In WaterWays, students are Chimhe City scientists actively investigating interconnected problems like plastic pollution, air and water quality, Urban Heat Island effect, and marine biodiversity. Students move through immersive, interactive activities focused on water use and water stewardship to identify actions that they and neighborhood communities can take to improve human and environmental health. Five unique modules that explore varied themes offer a diverse range of learning experiences. Each module includes a call to action, gathering data, answering questions, constructing models and developing and testing hypotheses. WaterWays extends students’ knowledge about how water connects people and the environment, and applies that knowledge to cultivate a generation of informed, passionate students committed to preserving our planet's health.
WaterWays was developed in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society, Hudson River Park and Mount Sinai's Transdisciplinary Center for Early Environmental Exposure, with funding support from the National Institutes of Health.
Each of the five modules includes:
- A personalized digital science journal and an augmented reality experience (accessible by phone or browser using webVR)
- 40 minutes of interactive activities where students are scientists engaged with water science and water stewardship
- Assessment dashboard for educators to monitor and scaffold student learning
Teacher Testimonials:
- “I loved doing all five [modules]. The modules were amazing! They were engaging, and the students enjoyed it.”
- “I liked that WaterWays pulled a lot of standards like water cycles, conservation, and adaptations together and helped the students understand it more.”
- “Kids kept asking, “Can we do it again?” and a lot of them would go look at it again during their downtime”
- “WaterWays itself was amazing. The whole program was great. I would like to see it expanded in more different skills or standards!”
Next Generation Science Standards:
Science & Engineering Practices |
Disciplinary Core Idea |
Crosscutting Concepts |
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Connections to Excellence in Environmental Education - Guidelines for Learning (K-12)
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