by Where does your water come from? How does it taste? How does it look? I am sure at one point or another you have thought of these questions and either answered them yourself or discussed them with neighbors.

But have you thought of these questions on a larger scale? For example #“what affects the quality of my water?#” or #“how much water is really available to me?#” These are some of the questions that I discussed with 10 very bright sixth- and seventh-grade students. The students, who were from all over the county, participated in a recent mini course called #“Water, Water, Everywhere,#” where we discussed water related topics including: why water is important, where it comes from and how water becomes polluted. We did activities to further demonstrate the importance of water, and I assigned homework to instill the lessons learned.

I was not sure how the children were going to react to all of the information and the homework, but I was reassured when one child piped up and said, #“This is the best class ever, can we learn about water all day?#”

Water quality and conservation is more than a topic, it is a part of our everyday life, and the students that attended were left with a newfound knowledge and understanding of how important water is.

Water education can take place on many different levels. However, I feel the most important place is in the classroom. Luckily, Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) can help teachers integrate water education into lesson plans.

Project WET is an award-winning, nonprofit water education program and publisher. The program facilitates and promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and the establishment of internationally sponsored Project WET programs. Project WET activities are not only fun but very versatile and easy to use no matter what subject area you teach, and they are created to fit NYS curriculums for grades K-12.

Project WET is delivered through trained facilitators at professional development workshops. At these workshops, participants engage in cooperative hands-on learning, experiencing the activities as they are presented by skilled facilitators and their peers. I have attended two Project WET workshops and have learned new ideas and information each time.

Upon completing the training, participants receive the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide as well as other water resource education materials and leave prepared and inspired to teach about water in their classroom or informal educational setting.

A Project WET workshop will take place from 4 to 7 p.m., March 6 and 8, at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, 248 Grant Ave., Auburn. The workshop fee is $10 and dinner is included. Teachers and youth educators are urged to participate by calling Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.

Renee Jensen is a Community Educator of Environmental Issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County