Ask any fourth grader at Soutwest Elementary in Phoenix, "where is water being wasted?" They will scurry to the girls bathroom on the west end of the school building and flush the right-most toilet. Then they will proudly stand back, demonstrating the waterfall that regularly runs down the supply pipe. Next they will tell you about a myriad of other faucets and toilets that behave similarly around the campus. Any one can instruct you in the nuances of the system. This one you have to flush twice to make the water flow. That one only does it sometimes. This faucet turns off quickly. That one runs for a long time.
This revelation, that the children know, came as a result of the Water Audit pilot project taking place at Southwest Elementary School. This project is based on the Water Audit lesson in the Arizona Conserve Water Curriculum Guide. It involves at least one classroom from each grade group, K-8. The participating students are all to observe water use around the campus. Next they measure the amount of water expended at each observed use. Then they chart and graph the data and write proposals for how to save water on campus. Maricopa County's Water Sustainability Office and an administrator from the school form the Water Audit Advisory Board and will select the most feasible proposal(s) to implement before the end of the school year.
It's a great plan. We even thought we knew where the greatest water waste and most feasible fix would be. (The project is only half-way through as of Monday 4/28, so the results are yet to be seen.) But like any other open-ended project on its pilot run, the students have more to teach us than we have to teach them. So far, in working with the fourth grade, I've been reminded that the children are great natural observers who respond well to a little guidance regarding reporting the obvious. They know more than we realize, see more than we do, and have greater ideas than we might expect. And, I'm suspicious that there's a sweet spot for sharing all of these right in that upper-elementary range - fourth, fifth, sixth grades - when they are given a voice and credibility.
Comments (7)
Way to go! What a great use of the Arizona Conserve Water lesson! How many schools across the Valley and state have similar water leakage and waste problems? Let's get to them and assist Govenor Napolitano spread a "Culture of Conservation"!
Posted by Pam Justice | May 7, 2008 1:23 PM
Posted on May 7, 2008 13:23
An elementary school in Prescott, AZ, named Abia Judd is doing a water audit at their school. I wonder how their information compares with the audit at your school.
This gives me the idea to run a water audit with my 8th graders at the beginning of the year to practice the scientific method with a purpose that has ongoing applications.
Posted by Gail Pereira | June 4, 2008 2:21 PM
Posted on June 4, 2008 14:21
this is a good way of giving ideas to the children how the wastage of water can be stopped, and also the kids can sometimes give reasons or replies that can be a lesson for the elders to follow.
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Mark osborn
Addiction Recovery Arizona
Posted by mosborn2020 | June 30, 2008 10:14 AM
Posted on June 30, 2008 10:14
Another example of how children are constantly learning, exploring on their own, being more observant than their teachers know.
Posted by Jeff Carter | September 25, 2008 6:54 PM
Posted on September 25, 2008 18:54
Cool example of how kids ALWAYS see outside the box. (I think that to become an adult means that we learn how to build that metaphorical box and then learn how to confine our thoughts and ideas to stay within it.) Of course, this incident also reminds me of the now well-known, true story in which a truck became stuck inside a tunnel because the driver incorrectly believed the height of the truck was short enough to make it through. While all the firemen, policemen and tow truck drivers converged around the entrance to the tunnel, wondering how they were going to extricate the truck from the tunnel, a small boy said: "Why don't you just let the air out of the tires." which is exactly what they did...and it worked. If we, as adults, could only get back to that mindset that all things are possible if you look at them in other ways, this world would be a much more interesting and magical place.
Posted by Jasper | March 13, 2009 10:29 AM
Posted on March 13, 2009 10:29
Interesting for sure. I believe children are pretty sharp these days. Just by giving them the opportunity they will show their knowledge and curiosity. Not sure how to work your cell phone...just give it to a 10 year old and they will have it figured out in no time, without reading the directions!baby bedding
Posted by Maria | March 13, 2009 10:20 PM
Posted on March 13, 2009 22:20
A few years ago in Arizona we developed some great schools for children called Green Schools
Green Schools are environmentally healthy schools. They provide healthy, comfortable, energy efficient, resource efficient, water efficient, and safe environments for our children. Because of their reduced environmental impact, they are good environmental citizens. The schools are also easy to operate and maintain. This environment helps children achieve higher test scores, and help districts retain quality teachers and staff, reduce operating costs, increase average daily attendance, and reduce liability.
Green Schools improve the learning environment while saving energy, resources and money. They also reduce children's exposure to toxic substances. Green School programs use integrated design in planning for new schools or rejuvenation and retrofitting of older schools.
Posted by botez | March 14, 2009 12:50 PM
Posted on March 14, 2009 12:50