From: Amelia White [mailto:amelia87102@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 5:04 PM
Subject: RiverXchange
Hello!
I'm writing to let you know about an exciting program starting this fall. RiverXchange is a FREE year-long cultural exchange project using water as a theme to teach science, social studies, language arts and computer technology.
We are looking for motivated 4th or 5th grade teachers to become high tech pen pals with classes in New Mexico , USA . Each class will follow the RiverXchange curriculum to learn about their local river. Students will share what they are learning via a private wiki website about twice per month throughout the school year. The RiverXchange curriculum covers three units:
- Understanding a Watershed
- Water in Our Society
- River Ecosystem
I am contacting you for two reasons:
1) to request your help getting the word out about this project to teachers who may be interested in participating.
2) to find out if your organization is interested in providing one or more classroom guest speakers (or a field trip) for local teachers who are accepted into this project. Guest speakers in the classroom or on the field trip to the river provide a fresh perspective and help participants learn valuable technical information.
If you know any teachers who are interested in RiverXchange, please have them contact Amy White as soon as possible at 505-235-8342 or by email at amelia87102@yahoo.com. For more information about RiverXchange, visit www.waterfestnm.com/riverxchange/. RiverXchange is open to any 4th or 5th grade class in the US or the world, but participation is limited.
Thanks,
Amy White
Here's what some of our participants had to say about the project:
"I have to tell you this has been the most innovative project I've ever been a part of. Though my kids were very reluctant to blog, we read every entry and have learned so much. I am currently working on my curriculum for the coming year and will incorporate RiverXchange into that curriculum. It has enriched our Idaho history beyond belief. Though I've taught Idaho History over many years, for the first time this year the students actually understood the importance of water to Lewis and Clark, the trappers and traders and the folks along the Oregon Trail . As we mapped the trails they were right on top of locating how near they were to water."
"RiverXchange enabled the students to be more involved in learning than other projects I have implemented and seen. Students had to digest what they learned and re-tell that learning to someone else. This forced them to take ownership of the information and experiences. Also, the variety of the activities appealed to different student learning styles. Students had to research, do hands-on activities and learn to communicate. There was some aspect that appealed to every student."
"Students are much more aware of their impact on our limited water resources. They have given a lot more thought to how they use water and how they can conserve it. They are also more in tune with what they need to do to try to protect our watershed starting with their own backyard and the parks around our school."
