Water Quality Monitoring Workshop

The TVA Natural Resources Water Quality Monitoring Lab is a free, hands-on science lab provided through the TVA Science Kids program to schools across the TVA power service area.

This workshop is geared towards 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teachers.

Participating teachers will receive:

• 6 hours PD credit

• Free lunch

• $100 stipend

• >$200 worth materials

Teachers will work in groups and investigate the hydrosphere by testing the water quality of a local stream, river, lake, or pond using Science and Engineering Practices. The water quality tests apply Crosscutting Concepts such as cause and effect, stability and change, energy in systems, and patterns to help students develop an understanding of how water quality relates to multiple disciplines of science. Teachers will carry out investigations by collecting, recording, and interpreting data, utilizing science equipment, observing chemical reactions, making inferences, and drawing conclusions. We will also discuss human impacts on water quality and STEM careers.

Along with the hands-on lab experience, A Waterproof Case and The Water Down Under are companion books provided to encourage additional extended learning opportunities. These materials can promote growth in scientific literacy through partner reading, writing exercises, and keyboarding practices.

Editable lesson plans with connections to the new state science standards and the TEAM rubric will also be provided.

TVA partners with the Earth Echo International Water Challenges for this science lab. You can learn more about this program at their website http://www.monitorwater.org.

This workshop is co-hosted with the UT Martin STEM Center. For participating teachers to recieve a stipend, they must be in one of the partnering districts. A list of partnering districts can be found here: http://www.utm.edu/departments/educate/tprocess/leas.php.

If you have any questions about the program, please call Vicki Jo Stevens-Valentine at (731) 363-8438 or email her at vjstevensvalentine@tva.gov.