The Spring 2018 California Project WET Gazette is ‘live’ on the Water Education Foundation website. As we are all aware in California, our current wet weather won’t last and more of us will be firing up the landscape irrigation systems as the green of spring yields to the hot, dry summer – so I thought it might be a good time to revisit the guide 1.0 activity “Thirsty Plants,” which engages students in the study of plant transpiration and how this might be applied to our yard and garden landscapes.

We also have a host of unique workshop opportunities this Spring into Summer focusing on understanding climate change in California (Kings County), watershed processes and aquatic ecosystems (Butte County) water education and the Next Generation Science Standards (Merced) and a water focused environmental literacy workshop for Secondary educators (Santa Monica Mountains), our summer Floodplain Ecology Institutes – and a new Coastal Science & Stewardship training for teachers in the Santa Monica Bay region!

Thanks to input from California teachers, other Project WET Coordinators and the Fall California Gazette article on realigning the ‘Invaders’ activity for NGSS, the Project WET Foundation has done so!  Fans of the activity should keep an eye on the Portal and for an announcement from Project WET – the realigned activity identifies the NGSS and Common Core standards in the activity!

Finally, Project WET Foundation board member, teacher and astronaut Ricky Arnold will be returning to the International Space Station on March 21^st. Ricky has been answering questions leading up to his launch as part of  #AstroFriday: A Teacher in Space. Coinciding with Ricky’s launch, Project WET will be releasing a grade band breakdown of Project WET activities and how they can be tied to studying space – and standards.

Hope you enjoy a wonderful Spring!  - Brian