HELLO and WELCOME back!

The 2022-2023 school year is flowing and we're excited to partner with you and your school this year to explore fun water resource topics! If you are receiving this e-newsletter, you are listed as our main school contact. We will send e-newsletters periodically throughout the year to share program info, updates and fun recommended resources. Please forward e-newsletters or helpful tidbits on to your team teachers as you feel necessary. Also, please update us if your main school contact changes, so we can update our e-newsletter distribution list accordingly.

Below you will find info about this year's program, including a link to our new and improved Teacher Toolkit! This is our main hub for program info and resources, so we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the site before getting started on the unit.

I always enjoy meeting our school partners, but in case we haven't had that opportunity yet, my name is Andrea Dee. I've worked part-time with SD1 the last 4 years as an Environmental Educator, helping to support SD1's environmental education programming in NKY schools (k-college). I'm excited for your students to explore the updated unit this year, and welcome your feedback throughout the year to ensure success in the classroom. Feel free to contact me anytime should questions/curiosities pop up about the program or water resources!

Best,
Andrea Dee

Introducing Our NEW Teacher Toolkit!

We've been busy improving and building a new Teacher Toolkit, and you can now access it here. This is the one-stop shop for all things related to the Environmental Unit including registering for the program (which you've already completed, thank you!), taking pre/posttests, accessing lesson plans and supporting resources, submitting student work credit requirements, scheduling a field trip, organizing storm drain marking volunteer efforts, and more!

Supply Delivery Info

Thank you for submitting your supply orders! We plan to be out delivering unit supplies, including updated full color student workbooks and classroom materials to support lessons soon. You can expect to receive your supplies by early to mid-September. We will follow up with an email confirmation once all supplies have been delivered! As a reminder, we will not be printing teacher guides this year. All educator resources including lesson plans are now available for viewing and/or download in the Teacher Toolkit under the 'Environmental Unit' tab.

Schedule an in-person or live virtual Enviroscape Presentation with SD1!

We are available to present the Water Pollution Lesson (now Lesson 2!) to your class using the Enviroscape Model. We will also lead students in completing their Lesson 2 workbook material and have lots of fun exploring water pollution hands-on! Contact adee@sd1.org to schedule an in-person or live virtual presentation with SD1.

Take a Field Trip to SD1's Public Service Park!

Conclude the Environmental Unit with an in-person or virtual visit to SD1's Public Service Park. Students can follow the journey of a drop of water through the park and learn about BMPs along the way! Field trips must occur after students have completed their unit work. Field trips are scheduled on a first come, first served basis during the months of October, April and May. You can find more info about field trips, including scheduling, here.

Updates, Enhancements, Flexibility, Intros, Happy Hours, and Feedback Opportunities...Oh My!

We're excited to roll out and pilot our updated unit materials this year, below is some additional info:

As you read through the lessons you will see much of the same content with an updated flow and additional opportunities/resources. You can learn more about the updated unit by downloading the "Environmental Unit Content and Suggested Flow" summary doc found at the bottom of the Teacher Toolkit homepage, found here.

Throughout the lesson plans you will notice core material and "enhance and advance" opportunities. These enhancements are completely optional. In reviewing unit materials, we found opportunities to enhance lessons so students can dig deeper into subjects. Use these enhancements as you feel appropriate in your classroom.

We appreciate your partnership and understand the importance of flexible learning opportunities. If you feel the need to alter lesson plans to provide a better learning experience for your students, please reach out to let us know that you would like to sub lesson content. Also, please be sure to provide proof of students completing alternate work related to SD1 designed lesson subjects as a requirement of receiving credit for participation.

Within the updated Environmental Unit resources, you will notice we've added a new unit intro video. The intro video linked here was created as a fun way to introduce your class to the unit and SD1. It's narrated by Splash McClean for added smiles! We recommend you show the intro video, and the "SD1: Your Wastewater Utility" video if students are also interested in learning more about how their wastewater is treated locally, before diving into individual unit lessons. Both videos can be found here on the Environmental Unit resource page.

Join one of our after-school happy hours for a snack-size tour of the updated unit and Teacher Toolkit! Hop on virtually, via Zoom, anytime on Sept 13th or 15th between 4-5pm using the links below. We'll use this time to familiarize participants with unit materials, and helpful resources. Bring your questions and early feedback, as we explore the Teacher Toolkit together! If you are interested in this opportunity, but unable to participate those dates/times, please reach out to adee@sd1.org to schedule a private meet.

SD1 Environmental Unit - HAPPY HOUR #1
Date/Time: Sep 13, 2022 4:00-5:00 PM
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84814480474?pwd=a0FYeWpRMi9zVFdYY0RRVHN4dGxNdz09

SD1 Environmental Unit - HAPPY HOUR #2
Date/Time: Sep 15, 2022 4:00-5:00 PM
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81548734526?pwd=WFdCTUpBT002cWZjajh4cC9XdVZoZz09

In an effort to continuously improve SD1's Environmental Unit, we want to collect your feedback on an ongoing basis. Anytime you have something to share, whether it be a program suggestion, presenter review or helpful resource for others, visit the Feedback Hub page linked here in the Teacher Toolkit to send those ideas our way! You are always welcome to email me at adee@sd1.org as well.

Make a Big Splash With Your Class!

At the bottom of each e-newsletter this year we are spotlighting some favorite "Big Splash" resources from the Teacher Toolkit and beyond.

We've added a custom GIS mapping resource to our Teacher Toolkit for you to explore in Lesson 1! You can learn all about it on the Lesson 1 page in the Teacher Toolkit, linked here. Look under the "additional resources" content found at the bottom of the page for full instructions on using this tool. You will use this virtual GIS mapping tool briefly in Lesson 1 to identify your school's watershed. This is a fun way to introduce and explore GIS mapping with students! You can also use additional resources found in the toolkit under Lesson 1 to calculate your school's storm water runoff. Keep an eye out for happy hour virtual meet opportunities to learn more about how to use this new resource!