SCHOOLYARD PROGRAMS
Take science learning outside with free stormwater and wastewater lessons right in your school’s “backyard”, in partnership with King County and Seattle Public Utilities.
Take science learning outside with free stormwater and wastewater lessons right in your school’s “backyard”, in partnership with King County and Seattle Public Utilities.
Extend your 3rd – 5th grade students’ science and engineering learning with free 90-minute lessons in your schoolyard, sponsored by King County and Seattle Public Utilities. Offered free to King and Snohomish County schools*, these in-person lessons help students connect to the world around them more deeply by exploring stormwater and wastewater science right in your school’s “backyard.”
Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, these engaging, hands-on lessons include demonstrations and modeling, outdoor observations, and extension activities designed to connect to students’ own neighborhoods and local communities.
*Some geographic exceptions apply. Please contact KayLani Siplin at kaylanis@islandwood.org for more information.
This program is open to 3rd – 5th grade classes.
While we are currently only able to offer lessons to schools in King and Snohomish Counties, we are considering expanding this program to additional geographic areas as the school year goes on. If you’d be interested in participating, sign up here to be notified if and when we are able expand.
The health and safety of you and your students, as well as our educators, is of our utmost priority. Our educators are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and will follow any additional safety protocols specific to your school or classroom.
If you are interested in our self-guided virtual programming, you can explore stormwater and wastewater lessons here.
Designed for 3rd – 5th grade students, this 90-minute lesson is led by IslandWood and King County educators outside in your schoolyard. NGSS-aligned and site-specific, the lesson builds on your students’ prior experiences and understanding of their local environment. Students will be engaged in investigating how stormwater moves through their schoolyard, identifying stormwater problems, and collaborating with their peers to design solutions. Throughout the lesson, students will be introduced to stormwater science concepts, learn about the stormwater engineering solutions that were put in place at their school, and explore the engineering design process. Best of all, they’ll learn how to use scientific practices and skills to address stormwater issues in their communities at home!
Want to learn more? Please reach out to KayLani Siplin at kaylanis@islandwood.org with any questions.
Designed for 4th – 5th grade students, King County and IslandWood educators are also offering 90-minute Clean Water Challenge lessons in your schoolyard. NGSS-aligned and focused on our exploring your local wastewater system, this lesson allows students to investigate how humans impact the water supply in our communities, explore the process of cleaning wastewater, and explore actions they can take to help keep our water clean.
Want to learn more? Please reach out to KayLani Siplin at kaylanis@islandwood.org with any questions.
IslandWood acknowledges that we live and work on the ancestral land of the Coast Salish people, who have been stewards of this region's land and waters since time immemorial, and who continue to protect these lands and waters for future generations, as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855, the Treaty of Point No Point of 1855, and the Treaty of Medicine Creek of 1854.
While the majority of our work takes place on Suquamish (suq̀ʷabš) and Duwamish (dxʷdɐwʔabʃ) land, we also conduct programs on the land of the Snohomish (sduhúbʃ), Puyallup (spuyaləpabš), Muckleshoot (buklshuhls), Skokomish (sqoqc’bes), and S’Klallam (nəxʷsƛ̕ay̕əm) peoples.
4450 Blakely Ave. NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 206.855.4300
IslandWood is a registered 501c3 charitable organization.
A Special Thanks to our corporate sponsor