Cal Water H2O Challenge

What is the Cal Water H20 Challenge? 

Actually, it is pretty cool and there is still time to enter!

The students of participating classrooms initiate, develop, and implement a 4-8 week-long project (or longer at teacher discretion), focusing on caring for water. This class-based project explores water as a global resource and as a local resource, while tackling a local water problem in an individual and community-based endeavor.

Upon completion of the project, students create a final portfolio documenting their work. This portfolio, along with accompanying cover sheets, student reflections, and a teacher reflection, constitute the final submission. Submissions are due February 28, 2017.

Cal Water H2 O Challenge was designed in collaboration with the WestEd / K-12 Alliance to ensure an educationally sound curriculum that aligns with Common Core State Standards and is complementary to the Next Generation Science Standards. In aligning the curriculum, sample lesson plans were developed incorporating these guidelines.

I love that this is Project Based Learning! This Challenge was  developed with the help of the WestEd / K-12 Alliance and the North American Association for Environmental Education, the project-based learning model offers an effective and engaging manner to inspire students to get involved with community action while achieving curriculum standards.

Winners of the Cal Water H2O Challenge will receive: Grand Prize Class Celebration: Classroom tent-camping trip to the Santa Monica Mountains with NatureBridge Class Funding: $3,500 grant Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student 2nd Place Class Celebration: A Pizza Party Class Funding: $2,500 grant Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student 3rd Place Class Funding: $2,000 grant Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student 4th Place Class Funding: $1,000 grant Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student All Participant Prizes Student Recognition: An official certificate of participation for every student Teacher Recognition: A teacher certificate Teacher Gift: An AMEX gift card.

Check out last year’s video below!

Judging of the competition will be conducted by a panel of experts working in education and/or an environmental field and will use an objective rubric, developed with the help of the West Ed / K-12 Alliance. This rubric evaluates the water topic choice, project goals, action plan, and outcomes, long term benefits, integration with student learning and curriculum, student participation, impact on student learning, presentation, and impact on teacher practice.

Learn more about the challenge, access the resource center, and read the FAQ section at challenge.calwater.com.

Self Disclosure: Compensation received to post. Information was also provided to facilitate this post.