1. Water Stories: Sharing Experiences

Setup: Prep Time 30 min.

• Set up Materials Table.

*See Materials & Preparation in the Educator Guide linked above for full info.

21st Century Skills

• Communication

Habits of Mind

• Communicate effectively.

Learners Will Do

• Share a story or experience about water.

Learners Will Know

• Water is essential for life.

Connecting Across Activities

• Ready, S.E.T., Go!: Last time, learners started exploring reservoirs. As scientists, they figured out where water was located. As engineers, they designed a technology to get the water.
• Activity 1: Sharing Experiences: Today, learners share experiences with, and stories about, water.
• Activity 2: Water Where We Are From: Next time, learners will consider who uses water in their community and how, and they will make water samples.

Indigenous Engineering

Level Up! (Optional)

In the Educator Guide, you will see “Level Up!” Sections. These include great tips and activities that build and extend STEM and 21st Century skills, and create stronger connections between educators, youth, and families. They typically take a little extra time, so please plan accordingly.

• Refer to the Engineering Design Process poster. Ask: What steps of the Engineering Design Process did you use today? (We identified reasons why water is important.) (5 min.)
• Check out some great examples of the more than 2,000 NASA spin-off technologies that enrich our lives–and keep water clean and usable–thanks to space exploration. (5 min.)
• Tell learners, if anyone asks them what they did today, they can tell them “We shared stories about why water is important.” (5 min.)
• Read and discuss the book We Are Water Protectors, which tells a story about people fighting to keep water clean. Although this is a picture book, it has a message that is important for all ages. (15 min.)