Clearwater Soil & Water Conservation District
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Clearwater Soil & Water Conservation District |
Educational ResourcesOur free educational resources exist for the benefit of our county and region. We welcome inquiries from teachers, scoutmasters, 4-H leaders, homeschooling parents, and other youth and community education organizations. Give us a call to find out how we can work together. Click here to download our educator's brochure. EnviroScapesThe Clearwater SWCD, through funding provided by the Giziibii RC&D, has purchased two EnviroScapes for schools in Area VIII to use!These portable table-top models allow learners to explore conservation concepts through hands-on activities. Demonstrating pollution concepts and thier prevention, these models can be used for all ages, from children to adults. EnviroScapes have something for everyone to learn! Click here to see the different models, kits, and puzzles we have available. The EnviroScapes are free to rent and easy to use, just contact the Clearwater SWCD. The Watershed/Nonpoint Source EnviroScape model demonstrates how everything from storm water to agriculture to sewage treatment plants affect surface and ground water quality. Students can see the effects of run-off and pollution as well as apply conservation practices to this landscape model. The Wetlands EnviroScape model shows how wetlands hold sediment and pollution and help control flooding and erosion. Students can witness the potential effects on wetlands of parking lots, industry, forests, and more. Riparian and Groundwater Kits are also available to enrich the Enviroscape experience. Allow students to investigate the dynamics of rivers, forests, and other elements that affect surface and ground waters. Young people from elementary through high school will enjoy the simple and complex lessons Enviroscapes have to offer. Integrate these activities into lessons on hydrology, ecology, natural resources, urban planning, and agriculture, among other topic areas. EnvirothonEnvirothon is North America’s largest outdoor environmental learning competition. Participation in this popular annual event is open to 9th through 12th graders. Student teams or classes study the topic areas. They also research a given scenario and prepare a group presentation on it. Students from around northern Minnesota then attend our region’s competition in April at Lake Bemidji State Park. Groups rotate through interactive talks by regional experts on topics such as Forestry, Soils, Wildlife, and Current Events. They then take quizzes based on those subjects. Quiz and student presentation scores combine to determine which teams advance to state-wide competition. Winning teams at the state level then advance to the national Canon Envirothon. Curriculum GuidesProject WILD and Project WET guides are available for educators. These K-12 curriculum books are packed with fun wildlife and water activities. Find just the right game, story, or project to convey scientific concepts.Puzzles“Watershed Management: A Community Project” and “Pollution: Begins and Ends With You” are two 550 piece puzzles that show the many partners and activities involved in conservation practices. Students in 5th grade or older will enjoy piecing these challenging puzzles together as an enriching afterschool activity or extra credit project. Alternately, teachers might assign small groups to work with Enviroscape models while others keep busy with one of these puzzles. MASWCD/District Poster ContestThis contest is sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districs and the Clearwater SWCD. In it, 5th or 6th graders make posters on one of the following themes: "Our Soil--A Layer of Life," "Community Waters," or "Trees--Rooted in Our Future." Study guides are available for lesson planning and posters may advance to regional competition. A great project for a science and art integrated lesson plan! Consultants/SpeakersSWCD staff are available to assist teachers preparing lessons on topics including sustainable land use, watershed management, forestry, surface water quality, and ground water protection. Upon request, staff may also attend your class or youth group discussion on these topics. Conservation FarmStudent groups are welcome at the SWCD Conservation Farm and Learning Center. Visit demonstration projects such as prairie or wetland restorations as well as reforestation plantings. Additionally, this site can be used to support other lesson plans such as plant identification, forestry, orienteering, or other applied outdoor skills. Call the SWCD about learning options at this site.
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312 Main Avenue North, Suite 3 ~ Bagley, Minnesota 56621 ~ 218.694.6845 |
