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Project WET

Project WET
Project WET is a nationally developed, supplementary water education program for educators -- public and private school teachers, youth club leaders, museum staff and others. DEQ trains approximately 1,000 teachers each year using a corps of 150 volunteer facilitators who distribute free curriculum guides at 6-hour workshops. Conserve Water, a water conservation curriculum supplement, can be ordered directly from National Project WET.
Goal
Project WET is designed to teach students how to think, rather than what to think. Special emphasis is given to understanding the needs for water by all water users (e.g., municipalities, farmers and ranchers, power suppliers, industry, recreationists, and fish and wildlife). The program also shows that wise water managment is essential to the future social and economic prosperity of our country.

Content
Project WET addresses atmospheric water, surface water, ground water, cultural and historical uses of water, and contemporary water management issues such as nonpoint source pollution. Professionally developed teaching aids are hands-on, self-contained, and user-friendly.

Sponsors
Materials are developed by National Project WET and the parent organization of Project Learning Tree and Project WILD. In Virginia, the Department of Environmental Quality, in conjunction with the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, leads the program.

Available Project WET resources:
  • Project WET activity and curriculum guides, a 500-page book with lessons for K-12 science, math, social studies and language arts. These are available through free six-hour teacher training workshops. For a schedule of WET workshops please check the VA Naturally Calendar of Events.
  • Science Standards of Learning correlated activities and Virginia adaptations to Incredible Journey and Common Water.
  • Water resources education trunk, filled with educational resources: groundwater flow model, instructional videos, lesson plans, maps, posters, reference books and a Chesapeake Bay mini-unit. Trunks can be picked up at state parks and Soil and Water Conservation field offices around the state.
  • Volunteer facilitator leadership training prepares educators to use Project WET materials and plan workshops for other teachers. Volunteers become part of a statewide network to deliver water education and receive training and new materials on a regular basis. Applications are accepted for the annual training seminar.
  • Reference materials, developed by National Project WET, are available on a variety of topics to enhance your water education program: Liquid Treasure Water History, Water Festival Planning Guide, Watershed Management and Wetlands. Click here to order publications and curriculum guides.
  • Just for facilitators - Worshop Request Form and Sample Workshop Flyer
  • Don't be a Drip! Save a Drop!
    Download this pocket-size water audit to learn how you can help conserve Virginia's water.
  • How Wet is Our Planet?
    From Project Aquatic WILD
    Students calculate the amount and distribution of water on earth and make inferences regarding responsible water use. Science SOLs: 3.10, 4.8, 6.11, ES.4; Math SOLs: 4.2, 4.5, .3, 5.4, 5.11, 6.9
  • The Ins & Outs of Water Conservation
    Students analyze water use surveys after participating in conservation activities. Social Science SOLs: 10.2, 10.9; Science SOLs: 3.10, 4.8, 6.11, ES.7
  • Water Audit
    Students conduct a water audit and compare and contrast results after employing conservation practices. Math SOLs 4.2, 4.6,5.3, 6.8, 7.5, 8.4, Science 3.10, 4.8, 6.11, ES.7

 

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