HELLO and WELCOME back!

The 2023-2024 school year is flowing and we're excited to partner with you and your school this year to explore fun water resource topics! If you are receiving this e-newsletter, you are listed as our main school contact. We will send e-newsletters periodically throughout the year to share program info, updates and fun recommended resources. Please forward e-newsletters or helpful tidbits on to your team teachers as you feel necessary. Also, please update us if you are no longer your school's main contact so we can update our e-newsletter distribution list accordingly.

Below you will find info about this year's program, including a link to the Teacher Toolkit! This is our main hub for program info and resources, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the site before getting started on the unit.

I always enjoy meeting our school partners, but in case we haven't had that opportunity yet, my name is Andrea Dee. I've worked part-time with SD1 the last 5 years as an Environmental Educator, helping to support SD1's environmental education programming in NKY schools (k-college). I'm excited for your students to explore the unit this year, and welcome your feedback throughout the year to ensure success in the classroom. Feel free to contact me anytime should questions/curiosities pop up about the program or water resources!

Best,

Andrea Dee

Explore the Teacher Toolkit!

The Teacher Toolkit is the one-stop shop for all things related to the Environmental Unit including registering for the program (which you've already completed, thank you!), taking pre/posttests, accessing lesson plans and supporting resources, submitting student work credit requirements, scheduling a field trip, organizing storm drain marking volunteer efforts, and more!

Supply Delivery Info

Thank you for submitting your supply orders with your annual registration! We plan to be out delivering unit supplies, including student workbooks and classroom materials to support lessons soon. You can expect to receive your supplies in early September. We will follow up with an email confirmation once all supplies have been delivered! As a reminder, we no longer print teacher guides. All educator resources, including lesson plans, are now available for viewing, downloading and printing in the Teacher Toolkit under the 'Environmental Unit' tab.

Schedule an in-person or live virtual Enviroscape Presentation with SD1!

We are available to present the Water Pollution Lesson (Lesson 2) to your class using the Enviroscape Model. We will also lead students in completing their Lesson 2 workbook material and have lots of fun exploring water pollution hands-on! Contact adee@sd1.org to schedule an in-person or live virtual presentation with SD1.

Take a Field Trip to SD1's Public Service Park!

Conclude the Environmental Unit with an in-person or virtual visit to SD1's Public Service Park. Students can follow the journey of a drop of water through the park and learn about BMPs along the way! Field trips must occur after students have completed their unit work. Field trips are scheduled on a first come, first served basis during the months of October, April and May. You can find more info about field trips, including scheduling, here.

Tips and Tidbits!

Helpful info to get you started...

Finding Your Flow:

You can learn more about the unit by reading the "Environmental Unit Content and Suggested Flow" summary doc found at the bottom of the Teacher Toolkit homepage, or click here.

Unit Enhancements:
Throughout the lesson plans you will notice core material and "enhance and advance" opportunities. These enhancements are completely optional. In reviewing unit materials, we found opportunities to enhance lessons so students can dig deeper into subjects. Use these enhancements as you feel appropriate in your classroom.

Credit Flexibility:
We appreciate your partnership and understand the importance of flexible learning opportunities. If you feel the need to alter lesson plans to provide a better learning experience for your students, please reach out to let us know that you would like to sub lesson content. Also, please be sure to provide proof of students completing alternate work related to SD1 designed lesson subjects as a requirement of receiving credit for participation.

Unit Intro Video:
Within the Environmental Unit resources, you can find a unit intro video. The intro video linked here was created as a fun way to introduce your class to the unit and SD1. It's narrated by Splash McClean for added smiles! We recommend you show the intro video, and the "SD1: Your Wastewater Utility" video if students are also interested in learning more about how their wastewater is treated locally, before diving into individual unit lessons. Both videos can be found here on the Environmental Unit resource page.

Schedule a Teacher Toolkit Virtual Tour:
New to the program or need a refresher? Inquire about a short virtual tour of the Teacher Toolkit! I'm always happy to chat about the unit, materials, and helpful resources. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the unit and opportunities around it!

Feedback Hub:

In an effort to continuously improve SD1's Environmental Unit, we want to collect your feedback on an ongoing basis. Anytime you have something to share, whether it be a program suggestion, presenter review or helpful resource for others, visit the Feedback Hub page linked here in the Teacher Toolkit to send those ideas our way! You are always welcome to email me at adee@sd1.org as well.

Make a Big Splash With Your Class!

Spotlighting our favorite "Big Splash" resources from the Teacher Toolkit and beyond:

In Lesson 4, students explore Wetlands: Floods, Filtering, and Habitat. One of the additional resources provided in the toolkit is a short news clip highlighting the devastating flooding that took place in Eastern Kentucky last year. Just prior, flooding in New York City was catastrophic and more recently in Vermont. The video linked below, "Why Deadly Kentucky Flooding Was So Bad" can serve as a good primer for the unit in discussing with students why studying watersheds and storm water engineering is an important part of environmental science.

TEAM GREEN Share Space

Inspire your students to adopt best environmental practices at school, home, and/or in their community by supporting them in participating in this FREE program:

Approximately only 30% of items in the U.S. are recycled but one-by-one we can help increase that percentage for a greener future!

Did you know Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub offers off-site collections to support schools in maximizing their staff breakroom and student classroom/lunchroom recycling program?

Watch the video below by clicking this link or directly on the image to learn more about the Hub's partnership with Johnson Elementary. The Hub offers free assistance and materials in setting up recycling stations, as well as coordinating drop-off or pick-up of collected items. Increase your school's recycling footprint with help from the Hub!