There are some 5th graders at Meadow View school who know a lot more about science and the water cycle this weeks thanks to the Lassen County Environmental Education Collaborative and its trailside science toolbox!
Students in Mrs. Jackson’s class were paid a visit by Lassen Land Trails and Trust Education Coordinator Jessie Diermier who showed them how to play the Water Cycle game.
During the game students ‘transform’ into water molecules and track their individual journeys through key water cycle destinations such as ocean, lake, river, cloud and ground water.
Every minute, or so, a timer alerts them to roll the ‘destination dice’ and make their way to the next station. Their separate paths tend to vary greatly and pony-beads, or paper strips (coiled into paper chains) are used for recording the results in their journals.
“The Water Cycle game is one of many lessons that were developed by the Lassen County Environmental Education Collaborative as a resource for our children’s 4th and 5th grade teachers,” explains Diermier. “The Trailside Science Toolbox is a free in-classroom program that reintroduces an environmental studies curriculum, based on our unique regional landscape, integrating the state’s Science Content Standards, California Science Test priorities and math and language skills.”
Diermier notes that according to the USGS the water cycle is vitally important for every person in the world and is one of the first environmental concepts that children learn in elementary school.
If you’re a Lassen County, 4th or 5th grade educator interested in a free Trailside Science Lesson, please contact Jessie Diermier at (530) 257-3252 or email [email protected].
The Lassen County Environmental Education Collaborative is a partnership among the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, Lassen National Forest, Lassen County Office of Education and Lassen Land and Trails Trust.
