BIRMINGHAM, AL, Aug. 20, 2010 -- The Water Works Board of the City of Birmingham (BWWB) will kick off "Learning the Wonderful Works of Water," an educational program, in nearly 125 classrooms across the service area during the 2010-2011 school year. This free program fulfills various fifth-grade science curriculum requirements and teaches children about various aspect of water including the water cycle, the water filtration process, properties of water, conservation and other critical topics.
The program piloted in 14 elementary and middle schools across the Birmingham Water Works service area during the 2009-2010 school year. The program has two main components: A curriculum guide that includes lessons, vocabulary words, quizzes, activities and science experiments; and a Web site with resources for students, teachers and parents.
"We understand how important it is to educate our children about the world around them," says Mac Underwood, BWWB general manager. "We felt it really important that every fifth grade student have the opportunity to be a part of this program."
42 schools from the following school systems are participating in the program:
• Birmingham City Schools
• Fairfield City Schools
• Hoover City Schools
• Jefferson County Schools
• Vestavia City Schools
"We really enjoyed being a part of the program last year," says Deborah Evans, a fifth-grade teacher at Robinson Elementary School in Fairfield. "It was so easy to use, the kids really enjoyed the lessons. I would give the program an 'A'."
Members of the BWWB Speakers' Bureau will be delivering program materials to teachers next week to begin using on a monthly basis, officials say. The program may also include contests, school supply giveaways and a visit from Willie Waterdrop, BWWB's mascot.
"We had a successful program last year," says Underwood. "We're looking for that same success -- now we're just able to bring it to more of our children."
Founded in 1951, the Water Works Board of the City of Birmingham serves 600,000 people in Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair and Walker counties. For more information about your Birmingham Water Works Board, please call us at (205) 244-4000 or visit our Web site at www.birminghamwaterworks.com.
###