Grady High School Teacher Takes Big Steps to Shape Future Environmental Leaders

The program’s field experiences allowed me to get my hands dirty and my feet wet exploring water quality issues, various organisms and water energy sources. Our activities started in the North Georgia mountains and traveled all along the Chattahoochee River to where it ends at the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, we conducted invertebrate and water sampling at Duke’s Creek to test water quality, explored the Columbus waste water treatment plant, toured a hydroelectric plant, visited a fish hatchery and explored the estuary ecosystem in Apalachicola Bay, Fla. In fact, I wrote a brief journal and have more images documenting my fascinating (and sometimes surprising) experiences on a Tumblr blog.

The program didn’t leave me empty-handed – I was equipped with many creative ideas to enhance water-based lessons in my classroom and provide my students with a greater consciousness of their impact on the environment. One of the lessons that will make its way into my classroom this year is a role play debate on the ongoing “water wars” between Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Students will deliberate while conveying the perspectives of the opposing states to address the local problems stemming from regional water use issues.

Aside from roleplaying, we will also track our water “footprints” since a lot of our water and energy usage often goes unnoticed! They will then research different products and lifestyle choices that allow for water savings and increased water efficiency.