The South Platte Water Renewal Partners supports K-12 educators with information and resources about the water renewal process that complement classroom curriculum on water. We offer free interactive classroom presentations and/or educational materials. We offer free field trips and transportation scholarships. Do you have an idea for a service project? We can support that too!
Field Trips / Tours
We offer free educational field trips for school groups interested in learning more about the water renewal process. Tours can vary from 30 minutes to three hours depending on the tour type. Typical school group tours are 1 hour and 30 minutes. The fieldtrip includes a presentation/video and walking tour of the plant. Participants are required to wear closed toed shoes. Water testing and visits to the South Platte River can be provided upon request for high school student groups. We can accommodate 1 – 25 participants per group.
Register your students for a field trip
Classroom Presentations
Let us come to you! Schedule a thirty minute or one hour presentation for your classroom, homeschooling group, or scouting troop and let us bring the learning to you!
Water Haul
Have you ever wondered how people get water to their house when there is not a faucet in the kitchen or bathroom? If you lived in a remote village, how would you get your water? In small villages, children, and sometimes adults go to the public water source (river, stream or lake) and haul water every day for the family to use for cooking, cleaning and drinking. Through this interactive lesson kids (K – 4) can experience hauling the water for their families. The activity can be adapted for any age to include longer treks and added obstacles.
Ancient Toilets
How did the Romans do their business? What did they use for toilet paper? Through interactive play we show the kids (K-4) how the Roman toilets worked and explain that thanks to the engineering of these toilets, we have advanced to flushing toilets that we have in our homes. The activity can be adapted for any age by altering the process results and adding a short discussion on cleaning wastewater.
Who Polluted Our River?
Have you ever thought what your personal impact is on the river? Through this interactive lesson we will have the kids help us pollute the river by taking on the role of different contributors. They may be an animal, business owner or a citizen recreating. Many other options are available. This activity will enlighten students (K – 5) of their impact on our river, and how to be a better stewards through collaborative care of our environment.
River/Waterway Sampling
Is your school near a safe to access water source? River, stream, creek, pond, other? Through water sampling, students (grades 3 – 5) learn about Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity and Ph of the water around them. We discuss how climate and human factors can impact the results. Also, students will brainstorm and discuss the effects of these results on the animal and plant life.
Likewise, if the students are in high school, we can come to a water source near your school, or you can visit us at the South Platte for river sampling. We will complete the same tests of the water to determine Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity and pH. Included in this experience, we will attempt to capture and identify a variety of macroinvertebrates.
Education Materials
Coloring / Activity Books
We can provide coloring books, activity books or pages on a variety of water related topics.
Virtual Plant Tour
Let us bring the Plant to you! We have a PowerPoint presentation of the entire process from influent to effluent. This tour will allow students of all ages to experience the entire Plant without leaving the classroom. We will discuss each stage of the process and answer questions as we go along. By doing the virtual tour, it allows the students to see inside buildings that we are not able to share during a walking tour, for safety reasons. With our virtual tours, we bring samples from the stages of the process, so the students can see how the wastewater is cleaned and the vital resources are recovered.
Transportation Scholarships
More information to come. Check back soon!
Additional Links
Forests to Faucets Teacher Resources
Forests to Faucets Teacher Resources – The USDA Forest Service Forests to Faucets project uses GIS to model and map the continental United States land areas most important to surface drinking water, the role forests play in protecting these areas, and the extent to which these forests are threatened by development, insects and disease, and wildland fire.
Project Wet
Project Wet – This is a water education program for educators and young people.
EPA Office of Water
EPA Office of Water – Explore the Environmental Protection Agency’s student water resources.
EPA Environmental Education
EPA Environmental Education Outreach and education program that increases environmental awareness for citizens of the Rocky Mountains and Plains region.
EPA Environmental Kids Club
EPA Environmental Kids Club Cool ways for kids to learn about the environment.
USGS Water Science School
USGS Water Science School Information on many aspects of Water, along with pictures, data, maps and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge.
USGS The Water Cycle
USGS The Water Cycle The water cycle describes how Earth’s water is not only always changing forms, between liquid (rain), solid (ice), and gas (vapor), but also moving on, above, and in the Earth. This process is always happening everywhere
Water Environment Federation Students and Teachers K-12
Water Environment Federation Students and Teachers K-12 This area features a variety of resources and programs to help students and teachers learn about water and the importance of protecting and preserving our water resources.
H2ouse Water Saver Home
H2ouse Water Saver Home – Take an interactive, room-by-room tour of a house to learn more ways to save water. You and your students will find many actions to take to prevent waste and save money.
Colorado State University Water Knowledge
Colorado State University Water Knowledge – This is a great site for a list of other water-related links.
Water for People
Water for People – This is a nonprofit, Denver-based organization that addresses worldwide water issues. Visit their website for photos and other interesting information.
