June 4, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Conservation Tech for Kids

By Staff Writer

 

The Bay Foundation (TBF) has launched a website open to all educators who work with 6th, 7th and 8th graders, providing a complete activity packet of tools to help students first identify their water and energy use, and then educate them to effect a conservation-focused change in their habits.

The behavior-impacting program with its accompanying materials is funded by a grant from LADWP’s Community Partnership Program, and is the second such partnership grant through which TBF has created conservation-education tools free to the public.

The new website is the final phase of the grant’s objective to promote energy, water, and natural gas conservation throughout L.A. Unified School District (LAUSD) by implementing innovative educational opportunities and outreach strategies that can change habits at a community level. Teachers can use the online Activity Packet — as it fits into their class plan — to track progress or offer incentives for changing habits, or students can complete them without supervision and in conjunction with LAUSD curriculum (as a supplemental activity).

“I’m very pleased with the structure and execution of this project. The curriculum and supporting materials clearly convey where our water and electricity come from, along with infrastructure environmental impacts, while empowering the students to evaluate and determine how they can conserve both at home and in their daily activities,” states TBF Executive Director Tom Ford. “This project creatively delivers the application and knowledge that we should conserve, that we can conserve, and that we each make a difference when we take steps to do so.”

Prior to the website launch, TBF’s Watershed Program staff Melodie Grubbs and Rod Abbott worked with classes in person. They visited select middle schools, and talked about conservation needs and solutions using tools now on the website: engaging infographics about water, energy, native CA plants, and climate change interactive story maps, including about L.A.’s water history videos, including “Water and Energy Conservation for LA Kids”; funny, educational videos created during TBF’s aforementioned LADWP grant (i.e. “Power Spinning”); and a Rain Garden How-To links to LADWP’s conservation pages, LAUSD eco-friendly sites, NASA links, etc.

“The classroom lessons exceeded my expectations. The quality materials provided, the hands-on projects, and the enthusiasm of the instructors created a very engaging learning environment for the students,” stated Vanessa Garza, Principal, Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS LA) in Van Nuys. “In this era of [LAUSD] transitioning to Next Generation Science Standards (NGGS), it’s critical to share real-life connections and provide students with the application of science beyond the classroom. Collaborating with the Bay Foundation enhanced my students’ learning experiences.”

Prior to the first of two visits to each class, students took a short online survey about their attitudes and behavior concerning water and energy conservation, and they were provided with conservation devices from LADWP such as bath & kitchen aerators and low-flow shower heads if needed.

Teachers then integrated the packet’s activities into their curriculum over about 4 weeks, offering students the opportunity to earn up to 10 badges (i.e. Water Footprint Badge). When Grubbs and Abbott returned, they followed up on water and energy conservation efforts, reviewed why it’s important to conserve water and energy in Los Angeles, and had the students re-take the survey to measure any change in attitude and behavior. They collected the students’ activity packets and those who completed activities and earned badges were entered in a prize drawing. Prizes included solar rover and salt-water powered robot kits.

The resulting website offers educators all the tools, to use anytime throughout the year.

“The Bay Foundation provided a very engaging and educational classroom experience for our middle school students, as well as amazing curriculum to support student learning after their visit. I highly recommend these materials, which are now online, for free to download, for any of my colleagues and students,” stated David DeFrenza, Athletic Director / Science Teacher at Los Angeles Academy of Arts & Enterprise.

To visit the website: santamonicabay.org/energy-and-water-conservation

Related Posts

(Video) Some of the Damage Caused By Vandals at Malibu High School Overnight

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

40 to 50 people, who are suspected to be students or recent alumni, used eggs, flour, and markers to deface...

Biggest Night of the Year: Don’t Miss GMCLA’s ‘Dancing Queens’

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Culminating its 46th season, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will grace the crowd with Dancing Queens, celebrating iconic...

Pluto TV and Oscar-Winning Director Sean Baker Team Up to Host Free Weekend Screenings

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Popcorn Challenge Interactive Event Set for Westfield Century City Mall  The historic Gardena Cinema, one of the last single-screen, family-operated...

Former ‘Real Housewives’ Husband Sentenced to Over 7 Years for $15 Million Client Fraud 

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Federal Judge Rejects Plea for Medical Placement, Orders Restitution and Prison Time Disgraced former attorney Tom Girardi was sentenced Tuesday...

Carjacking Suspect Arrested After Police Chase Ends in Crash in Inglewood

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Suspect Was Wanted for an Armed 2023 Carjacking in Culver City Wanted on multiple felony charges stemming from a 2023...

Malibu High Targeted in Overnight Vandalism Spree; Investigation Underway

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Destruction on Campus Prompts Sheriff’s Probe; Students May Face Charges Vandals caused extensive damage to the school property of Malibu...

A Season of Gratitude: After One Year in Business, Urban Jungle Continues Making its Mark

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Over the last year, Urban Jungle, an indoor and tropical plants nursery, has continued its mission to cultivate a place...

The soul’s greatest hits

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

From ‘Ave Maria’ to ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and ‘Ode to Joy,” a Santa Monica concert raising funds to help fire victims...

LAPD Increases Security at Jewish Sites Following Colorado Flamethrower Attack

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Officials Ramp Up Patrols and Plan Emergency Response as Shavuot Concludes. Security outside Jewish institutions in Los Angeles has been...

The Peabody Awards Celebrate Bold Storytelling and Social Impact at Beverly Hills Gala

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Honorees Including Baby Reindeer, Shōgun, and The Only Doctor at In-Person Ceremony The Peabody Awards held their awards ceremony Sunday...

Chamber Music Palisades Presents an Afternoon of Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, and More

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Brentwood Hosts Free Classical Concert with LA Philharmonic Greats Chamber Music Palisades will present a free community concert on Saturday,...

Massive Fire Engulfs Auto Shop, Shuts Down 10 Freeway Eastbound Lanes

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Explosions, Thick Smoke, and Downed Power Lines Disrupt Traffic in Palms A fast-moving fire broke out Sunday behind a commercial...

Alpine Floor & Home: A Legacy of Quality Since 1968

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Founded in 1968 with a single location, Alpine Floor & Home began as a humble family business with a clear...

Chin Chin to Close West Hollywood Location After 45 Years of Service

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Iconic Sunset Plaza Restaurant Announces Final Day of Operations Chin Chin, the iconic Chinese eatery that has been a fixture...

LACMA’s $700M David Geffen Galleries to Open in 2026

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

New Structure Will Replace Original Midcentury Buildings Construction crews are entering the final stretch on the David Geffen Galleries, a...