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What is UMS WaterWorks?

UMS WaterWorks is a unique science & community exploratory class at Urbana Middle School in Urbana, Illinois that provides a year-long opportunity to build school skills and to learn about water systems in nature, industry, and community while developing awareness of technologies, careers, conservation concerns, and public service work.

Our class is supported by many community offices, agencies, and news media. We spend the first nine weeks of school learning about the natural science of water and making morning field trips to labs, lakes, and streams. Students have the opportunity to learn about water falling from above, water flowing beneath their feet, measuring water chemical components, collecting and identifying a variety of aquatic living organisms, learning canoeing skills, learning map and orientation skills with global positioning system handheld units, and learning about the variety of ways life is affected when our water is polluted.

During second quarter, students will focus on research and engineering of water systems for home, town, agriculture, and industry. Third quarter is devoted to developing knowledge of water regulations and legal processes for advocating for protection of water resources. And, fourth quarter is dedicated to students building a public campaign that enhances the quality of water in our Salt Fork River watershed.

 

Learning through Participation and Exploration

The UMS WaterWorks class is an environmental education and service learning initiative for middle school students. We believe that water knowledge and environmental learning provide ideal settings for student participation. By being introduced to water concepts, inquiry methods, management and conservation issues, and careers in water study and management, our students, families, and community benefit.

The collaborating offices and businesses include: Urbana School District, Department of Curriculum and Instruction – UIUC College of Education; Illinois State Water Survey; The News-Gazette; UIUC WaterCAMPWS; Illinois Natural History Survey; Champaign County Soil & Conservation District; Champaign County Forest District; United States Geological Survey; Urbana Free Library; Urbana Public Works Department; Urbana Champaign Sanitary District; Earth Partners Inc.; Champaign County Agricultural Extension Office; Guardian West Inc. - Flex-N-Gate; Prairie Rivers Network; Illinois Student Environmental Network, Wilke & McMahon Law Office, The Lumpkin Foundation, Illinois Waste Management Research Center, Central States Water Environment Association, American Chemical Society East Central Illinois Local Section, Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Lake Education Assistance Program.

 

©2005 UMS WaterWorks