AMES, Iowa — The Monday Mix provides conservation and water quality education materials and activities for school-age children who are suddenly learning from home. It’s a new multimedia newsletter from Water Rocks!
The inaugural edition of The Monday Mix is called “Keeping Science Fun in the Time of Social Distancing.”
“In these uncertain times when schools are closed and we’re all social distancing from one other, we here at Water Rocks! want to continue to make science education fun, interactive and accessible for Iowa’s students,” said Ann Staudt, Water Rocks! director. “Water Rocks! has a wealth of fun STEM and science-based educational videos, songs, games and classroom materials that are ready for use by students, teachers and parents. We encourage everyone to explore the site, sign up for The Monday Mix and have some fun learning about our state’s environment and diverse ecosystems.”
The Monday Mix will be distributed via email to all subscribers each Monday. Current subscribers to the Water Rocks! newsletter will automatically receive The Monday Mix. To sign up to receive The Monday Mix, visit www.waterrocks.org.
Content each week will highlight Water Rocks! music videos and natural resources-related activities that can easily be done at home by students in grades K-8.
Water Rocks!, a uniquely Iowan, award-winning, statewide water education program based at Iowa State University, is widely known for its innovative conservation education programming delivered to elementary and middle schools across Iowa through a mixture of classroom visits, school assemblies and outdoor classrooms. With the uncertainty of school closings happening throughout Iowa, the Water Rocks! team is extending much of its library of content for individual use in homes.
“We understand the strain the sudden closure of schools is having on parents and teachers, and we are delighted to share our materials in ways that will facilitate fun learning for the whole family,” said Staudt.
To learn more about Water Rocks!, visit www.waterrocks.org.
— Hilary Pierce, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
For more news from Iowa, click here.