MES teacher recipient of education award
Ginger Becker, a fourth grade instructor at Marion Elementary School, is passionate about teaching her students the importance of water — conserving and keeping it clean.
She provides her students with hands-on experiences in analyzing and contributing to clean water in their home communities.
For her efforts, Becker has been named the 2003 Conservation Teacher of the Year by Marion County Conservation District. She will receive the award Saturday at the annual meeting in Hillsboro.
Becker was teaching primary grades when she took a year off to teach teachers across the United States. She is happy to be back in the classroom.
"I wasn't happy standing in the back of the classroom and watching others teach," she said.
During her time away, she had the opportunity to write curriculum on the subject of water, so she was well prepared to teach water conservation and quality control.
She also was excited to learn about a school in the Great Lakes area that took social action to save a lake. That stimulated her to think of ways her Marion students can be involved locally to promote clean water.
The other fourth grade teachers, Linda Allison and Laura Baldwin, joined hands with Becker so all 47 fourth graders are benefiting.
Becker has access to resources and an adviser provided by Kansas StreamLink, Inc., an educational program designed to promote the interests of Kansas waterways. She is a teacher representative on the board.
Once a month, on early-release day, the students do a group activity.
They plan to do storm drain stenciling in Marion by the end of the school year.
"We'll stencil storm drains to remind people not to pour oil or liquid fertilizers down the drain because it all goes into our water supply," Becker said.
One of their first projects was a field trip to the Marion water plant. They saw where the town's water comes from, where it goes, and exactly how the system works.
Another time, Neal Whittaker, a ranger with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, gave a presentation about the difference between point and non-point pollution.
One month, students did "kick netting" in Luta Creek. Becker explained kick netting as an activity in which a net is dragged through a stream or body of water, and the results are analyzed.
Students identified macroinvertebrates or stream insects. They also looked at the vegetation, why it grows there, why it is needed, and how it is used to filter water. The PH and oxygen levels of the water also were determined.
Analyzing water from the surface and the base, Becker said they thought it would be polluted, but were pleasantly surprised to find it was not.
"We were very happy about that," she said.
The students kept a journal of what they saw and also drew illustrations.
Peggy Blackman of the Natural Resource Conservation Service presented information about the large Marion Reservoir watershed.
In another project, something representing chemicals was poured into a large jar filled with water and a small rubber fish.
"The more we poured in, the less you could see the fish until you couldn't see it at all," Becker noted.
She said the kids saw how water pollution affects the habitat of fish and the drinking supply. They also learned about what farmers do to preserve natural resources.
Children's literature books and math and science have been incorporated into the students' projects.
Presently, they are working on proper letter writing in preparation for sending letters to people about the necessity to conserve water. They have developed a brochure, "Tips for Water Conservation," that will be made available at public places.
A future project entails interviews with area businesses to determine the economic impact of last summer's algae problem at Marion Reservoir.
Gary Schuler of Natural Resource and Conservation Services has been invited to give a demonstration on soil erosion.
Becker said she's proud to be recognized for her efforts but she wants the students to be recognized, as well.
"Everyone of us needs a purpose in life," she said. "Learning how to help our land serves a great purpose."
