Columbia, SC—Conservation educators from the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District are available to present classroom conservation programs in the 2018-2019 school year.  A selection of the programs with recommended grade levels (based on correlations to SC Science Academic Standards) are below.  

Programs

Wonderful Worms:  Vermicomposting  in the Classroom
Correlated to SC Science Academic Standards in Grades K, 2, 4, and 6

During this hands-on program, Eisenia foetida—the red wiggler earthworm—will be used as a model organism to help students learn about:

• the needs of organisms, including air, water, food, and shelter;
• how animals use different body parts and adaptations to survive;
• animal life cycles, growth, and reproduction;
• soil food webs and the important role of decomposers in the ecosystem;
• how composting at school and at home can help the environment.

Students will help prepare one shoebox-size vermicomposting bin per participating class.  Teachers have the option of keeping the bin for students to maintain and monitor over the course of the school year. 

Supersoil:  Soil Science 101
Correlated to SC Science Academic Standards in Grades 1, 3, 5, 7, and 8

This fast-paced program includes several models, demonstrations, and activities to help students understand:

• why soil is an important natural resource;
• properties of abiotic and biotic materials that make up soil (rocks, sand, silt, clay, water, organic matter, humus, etc.);
• processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition;
• how humans can help conserve soil through conservation practices such as composting, erosion control, cover cropping, and no-till farm management.

Watershed Explorer
Correlated to SC Science Academic Standards in Grades 4, 5, and 6

This program begins with a demonstration and interactive game to introduce or review the water cycle.  Then, students explore the concept of watersheds, pollution, and conservation with an Enviroscape.  Important concepts covered include:

• how water changes as it moves between the atmosphere and Earth’s surface during each phase of the water cycle;
• what a watershed is, and how water shapes the landscape;
• why water is an important natural resource;
• how human activities affect watersheds and water quality through conservation practices (positive) and pollution (negative).

Guidelines

• Typically, programs are presented to one class at a time (max. 25 students) with up to three presentations/classes at the same school in one day.
• Most programs require 30-60 minutes to present.
• In the fall 2018 semester, educators will be available for programs on Monday and Wednesday mornings.  Programs are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the educators’ calendars are expected to fill quickly.  
• There is no fee for programs.  

For more information, or to schedule a program for your classroom or student group, contact Chanda Cooper at cooper.chanda@richlandcountysc.gov.  To provide feedback on a program facilitated for your school or group, please use this form. 

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Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government under the local direction of five-member Boards of Commissioners. In South Carolina, Conservation District boundaries conform to County boundaries. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District promotes the wise use and care of natural resources for long-term sustainability.

Contact

Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
2020 Hampton Street, Room 3063A
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone (803) 576-2080
Fax (803) 576-2088
E-mail soilandwater@rcgov.us
Facebook www.facebook.com/rswcd