The Peel Water Story (PWS) is a multi-media resource designed so that each of its parts supports and enhances the others. As a cross-curricular resource, PWS can be used in many ways to support your existing water-focused programming.
The WEBSITE includes:
- Peel Water History -This electronic PDF version of the book is downloadable in its entirety, or by chapters. The story follows the history of water in Peel from pre-historic times to the present day. It introduces you to the four “Big Water Ideas” found throughout the resource. You will also find a link to a separate short story entitled, “Cholera!” This work of historical fictional follows a 19th century family on their difficult immigrant journey from Europe to Peel County, and includes activity ideas for the classroom.
- Lesson Plans – An online source for recommended educational water activities, categorized by Big Water Idea, subject area, and grade level.
- The Peel EcoFair – Information about the event, how schools can participate at our annual showcase of environmental action projects, and examples of action projects from Peel schools.
- Environmental Action Guide – Our manual for mentoring your own action projects.
- GIS Maps – An interactive, online tool that allows teachers and students to map their school in relation to Peel’s human and natural water systems. The “Places to Go” page locates dozens of potential field trips in Peel Region.
- Resource List – An online list of more educational water resources and information categorized by media type, including water presentations and field trips.
- Peel EcoFair Case Studies – A sampling of student environmental action projects in Peel.
- Scroll through the Region’s A River Through Time for a visual depiction of how our natural water systems are linked to human water consumption through the centuries.
The BOOK is available in all school libraries in Peel. It contains:
- The Peel Water Story narrative – follows the history of water in Peel from pre-historic times to the present day. It introduces you to the four “Big Water Ideas” found throughout the resource. You will also find K-12 curriculum connection pages as well as suggestions for relevant water activities, downloadable online.
- Peel EcoFair Case Studies – A sampling of student environmental action projects in Peel. More examples can be found on the online.
- Environmental Action Guide – A manual for mentoring your own action projects, which is also on the online.
- Matrix of online Water Activities – Twenty-five water activities are categorized under four matrices, each corresponding to a Big Water Idea. Here teachers can see the relevance of each activity to subject areas and grade levels. These matrices and activities are online for download.
A CD-ROM is found in this book. It includes:
- A flyover of Peel’s landscape – This virtual tour shows labelled topographical features while depicting the size and diversity of Peel’s natural environment.
- Website access – An easy way to boot to the PWS Website.
Teachers can use one or all parts of the Peel Water Story. Use it to augment your existing program and bring that sense of wonder to the classroom that comes with exploring the world immediately around you.
The Peel Water Story is much more than a book and a Website; it is a door to the outdoors in your own community. Take your students outside, help them understand how lessons link to the world they see around them everyday, and bring learning to their own backyard. The result will be students who recognize how their actions affect their environment, and youth who may become ambassadors in protecting Peel’s environment.
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