Title:

G02-NPS-07 Watershed Education for Fifth Gr Teachers

Sponsor:

Howell County Ext Council - UMC

Project Manager:

Richard Atkinson
217 S Aid Ave
West Plains, MO 65775
417-256-2391

Project Period:

10/15/2001 - 3/31/2003

319 Grant Funds:

$2,493.38

Project Description:

Watershed Education for Fifth Grade Teachers.

The Karst topography of the Ozarks is a unique ecosystem with caves, sinkholes, and loosing steams. These areas are extremely susceptible to contamination by polluted surface runoff. By understanding the sources of pollution and the way contaminates move, we can begin to reduce our impacts to the environment.

During recent water festivals held in spring 2000, and 2001, it became obvious that many elementary teachers lack academic background in the earth sciences to teach a unit on water and water pollution.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

The Minigrant award to the University of Missouri Extension Council of Howell County is to support a 5th grade teacher workshop to be held in West Plains, Missouri. Teachers in Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Texas, Douglas, Ozark and Wright counties will be contacted to attend the workshop. Funds will be used to off set the cost for teachers to attend. The training will focus on the water cycle, Karst topography of the area, the difference between point and nonpoint source pollution; and the movement and impacts of contaminates in lakes, streams and groundwater. The workshop will result in teachers with the education to use correct terminology to define a watershed, the water cycle, point vs. nonpoint source pollution, and to convey that knowledge to their students. This will ultimately increase the awareness of nonpoint source pollution issues in the region.

PRODUCTS

Teachers will complete a comprehensive pre and post-training test. Scores will be reviewed before and after the training to determine areas of weakness that should be stressed during the training, as well as to determine if the training was successful. Test results will also be compared to determine the level of increase in knowledge/awareness. Teachers will complete a workshop evaluation at the end of the training to determine if the training met their needs and what future training they would need. A follow-up survey will be mailed to the teachers at the end of the project to determine the number of teachers that incorporated the watershed education into their educational plan.

PROJECT SPONSOR

Howell County Ext Council - UMC

COOPERATING AGENCY

EPA/DNR

CONTACT

Howell County Ext Council - UMC
217 S Aid Ave
West Plains, MO 65775
Richard Atkinson 417-256-2391