Parent volunteers usually help Greenscape Coalition staff run the six stations that make up the Greenscapes Keeping Water Clean program, but at South Elementary in Andover our help came entirely from the enthusiastic teaching staff. After gathering in one of the 5th grade classrooms and doing a brief run-though, the teachers were geared up to do their stations. Teacher James Selvitella told me about how, though his students had learned the water cycle already, he was so glad they were being given a opportunity and venue to apply that knowledge to their town and daily lives.
Using the Envision model, I spoke to the students about groundwater. To illustrate the seemingly bizarre concept of water constantly moving beneath our feet, I asked the kids if they’d ever dug a hole in the sand at the beach. This always elicits many “yes”es and head nods.
“What happens when the hole starts getting deep?”
“It fills with water!”
“The same thing would happen if you went out into your yard and dug an 8 to 10 foot hole.”
A pause.
“Oh, but don’t do that.”
With their minds on the image of that water filled hole at the beach, I pointed out that wells are essentially just holes we dig down far enough into the ground to reach the groundwater. Using the model to illustrate how groundwater levels drop during prolonged drought, I pointed out what was happening to the water levels in the wells and lake.
“What happened to our lake?”
“It’s gone.”
Some children we’ve educated through Keeping Water Clean can remember the wells of friends or family members going dry during the 2016 drought. For those who get their municipal water from a reservoir, the image of the model’s drying lake sticks. I love these moments, but my favorite moment at South Elementary came about when the conversation became slightly side-tracked (as is bound to happen in a room full of 5th graders).
The merit of education, in general, and more directly learning about water was brought up. Thinking I was going to be arguing my side alone, I was delighted when a group of boys spoke out as advocates for this program specifically, one even saying that it was crucial knowledge “if you want to become a civil engineer”. Whomever that’s a credit to, the teachers or parents, good job!
I had a great time at South Elementary. We are so glad to have the support of the Andover Public Works Department in bringing the Greenscapes program to multiple Andover elementary schools this scholastic year.