Trinity Middle School, TX Contact: Susan C. Garrett, Teacher Trinity Middle School P.O. Box 752, Trinity, TX 75862 Activity Summary: Trinity Middle School eighth grade students studied the rules and regulations regarding development along river front property. They created their own "Water Bill of Rights" and shared them with the Texas Senate Committee on Natural Resources. Our senator invited us to listen to the Senate debate the Water Bill. The trip to Austin culminated this year's activities. Activity Narrative: (March 3, 1997 through April 3, 1997) Activity 1; Prioritize: Project WET Curriculum Guide; Choices and Preferences. Each student assigned a number from 1-10 representing the order of importance to a list of water uses (with "10" being the most important.) The process continued forming small groups and then class consensus. Celebrate Your Freedom: This activity strongly teaches the value of voicing your opinion and the art of compromise. It also illustrates how a vote is melded into the majority opinion. Activity 2; Land Development: Project WET Curriculum Guide; Sum of the Parts. The next activity undertaken by the class called for each student to develop his or her own parcel of waterfront property. Money was no object! When completed, students constructed a puzzle by connecting their drawings according to the number found in the upper left hand corner. Gradually a "River Community" took shape. Celebrate Your Freedom: Water pollutants are pointed out. Possible law suits are discussed by downstream landowners regarding upstream landowners' lack of responsibility. This activity shows the students that responsibility is the key to equality. Activity 3; River Authority Commission: The students are divided into groups of six and told they are members of the River Authority, creating a riverfront development and showing responsibility for sewage, water treatment plants, and pollution control. This activity required research. Upon the completion of each project, Mark Waters, specialist with the Trinity River Authority, critiqued each groups' development project. Mr. Waters also explained the scope of the Trinity River Authority (TRA) and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (TNRCC.) We will begin "Texas Watch," a river monitoring program of the TNRCC, next year. The TRA will help us test tap-water for lead and other contaminates in the community. Celebrate Your Freedom: This activity allowed individuals the opportunity to build their dream under the auspices of River Authority Commissioners. Placement of water treatment plants, sewage and septic construction, and pollution prevention safeguards required forethought, emphasizing one's responsibility to the general public to do all possible to protect the water quality of the river. Mr. Water's visit made our class experiences more authentic. He also answered those questions I could not. Activity 4; Mock Trial: The class deliberated the issues presented in a civil suit where the plaintiff accuses the defendant of negligence in blowing up a man-made dike along the Trinity River. Celebrate Your Freedom: This activity allowed the students to apply the laws regarding River Authority jurisdiction to the situation given. Activity 5; Water Bill of Rights: Project Wet Curriculum Guide; Water Bill of Rights. Students composed the "Water Bill of Rights." Celebrate Your Freedom: Using problem-solving techniques, this activity allowed the students to recall their experiences during the prioritizing of water needs, the development of river-front property, acting as river authority commissioners, and as mock trial lawyers, while composing "Rights" and suggested resolutions to the problems. The form of writing resolutions was introduced and applied. Activity 6; Texas State Senate Visit: Senator Stephen E. Ogden invited us to watch as the Senate debated Senate Bill One: the Water Bill. After introducing us to the Senate, he made reference to the fact that many of the students' ideas were found in the Senate's Senate Bill One. The Bill goes into effect September 1, 1997. Next year, when the State will require Water Drought Relief Plans to be filed, I would like to take students to hear seminars on "Planning Community Drought Relief Plans." Celebrate Your Freedom: This experience may never be equaled again. Visiting the actual Chambers, speaking and posing with the Senator, and watching the House and Senate in action forms impressions long remembered after the textbook was closed. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization