One of the Douglas County Conservation District primary goal is to provide educational opportunities and information related to conservation and environmental education.
Do you or your students need a break from routine classroom studies! Here are some of our exciting educational activities that will enrich your existing curriculum and everything is FREE!
Please call or email the Conservation District for information on educational activities, lessons, and programs that are available. We are here to assist educators in any way possible; this include giving classroom presentations, mini water festivals, providing educational kits to use in the classrooms, and opportunities for teachers to earn graduate credits.
Educational lesson kits available to come to your classroom
All the Water in the World:
It might appear that we will never run out of water, but actually only one percent is available to us for daily use! Find out about the other 99% in this fun-filled activity. Students participate in game of catch to see how much of the earth is covered by water and after a brief discussion, each student makes a necklace/bracelet to show the different forms of water in the world.
Target Audience: 3rd & 4th Grade Students
Water Pollution Search:
Working in teams of 3-4, students create and map a hidden aquifer pollution site. Teams then rotate to another group’s aquifer with an unknown pollution site. Each team sprays the surface of their aquifer and “drills” for water, then tests to locate and map the contamination.
Target Audience: Upper Grade School to Middle School Students
Water Quality Hopscotch:
Participants will learn about point and non-point source pollution as well as water quality improvement methods. Students will simulate a river’s journey through the landscape, picking and letting go of pollutants along the way.
Target Audience: Upper Grade School to Middle School Students
The Long Haul:
Students work in teams to compete in a water hauling game, and gain an appreciation of daily water consumption and impact on daily life of modern distribution systems. This activity has been specially adapted to engage and educate younger children.
Target Audience: Pre-k through 3rd Grade Students
What’s in Your Water?
This activity uses plastic pony beads to illustrate what is in water that you can’t see and then describes through verbal explanation and physical examples pollutants that can be found in water, and their sources. This is a versatile, table-top activity that is perfect for community-base festivals, city council meetings, or school groups.
Target Audience: Upper Grade School to Adults
Blue Bead:
Students participate in a whole body exercise to simulate the movement of water through a river and its watershed, and compare and contrast the branching patterns of a watershed system with other branching patterns found in the natural world. This is a solid introduction for a basic understanding o how water flows in a watershed through the seasons. Perfect for kinesthetic learners!
Target Audience: Upper Grade School to Middle School Students
Edible Aquifer:
A yummy activity provides a fun opportunity for children of all ages to learn about the concept of aquifers, groundwater contamination and groundwater protection.
Target Audience: Anyone
Incredible Journey:
With a roll of the die, students simulate the movement of water within the water cycle.
Target Audience: Upper Grade School and Middle School Students
H2O Olympics:
Students compete in a Water Olympics to investigate two properties of water, adhesion and cohesion.
Target Audience: Upper Grade School and Middle School Students
CO2 Tag:
Today, most students have heard of global warming and the greenhouse effect. However, they may have a misconception about what these terms mean. This game will clarify the relationship between the greenhouse effect and global warming through interactive play.
Target Audience: Upper Grade School to High School Students
Baked Potato Bar Edible Soil Profiles:
Construct an edible soil profile from the ingredients on the baked potato bar! From the solid rock layer (potato) on the bottom to the organic material on top (bacon & chive) you’ll enjoy a delicious learning experience.
Target Audience: Anyone who enjoys lunch!
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation!:
An animal has been found dead, and foul play is suspected. Your task is to gather evidence, interview the suspects, order diagnostic tests, and put all the information together to decide what the cause of death is, and who is responsible for the crime.
Target Audience: Upper Grade School to Middle School Students
