GRANTS PASS – With schools currently closed, more than a few Grants Pass families may be seeking some fun and educational resources to assist with managing schooling from home. The City of Grants Pass Water Department has teamed up with the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation to provide access to a variety of free, water-related educational resources for parents and their students.
The educational materials celebrate National Drinking Water Week, which will be held May 3-9, this year. According to Public Works Director Jason Canady, this year’s theme, “There When You Need It,” offers a tailor-made opportunity to celebrate the Rogue River, the community’s unique water resource.
“This year’s theme also honors the investments made by our city founders in our water infrastructure, as well as the future investments needed to secure clean water for us all for decades to come,” said Canady.
Lesson plans and worksheets cover essential study subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), as well as social studies, language arts, and even art and music for grades K-12. In addition to providing links to resources such as hands-on activities, activity sheets, and lesson plans, the city is sponsoring a Water Week Poster Contest for students K-12, offering cash prizes to the winning entries.
For more than 40 years, National Drinking Water Week has been celebrated by utilities, private companies, and government agencies across the nation. Each year, the week highlights the value of water to Americans in their everyday lives, as well as the need to protect, maintain, and invest in water resources.
“Grants Pass Water Department is happy to support STEM education and hopes that the educational materials and resources offered might encourage city youth to consider a water resources career,” said Canady, who spent nearly 20 years in the city’s Water Department.
Water Week Poster Contest details and rules are available at the city’s website: https://www.grantspassoregon.gov/354/Water. Water Education resources and downloadable pdfs are on the city website at: www.grantspassoregon.gov/1361/Educational-Resources.
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