WATERIFIC: AN INTERACTIVE SCIENCE PROGRAM

摘要

Water quality is a subject most often taken for granted, yet one that is extremely important to organizations in the wastewater treatment field. In order to gain support for the water quality efforts in the community, the public must be educated. Thus, the creation of WaterIfic, an interactive science program about water. Sanitation District No. 1 chose to recognize Earth Day 2000 with the WaterIfic program. The District has since made it an annual event held during the spring of each year; however, the program is flexible enough that it can be offered at any time of the year and to a broad range of audiences. The target audience for this program was sixth-grade students. The focus of WaterIfic was to create a forum for environmental awareness, education and celebration. In addition, the event was designed to provide science education in a fun, hands-on setting while aligning with the core content required by the Kentucky Department of Education for sixth-grade science. Through the use of models, demonstrations, and interactive stations, students learned about the earth’s water, and how the use of science protects local waterways. Several local environmental agencies partnered with Sanitation District No. 1 to host the WaterIfic program. The event was organized by bringing Northern Kentucky organizations together who are responsible for protecting local waters and educating the public about water quality in Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties. By pooling talent from various water quality agencies, students from each school benefited greatly by seeing first-hand how all the agencies work together and independently to maintain the water quality in Northern Kentucky. The objective of this interactive science program was for students to gain a better understanding of water as a vital resource, the science behind water quality, and a belief that learning can be fun.