Students at Twin Rivers Elementary have been busy learning about water consumption through hands-on activities over the past month.
Mrs. Evdokimoff’s Grade 6 class took low flow showerheads home to install and record their water conservation over a four-week period, constituting the One Month Family Challenge.
“I love this challenge because it gives the students a real life example of how a simple choice can create positive outcomes,” Jessica Thomson, the Beyond Recycling facilitator at Twin Rivers said. “A challenge like this can change students attitudes overall, not just regarding water conservation.
“Once they see the difference in water use, they start to think about turning lights off when not in a room, turning the computer off at night, turning the thermostat down a couple of degrees, and so on.”
The students, with help from their parents, installed the showerheads at home and said it was really easy to do.
They agreed that they all saved a lot of water with the new showerheads.
“The water pressure was basically the same and you’re saving a lot more money,” one student, Ashley, said.
As well as committing to the low flow showerheads, the students pledged to make other changes, including cutting down their showers to three minutes or less, using cold water to wash clothes, growing something to eat this summer, choosing B.C.-grown food and using car pooling or human-powered transportation.
Thomson will continue working with Evdokimoff’s class to teach them lessons about waste reduction, energy consumption and sustainability.
The program, offered through Wildsight, is offered to intermediate grades throughout the Columbia Basin. The B.C. Ministry of Education recognizes the curriculum under science learning.
The showerheads were provided by Fortis BC. Other sponsors for the program include the Regional District of Central Kootenay, TD Friends of the Environment, BC Hydro and Waste Management Inc.
Next, the students are scheduled to visit the recycling plant and landfill, as well as complete special activities for Earth Day.