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Workshop Detail: Tuesday, July 21, 2009
(4-5): Major Rivers
presented by
Joanie Steinhaus, BS (McKinney Roughs Nature Park), Fay Jones (McKinney Roughs Nature Park)
Curriculum Developed by Lower Colorado River Authority
Major
Rivers
A Texas water education program for elementary students 
The Major Rivers curriculum is designed to help fourth-grade students learn about Texas’ major water resources, how water is treated and delivered to their homes and schools, and how to care for their water resources and use them wisely. The program’s host, Major Rivers (named for the major rivers of Texas), and his horse Aquifer cover these topics in eight lessons that include a variety of activities in science, math, language arts, social studies and other subjects. The teaching package includes student workbooks, pretest and post-test sheets, home information leaflets, overhead transparencies and an introductory video. The teacher’s guide shows how to use these materials and contains additional learning activities.
The teacher package includes student workbooks, pretest and posttest sheets, home information leaflets, overhead transparencies and an introductory video. The new edition has the look and feel of the old program, while containing these additions and improvements:
- Correlation with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
- More “hands-on” learning opportunities for students, in keeping with TEKS.
- Additional interdisciplinary activities that expand such topics as water quality
- Internet resources to enhance your students’ learning experiences. Participants will receive:
- Full Classroom set of instructional materials (30 students)
A Major Rivers workshop offers 6 hours of credit for the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented Awareness Certification. Please consult the Department of Advanced Academic Services for district approval.
Trainer:
Joanie Steinhaus & Fay Jones
Joanie is a certified teacher in the state of Texas and recieved her Bachelor's
degree in Education from the University of Houston.
She worked for the Houston Zoo for 12 years as a mammal keeper & teacher
with the education department and has taught in Texas public schools
to 5th, 7th and 8th grade students.
Currently, she is the Environmental Education Coordinator for school programs
at LCRA's McKinney Roughs Natural Science Center.
After retiring in 2000, Fay and her husband Pete began traveling in a 34 foot 5th Wheel RV. Finding that they needed something more to occupy their time, Fay and Pete soon began serving as park hosts. In early 2003, they became the “charter hosts” for McKinney Roughs Nature Park near Bastrop. Fay became very interested in the programs which are presented to the school groups who visit the park, with special concentration on the water programs. In addition to the biological and chemical aspects of water quality, Fay has become one of the primary presenters of the “Water Coursing Through History” program, which is a part of the Major Rivers curriculum. Fay has assisted in presenting Major Rivers to several groups, both at McKinney Roughs and at other sites. Fay also demonstrates her interest in clean water by serving as a river monitor for the Colorado River Watch Network (CRWN).
Please visit the Major
Rivers website for more information.
Summer Institute, a component of the MIDAS Project, is supported by a