Educational program teaches fourth-, fifth-graders about pollution

By Journal Times staff

Tuesday, February 22, 2005 11:43 AM CST

CALEDONIA - This spring, volunteers from River Bend's Keep Our Beaches Open group will present a water quality program to fourth- and fifth-graders in Racine. The SWIM'R program stands for Safe Water is My Responsibility.

Over the course of the one-hour program, students rotate through three activities. At one, they learn about the types of water pollution found in our lakes and rivers and where it comes from. Adding these pollutants one by one to a bucket of clear water dramatically makes the point at the water gets uglier and uglier. Special emphasis is on non-point pollution, which is the run-off into storm drains and waterways from everyday activities.

At the next station, students see how the earth has mechanisms for cleaning its water supply. Specially designed tabletop units simulate a wetland, a parking lot and a parking lot with an adjacent constructed wetland. Students see for themselves how the natural areas are able to filter out much of the pollution.

Students also get a chance to play The Bacteria Game, which is a magnetic, vertical board game on which they attempt to navigate a water drop to the lake, all along the way facing threats to its cleanliness and opportunities to get cleaned up. When enough "bacteria" reach the lake, the "Beaches Closed" sign goes up. Students leave the activity with a packet filled with ideas they can use at home to conserve water and reduce pollution.

The SWIM'R program was designed predominantly by KOBO volunteers and the activities are led by high school students recruited and trained by KOBO. This program was made possible by a grant from the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network.

The SWIM'R program is being presented this spring to more than 1,000 students at Racine Unified School District elementary schools at the cost of $1 per student. To take part in the program, call Lisa Scott Ptacek at River Bend, (262) 639-0930.

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