Water Blogged

Sauganash Elementary School, a short trip east of Chicago, Illinois, has the wonderful experience of hosting an H2O for Life after school club. Mrs. Askuvich, a middle school science teacher, is the mastermind behind the program. Her belief in a student-centered approach to STEM learning helps create a more collaborative classroom. Sharing leadership, students are able to address STEM concepts in a creative and fun manor.

In order to excite the students about the powerful effects and importance of clean water, H2O for Life sent the Sauganash Elementary H2O for Life after school club P & G Demonstration Packs, which will treat 2.5 gallons of dirty water into clean and safe drinking water. These demonstration packs are sent at no cost to the school or program that requests them through H2O for Life.

Mrs. Askuvich wanted each student in the after school program to have a voice when picking an H2O for Life school project. By developing a Google Doc that involved information on different H2O for Life projects, students had access to reliable information to make an educated decision. Mrs. Askuvich created a full-circle learning opportunity by showing the students what possible outcomes of a funded project for a school would look like. Depending on the needs of the school, different projects are funded to fit the needs of the students. VIP Latrines, rain catch tanks, handwashing stations, or a borehole well were some of the options highlighted by Mrs. Askuvich.

The Sauganash H2O for Life after school program has pledged to raise $1,000 for Shallobelle Primary School in the very rural villages of Kokosa, Bensa, Ethiopia. This project hopes to complete a block of 5 latrines, as well as, a hand dug well to provide safe drinking water. Shallobelle Primary School will also implement the creation of a W.A.S.H. Club ( Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene) to educate other students and maintain the facilities on-site. This project is also being shared with SAGE Academy in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Many projects are shared between schools to allow for more achievable pledges and donations.  

The H2O for Life website has a plethora of lesson plans, experiments, and activities to help teachers and program leaders implement understandable and exciting education platforms for their students. Our STEAM lesson plans reach a diverse learning range for students as young as kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. H2O for Life also has fundraising opportunities listed as well.

If you and your students would like to explore an H2O for Life school water project, please contact Danielle Kruger.