Groundwater project at Chipola

Future science teachers in the Chipola College Secondary Science Education bachelor’s program recently presented a workshop at the FAST (Florida Association of Science Teachers) conference in Orlando.

The workshop, entitled: Groundwater in Science Education, was created with help from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the LIFE program (Learning in Florida’s Environment). Chipola science professor Dr. Santine Cuccio, says, “Incorporating groundwater into the K-12 Curriculum for scientific literacy is an imperative.”

Teachers in the conference audience participated in instructional delivery methods used by the LIFE program, and learned to use equipment ranging from soil augers and sieve sets to water quality monitoring equipment.

The session includes a combination of presentation, field labs, and group discussion on percolation, sand systematics, karst features, the water cycle and use of a tabletop groundwater model. Teachers also received copies of field lab sessions, a copy of the Water’s Journey Hidden Rivers of Florida DVD, and other valuable materials related to ground water in Florida.

For information about Chipola’s Groundwater Outreach program, call Dr. Cuccio at 526-2761, Ext. 3497.