Previous Years' EduGrant Presentations

Gabriel Sanchez
Bonita High School
9-12th Grade
"The Bearcat Finds Safe Drinking Water"
This project sought to create water awareness on campus and throughout the Bonita Unified School District. To do this, journalism students researched local water issues and also attended functions regarding water. Some of these functions included field trips to a water treatment plant and a sewage treatment plant. After participating in these activities students actually published a special issue of the "Paw Print," which is the school newspaper. This special issue focused solely on water issues and students' experiences during visits to local water facilities. Funding supported costs of supplies, rewards for students' time, and all publishing costs.

Larry Thompson
Bonita High School
10-12th Grade
"Complete the Loop"
"Complete the Loop" was a program that introduced the concept of water-use education to Advanced Placement Environmental Science students at Bonita High School. Students visited facilities and locations at each stage of water delivery and removal systems, and visited local coastal waters to inspect the ecosystems' health and impact. Funding went towards substitutes fees and transportation costs.

Bob Turner
Bonita High School
9th Grade
"Elementary Water Forum"
The Elementary Water Forum provides a general assembly of all participants to overview the importance of water issues in Southern California. Following the general meeting Bonita CORE students will present workshops for the approximately 850 Bonita Unified fifth grade students on local drinking water issues. Classroom instruction, the Internet, guest speakers from the community, government, and water agencies helped to provide information for the Bonita students to prepare their presentations. Bonita students used resources purchased with this grant along with existing program resources. These included a groundwater model, Project WET materials, and materials donated by local government and water agencies to conduct the forum and provide the elementary students with handouts, and materials. The collaboration of the high school and the elementary schools makes this project a unique cross level educational experience for students at both levels. The cooperation of the University of La Verne in providing facilities enhanced the overall experience for all participants.

Jeanie Greeran
La Fetra Elementary School
5th Grade
"Fire and Floods and Their Effects on Our Community -- How We Can Help"

This project researched the impact of fires and floods on our communities' environment by creating a realistic working model of the local community debris basin area. Also, students received hands on information by visiting debris basins, local treatment plants, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and interviewing victims of fires and floods as well as experienced professionals. The students communicated to the community and educated younger students by presenting the project in multiple forums. Funding was used for purchasing supplies to build the model, and Adobe Illustrator software to be used in classroom activities.

Harriet Arreguin & Lisa Young
Oak Mesa Elementary
1st Grade
"Squirts 'n Sprouts"

Squirts 'n Sprouts was a student centered, two step environmental project. Students became aware of drought resistant plants; plants that only require "squirts" of water to "sprout". They read about, planned and planted a garden that conserves and uses water wisely. In this process students learned the importance of water quality and other conditions affecting plant life. A secondary goal of "Squirts 'n Sprouts" was to have the children share their knowledge of drought resistant, water friendly plant life with their parents. Children are excellent teachers and through this program have become the "Water Wizards" of their families, promoting water awareness and conservation. Students also addressed many of the California content standards for grade one in science, math, and language arts. These hands on activities helped to imprint the significance of environmental issues and water conservation.

Jim Ratigan
Ruth Musser Middle
6th Grade
"Testing the Waters: An Experiment in Water Quality"

For this project students learned the concept of drinking water quality by learning about various water tests and kept their notes in a water quality notebook. Groups were formed based on tests to be administered with group one analyzing drinking water from various fountains at Ruth Musser Middle School. The second group tested home tap water versus four different bottled waters sold at local grocery stores. Students administered various tests, interpreted data, created summaries of results, and created charts and graphs for display. Overall this helped students to learn about the scientific process and increase their knowledge of water quality.

Michelle Ratigan
Dona Merced Elementary
1st & 2nd Grades
"Water, Now and Long Ago"
"Water, Now and Long Ago" supplemented the Earth Science curriculum and standards for 2nd grade science. Students began by learning how people use water and collecting data on water usage inside their individual homes by each student charting such usage for one week. This helped produce discussions, and helped students to learn about the importance of water in every day lives. Also, students learned about how water affects the earth's resources and the evolution that has taken place on the planet and its resources during its history. During this project students made pocket science books, which contain all of the student's resources and information compiled by the students.

Nancy Burbach
Sacred Heart Catholic
5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th Grades
"River Tank Ecosystem"
The river tank was used to help with giving students of various grades a visual into numerous water issues facing the environment, and specifically them. 5th grade students were able to get a first hand look at how water is naturally cleaned and oxygenated as it flows through river systems. Additionally Project Wet activities were used to help them understand how pollution damages this system. 6th grade students benefited from the tank by looking at all aspects of water on the earth. Their textbook had many experiments that dealt with pollution and why it is important to have wastewater treatment systems. 7th and 8th grade students performed chemistry tests to maintain a stabilized pH inside the tank and also observed the adaptations animals and plants have developed to live in their environments.

Caroline Gotte
Sacred Heart Catholic
3rd Grade
"Water Wonders Project"
Students in this project learned how plants, insects, and animals live and grow with their dependence on water and the various aspects of the complete water cycle. Students compared different ecosystems, the ocean biome, and identified the natural cycles within them. Using the cycles helped students to know where the water goes after it leaves their homes. Through the water wonders project children have learned life skills such as management, organization, responsibility, efficiency, and practice. In addition, the project has made a connection between home, school, and their community and started them on solving problems for the future.