely related to those found in the National Science Standards and most state science standards for the 5th grade.
“Teachers’ eyes literally lit up when they saw the Water Box at the MPS professional development gatherings,” said MPS Science Curriculum Specialist Mary Staten. “After a morning of Water Box experiments and a primer on the water cycle, the teachers were equipped with their own Water Box fully prepared to go back to the classrooms. We’re so happy to have community partners like Veolia Water – helping make the connections between science learning in the classroom and the real world by providing cool resources like this!”
Teachers planning to use the kits will take part in half-day Water Box curriculum training throughout the year. In additional to experiment materials, the Water Box kits come with an instructional CD outlining the experiments and an illustrated poster of The Natural Water Cycle for classrooms.
Veolia Water Milwaukee operates the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District’s Jones Island and South Shore sewage treatment plants. Veolia Water Milwaukee is a division of Veolia Water North America. Both are part of Veolia Environnement (NYSE: VE), the global leader in environmental services with 30,000 North American employees.
Media Contacts:
Rachael Glaszcz (414/426-4060 [email protected])
Andy Larsen (414/840-0891/[email protected])