At Home with + POOL
Estimated Time: 1 hour
Subjects: Engineering, Science, Environment, Writing, Architecture
What You Need At Home: internet access, printer, pen & paper
Click here to download and print your free materials.
PART I: Global issues in developing countries
- Ask your high schooler to read this article about water infrastructure
- Once they have finished reading, give them POOL-Activities-HSQuiz. (If you are interested in testing your kid’s reading comprehension, try administering the quiz without allowing them to reference the article; if they score poorly, have them read the article again and try the quiz again!)
- Ask your kids to create a source list of all the facts outlined in the article, using MLA citation formats.
PART II: Advocacy at home
- As the article mentions, wastewater treatment (after you flush!) represents between 3-7% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Have your high schooler learn about a pilot project at Newtown Creek to create renewable gas.
- Have your high schooler read about one of the biggest issues impacting NYC’s waterbodies from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation: Combined Sewage Overflows.
- Have your high schooler look into some pilot projects by various NYC agencies that are helping reduce the impact of CSOs, including Using toilets for rain gardens and oyster reefs;
- Have your high schooler write a letter or paper to their elected representative that argues for investments in water infrastructure and why, citing the article and other sources that have been discovered through this activity.