2020 Western Rivers Teacher Workshops

River as Text: Ecology

Instructor: Sarah R. Johnson MAEd
ENVS 510, 2 Credits, $340 + $15 Course Fee
Monday, June 15 - Wednesday, June 17; 8:00am-6:00pm
Audience: 3rd -10th grade Educators
​Register at Western Colorado University
Learn how to utilize rivers and riparian habitat as the context to meet the Colorado 2020 Science standards (NGSS) through observations, explorations, discussions, and journaling to create three-dimensional, phenomenon and problem-driven science learning experiences. During this field-based course, participants will explore the three major components of a river ecosystem: aquatic life, water quality, and riparian habitat as well and the Colorado In-stream flow program. Interdisciplinary field experiences include field trips to local riverside parks, Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Curriculum resources will be shared from BEETLES, Aquatic WILD, Project WET, and Denver Water’s Water Education Resource Guide. Participants will also create an online Google My Maps river field trip asset map for their school using tools from Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots curriculum.

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Water in the West

Instructor: Sarah R. Johnson MAEd
ENVS 510, 2 Credits, $340 + $10 Course Fee
Thursday, June 18 - Saturday, June 20 8:00am-6:00pm
Audience: Secondary Educators
​Register at Western Colorado University
Learn how to incorporate the complexities of water management in the West into your curriculum through cross-curricular field and classroom learning. Through the use of visible thinking, questioning, inquiry, deliberation, and reflecting- participants will explore western water management, water law, and watershed geography through the C3 Framework for Social Studies and Colorado 2020 Social Studies standards. We will explore and learn how to use Library of Congress teaching tools, Project WET: Discover A Watershed, Population Education, and other proven teaching resources in your classrooms. Participants will also create an ESRI Story Map using online GIS tools to explore and explain water management concepts and corresponding geography more closely. Field experiences visiting Blue Mesa Dam, a Morrow Point Reservoir overlook, Taylor Reservoir, and time at Gunnison Mountain Park.

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