Spring STEM Programming at Fanshawe Conservation Area
This year, UTRCA Community Education staff launched a new version of their flood-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs for grade three and five students. The STEM programs were adapted into a full day field trip to Fanshawe Conservation Area (FCA) and included connections to the natural environment and the newly renovated classrooms in the former Children’s Safety Village.
The grade five program included a guided tour across the top of Fanshawe Dam, highlighting forces and structural engineering which thrilled students and helped set the stage for hands-on learning about flood management and protection. The grade three “Slow the Flow” program involved students in erosion and drainage experiments and used the outdoor spaces of FCA to get to know the benefits of plants and local plant species. In total, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) supported 10 grade three and grade five classes, each with funding to attend the full-day STEM programming.
Recently, we also launched a brand-new Watershed STEM program for grade seven and eight students. This program connects learning and activities to the UTRCA’s Watershed Report Cards and highlights potential STEM careers within conservation authorities. The program kicked off with a guided tour across the top of Fanshawe Dam, highlighting the history of flood control structures, the pros and cons of dams, and their connection to water quality. To learn more about some of the issues facing the Thames River, including pollution, students were guided through a variety of experiences including taking benthic and water quality samples, identifying species at risk, surveying native plants, and coding ozobot robots. Funding for 10 classes to attend this new program at FCA was generously provided by the TVDSB and TD Friends of the Environment.
