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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 1995
95-154
CONTACT:
Pat Garcia, Barge-Lincoln Elementary School (509) 575-3358, Home 576-3969
Annie Phillips, Ecology (360) 407-6408
Mary Getchell, Ecology (360) 407-6157
ECOLOGY AWARDS MAGIC APPLE GRANT TO YAKIMA TEACHER
OLYMPIA, WA -- This school year, a fifth grade teacher at Barge-Lincoln Elementary School in Yakima will get extra help for environmental education projects from a $750 Magic Apple grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology. Pat Garcia plans to use the money to buy water quality testing equipment and for field trips for her classes to visit ponds, rivers, an irrigation dam and the Yakima wastewater treatment plant.
Last May, Ecology presented "Magic Apple" grants to nine teachers throughout the state in recognition of outstanding water quality education projects and to support activities in the coming school year. The money is part of a larger environmental education grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"Teachers can really influence whether a student becomes a steward of our natural sources," said Linda Crerar, Ecology assistant director for the water and shorelands division. "These educators are teaching stewardship along with their traditional subjects of science, language arts and social studies."
Garcia teaches basic aquatic ecology to four classes, using simple instruments, nets and other equipment provided by area scientists. Students receive instruction on how to measure physical habitat variables, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids and dissolved oxygen. They use nets to collect fish and aquatic insects as indicators of habitat health. They learn to keep records of weather conditions, surrounding activities and signs of pollution. Visiting scientists help students assess their findings and compare the conditions between natural and disturbed sites.
"My goal is to give my students a sound understanding of the natural and human factors that affect water quality, and to help them share that information with other students and the community,” said Garcia. "This grant will let us expand our program to promote knowledge of water quality issues to other teachers in the Yakima District.”
Teachers interested in applying for a "Magic Apple" grant should contact Annie Phillips at the Department of Ecology, (360) 407-6408.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
