Down the Drain encourages youth to track their water use. This project was developed by the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) which is located at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Who can participate?:

The project was developed for 4th-8th grade age kids, but is honestly useful for us all. There’s no registration, and no rules about who can try this project out. It’s ongoing, free, and there’s interaction with data from kids everywhere.

How it works:

1. First there are some cool water lessons to do, these lessons are designed to help kids realize just how much water is in a gallon, thus allowing them to more accurately record water use. Kids record their personal and their household’s water use separately for one week. There are water collection data sheets available at the site for both personal and home use.
2. At the end of one week kids can compile their results and submit the data to the project website.
3. In between starting and completing this project, kids get to develop a hypothesis and make predictions. Later there are tips for kids about water shortages, saving water, and even a really neat mind boggler.

Overall, this is one of the better thought out projects I’ve seen related to kids and water use. Try Down the Drain to celebrate Earth Day, or just try it because you want to save water.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family

How it works:

1. Gather up some kiddos – the more the better. Many schools participate each year from elementary to middle schools, but homeschoolers, church groups, day care centers, 4H clubs, girl scouts, playgroups or neighborhoods could as well. Basically, if you have a pack of kids, you’re good to go.
2. Head to your local grocery store and ask the store manager for enough paper bags so that each child gets one.
3. Kids decorate the bags with Earth Day messages about reuse, wildlife, energy conservation, and more. I think a bag that says, “Please recycle/reuse me” is a good idea.
4. Return the bags to the store on or before Earth Day (April 22). Customers get a great surprise and a lesson in earth-friendly living from kids, when the store packs their groceries in these custom bags on Earth Day.
5. Log onto the project website and leave a report on the short report form, so that your bag count can be counted. If you’re a school, you’re entered to win a prize package.

What you get (besides a nice happy warm feeling):

“You can download a Certificate of Participation after registering your report. Your groups’ report and photos will be featured on the site, and your bags will be added to this year’s national tally. If you contact your local media, you may get some press coverage too. And don’t forget the reward of being part of an international effort to promote environmental awareness!”

Bags from 2007 Earth Day at Arbor Heights Elementary in Seattle, WA:

Discovery School in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

See more event photos.

This cost-free environmental awareness project started in 1994 and that first year more than 10,000 kids participated. How many kids do you think will participate this year? Will you be one of them?

Learn more at the Earth Day Groceries Project website.

Post from: Tree Hugging Family