0% Funded
Only $359.96 Needed
The purpose of this grant is to fund the installation of an educational rainwater harvesting system at Oakridge Middle School. This system will be used to promote environmental literacy, hands-on STEM education, and sustainable water practices among students.
Water Conservation is a hot topic- one that I believe will be of the utmost importance in the near future.
I want my Earth Science Students to learn not only how to use a water collection system, but why this practice will provide environmental, practical, and economic advantages.
Bacvkground Information
Rainwater Systems...
~Protect natural ecosystems: By using collected OMS water, students will reduce the need to extract water from rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers, preserving those ecosystems. This is particularly useful during dry seasons or droughts, both of which students will be learning about this year.
~Reduce water bills, especially in homes or buildings that use large amounts of water for gardens, flushing toilets, or cleaning. We will utilize our rainwater system with our Gardyn System- a hydroponic indoor gardening system that students will maintain and grow vegetables, fruits and herbs to take home to their families. This will add even more sustainability to our system and will show my students tangible ways to become more self-sufficient! In addition, collected rainwater is often better for plants (it’s soft and free from chlorine or salts).
~ Rainwater Collection also helps mitigate flooding and erosion and it encouraged by Collier County. My students will be comparing areas around campus to make observations about erosion in areas that have collection and those that do not.
This project will cover many learning standards of 6th grade Earth Science, including weather and water distribution, erosional processes, human impacts on our local environment and sustainability practices. We will also use the system to extract data, improve student critical analysis and make connections across Earth systems . Students will also learn how to illustrate our data in various charts and graphs.
Learning Aids - Sunshine state book sets, robotics kits, puzzle boards, science models, engineering supplies, etc.
The rainwater collection project will be a hands-on, student-led initiative that engages learners in every phase of conceptual value, design, and maintenance.
Students will begin by learning about the water cycle, conservation practices, and sustainable design. Working in teams, they will assess potential catchment areas on school property (such as downspouts or shaded areas). We will then measure our roof surface area to calculate potential rainwater yield. Students will design the layout of the system—including the filtration process and storage tanks—using basic engineering and math skills.
After installation, students will monitor water levels and measure collection rates during different weather conditions. They will also conduct regular maintenance checks to clear debris, inspect filters, and ensure the system is functioning correctly. All classes will record data and create graphs to analyze seasonal patterns in rainfall and water usage.
For those interested students, I will offer extensions that will enable them to create informational signage explaining the system to the school community as well as parents and local organizations to raise awareness about water conservation.
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The rainwater collection project will create lasting improvements in both student learning and environmental awareness. Specifically, students will gain:
1. Hands-On STEM Skills-Through the design, installation, and maintenance of the system, students will apply concepts from science, technology, engineering, and math in real-world problem-solving.
2.Environmental Awareness & Responsibility- Students will better understand water scarcity, sustainability, and the role they can play in local and global environmental solutions.
3. Leadership & Collaboration- Working in teams to build and monitor the system will strengthen communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.
4. Community Engagement & Ownership- Students will take pride in creating a visible, lasting impact on their school, which can inspire wider community involvement and awareness.
We will measure outcomes through a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.
Students will make connections across Earth Systems through their records of rainwater levels, weather conditions and plant growth in our hydroponic system. These will demonstrate their ability to collect and interpret scientific data. Their participation will also develop problem-solving to real world issues.
I will also be measuring their understanding through their classwork and assessments in the following course learning goals:
SC.6.E.7.4 – Differentiate and describe the components of the water cycle, including evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.
→ Students will observe how rainwater moves through real-world systems (e.g., runoff and collection), reinforcing this concept beyond textbooks.
SC.6.E.7.5 – Explain how energy provided by the sun influences global patterns of atmospheric movement and the temperature differences between air, water, and land.
→ Students will analyze how solar energy affects rainfall and water collection, helping them connect climate and weather patterns to water availability.
SC.6.E.7.6 – Differentiate between weather and climate.
→ By tracking local rainfall data over time, students will understand short-term weather events vs. long-term climate trends.
SC.6.N.1.1 – Define a problem from the 6th-grade curriculum, use appropriate reference materials to support scientific understanding, plan and carry out scientific investigations…
→ Students will engage in problem-solving (how to conserve water), research solutions, and collect real data from the system they help build.
All of the grant funds will be used to purchase the 4 rain rainwater collection systems.
| # | Item | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PYY Rain Water Collection Barrel - 132 Gallon Black Water Storage Tank with Spigot, Hose and Portable Bucket, Large Plastic Collapsible Rain Catcher Catchment System to Collect Rainwater from Gutter | $89.99 |
| 2 | PYY Rain Water Collection Barrel - 132 Gallon Black Water Storage Tank with Spigot, Hose and Portable Bucket, Large Plastic Collapsible Rain Catcher Catchment System to Collect Rainwater from Gutter | $89.99 |
| 3 | PYY Rain Water Collection Barrel - 132 Gallon Black Water Storage Tank with Spigot, Hose and Portable Bucket, Large Plastic Collapsible Rain Catcher Catchment System to Collect Rainwater from Gutter | $89.99 |
| 4 | PYY Rain Water Collection Barrel - 132 Gallon Black Water Storage Tank with Spigot, Hose and Portable Bucket, Large Plastic Collapsible Rain Catcher Catchment System to Collect Rainwater from Gutter | $89.99 |
| Total: | $359.96 |
0% Funded
Only $359.96 Needed
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