Waterloo Region Museum

Children's Groundwater Festival

Monday, May 28 to Friday, June 1, 2012

For Grades 2 to 5  
A cross curricular event/program covering a variety of Science and Technology and Heritage and Citizenship units.

Contact Information
Susan Reid
519-748-1914
SReid@regionofwaterloo.ca 
www.wwcgf.com

For more information on the Children's Water Education Council visit www.cwec.ca.

The festival's goal is to educate children about the importance of our most precious resource - water. The Festival promotes awareness that water is the basis for all life. We are proud when children who participate in our festival become catalysts for change by taking information and a new found respect for water back to their homes, schools and communities.

Overview
The festival first started in 1996, and has become a hands-on, interactive event with over 45 activity centres that are educational and fun for students in grades two through five. The goal is for students to enjoy themselves while teaching them all about water issues.

Learning Expectations
Through a combination of multimedia exhibits and hands-on activities focusing on the general theme of groundwater, students have the opportunity to learn about:

• the physical science of groundwater
• groundwater as a resource: management and utilization in rural and urban settings
• the water cycle
• the interdependence of people, plants, animals, soil, air and water
• the results of the interaction between people and water, and what effect it has on the environment

• the role of water historic and contemporary processes and technology

Specific Expectations
The Festival is a multi-grade level program. Through 45 centres we cover some of the following curriculum:

• Earth and Space Systems, Grade 2 (Air and Water in the Environment)
• Energy and Control, Grade 3 (Forces and Movement)
• Heritage and Citizenship, Grade 3 (Pioneer Life)
• Earth and Space Systems, Grade 3 (Soils in the Environment)
• Life Systems, Grade 4 (Habitats and Communities)
• Earth and Space Systems, Grade 4 (Rocks, Minerals and Erosion)
• Energy and Control, Grade 5 (Conservation of Energy)

• Heritage and Citizenship, Grade 5 (Aboriginal Peoples)

Program Outline
Group planning sessions are held for teachers prior to the Festival

1. Upon arrival at Waterloo Region Museum, at approximately 9:30 a.m., please have all students wait on the bus until you are greeted by museum staff, who will give you specific instructions for your day. Have accurate statistics on the number of students and the number of adults on each bus.
2. To enhance your visit, there is a Festival Planner and site map to look over.
3. Lunch is scheduled from 11:30 to 12:15 p.m.
4. Waterloo Region Museum staff and volunteers will be located throughout the site but some historic buildings will not be staffed.