Storm Water Management

Grade Level: 9-12
Academic Areas: Technology, INTERDISIPLNARY
Duration of service: Semester Long
Character Virtues: Caring, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Civic Virtue/Citizenship
Service Areas: Environmental, Public Safety, Homeland Security

Service Learning Project:

Students who are training for careers in social work will meet with Teachers, students, program staff, town and planning board members, Soil and Water Conservation Districts representatives, and environmental non-profit groups will collaborate to meet the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) mandated Municipal Stormwater Planning Program. Activities will occur at school, in the community, and through public meetings (planning board and stakeholder meetings). Students and other participants will join forces to collect data relevant to stormwater management at their school and/or in their community. Participants will learn how to use Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping software and Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware. Participants will also learn about the issues surrounding stormwater management (e.g., water quality, health, and public safety). Participants will then learn how to analyze collected data. Participants will learn how to present (and reflect through the presentation of) data to the community through a public education program (e.g., brochures, posters, and public presentations). This project will tie into Earth Science, Participation in Government, and Language for Social Interaction.

Goals and Objectives

Academic

Learning Goal: Students will learn to use GPS and GIS (mapping software) for authentic research.
Standard: MST Standards: 6, 4, 2, 5 and 7.
Learning Goal: Students will learn to read and use topographical maps.
Standard: Social Studies Standard: 3
Learning Goal: School to Career skills
Learning Goal: Students will develop oral and written presentation skills.
Standard: ELA Standards: 1,3 and 4

Service

Community need: EPA-identified News York State schools are mandated to file a storm water management plan, but are not funded to do so.
Possible Community Partners: Town Boards, Planning Boards, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Environment Nonprofit Organizations
Objective: Participants will present their data and recommendations (both orally and in hard copy) regarding the present and future use and preservation of the site area.
Objective: Students will be empowered to save school money while participating in community planning.

Character

Virtue: Caring
Objective: Students will develop a sense of stewardship for the built and natural environments in the community.
Virtue: Civic virtue and citizenship
Objective: Students will engage in the democratic process through their interactions with and participation in their community
Virtue: Responsibility and Trustworthiness
Objective: The project will increase citizen participation in community planning and present authentic data for the responsible solution of local issues.

Key Activities

Key Planning Activities

1. Teachers will introduce students to the tools needed to be successful in gathering raw data.
2. Students will research the roles of different civic organizations that will be involved in the project.

Key Service Activities

1. Utilizing a GPS, students will gather accurate data about a prescribed environment described in the field map template.
2. Students will present their data and recommendations (both orally and in hard copy) regarding the present and future use and preservation of the chosen site.

Key Reflection Activities

1. (oral – responsibility and trustworthiness) Students will discuss mapmaking (global and regional) and modern satellite technology which has made possible remarkable improvements in both accuracy and quality of map detail. Students will also discuss how the chosen site is being used and what future use and improvements could be made.
2. (written – responsibility) Students will keep field journals of data collected and data collection procedures.
3. (performance – civic virtue and citizenship) Students will create a map to reflect their vision of an ideal environment for the area. They will then prepare an oral argument defending their vision and present it to the community.

Celebration Activity

Participants will display their mapwork and present preliminary data to participants at a Storm Water Management Fair that will raise public awareness of the issues and their work. Parents and community members will participate in the celebration as audience and give feedback so that students may improve their presentation skills.