Classroom Lessons
Our classroom and virtual live lessons allow for targeted grade level instruction and hands-on games and activities that cover a variety of topics including:
- Literacy-based science
- Local endangered species
- Human impacts on habitats
- Plastic pollution
- Water footprints
- Watershed stewardship
- Water cycles
Find descriptions of Valley Water Education Outreach classroom lessons below.
If you are interested in scheduling a program, please fill out our request form.
The Little Blue Hen: A Conservation Story (Grades TK-1)
The Little Blue Hen is inspired by “The Little Red Hen” story and tells the tale of the Little Blue Hen as she learns to conserve water daily. Told in a storybook style and with opportunities for choral reading, students will learn fun ways to help conserve water in their homes.
The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Weather Wolf (Grades TK-1)
In our version of the classic story, students follow along as the Three Little Pigs take on a new foe – The Big Bad Weather Wolf. The tale focuses on the problems caused by flooding and the importance of preparing for emergencies by making an emergency plan and packing an emergency backpack.
Watershed Maps (Grades 2-4)
Students create a 3-D model using a piece of paper and map and identify the types of landforms and bodies of water that we find in Santa Clara County. After identifying mountains and valleys, creeks, rivers, and bays, we will brainstorm ways to protect our watersheds and conserve water daily.
The Steelhead Journey (Grades 2-5)
Students follow the incredible journey of a steelhead trout as it travels from Santa Clara County creeks to the Pacific Ocean and back. Through an interactive board game, students navigate the stages of a steelhead trout's life cycle and the challenges they face along the way.
What A Cycle! (Grades 3-5)
Students experience the various ways water moves within the natural water cycle by playing a game where they become water molecules and travel through parts of the overall water cycle. The program includes a discussion about water conservation and how we can act as stewards of our environment.
The Water We Share (Grades 3-12)
This is an engaging youth activity aimed at empowering students to advocate for access to purified water in their community. Participants will learn about water sources in Santa Clara County, and creatively develop posters that are designed to share their knowledge about purified water.
Plastic Voyages (Grades 4-8)
After a brief presentation exploring the global issue of plastic waste, students participate in an interactive activity. Using common items from their lives, students will identify sources of marine debris, describe the potential effects of plastic waste on aquatic wildlife and their habitats, and brainstorm specific actions we can take to remedy the problem.
Hidden Water (Grades 4-8)
This interactive program explores the concept of a water footprint as students learn about the difference between direct and indirect water use. Through interactive games, students investigate how much water it takes to make many of the products we use daily and analyze various menus to calculate the water used to create the foods we eat.