There are countless examples of how “necessity is the mother of invention,” a phrase that can be traced back to Plato’s Republic, has become a daily mantra for many Americans. The sudden shift to social distancing necessitated by the recent pandemic has changed the education landscape overnight. 

Water Rocks! has taken the challenge of school closures head-on by creating new at-home environmental and water quality educational content that can help make science education and natural resources outreach available anytime and anywhere.  

While Water Rocks has always boasted a library of online videos, music, teacher and parent resources, and games, but it has developed and launched several new programs. 

View at-home versions 

Three cornerstones of at-home Water Rocks programming are “Water Rocks! Unplugged,” a series of videos featuring new performances of Water Rocks music with associated lessons, “Water Rocks! Out of the Box,” a series of short video lessons adapted from the school visit curriculum, and The Monday Mix, a weekly electronic newsletter. 

Just as TV news anchors are now reporting from their living rooms, both Water Rocks’ new lessons have been recorded at the performers’ homes.  

Music to learn by 

“Water Rocks! Unplugged” features Todd Stevens, a veteran studio musician. He says working on with Water Rocks recordings was a bit different. “When we are in a room full of students, the energy and feedback are tremendous. I do miss it but working in front of the camera is something I’ve done for years, too. When recording these videos for kids from ages 1 to 99, I do need to be a little more animated than I might be with my other solo performances, just to make sure I grab and hold their attention.” 

New video segments are posted at 1 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday on the Water Rocks! YouTube and Facebook streams. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe to the Water Rocks channels so they will receive notifications when new videos are posted. The social media platforms also give viewers a chance to provide feedback, share with friends and submit requests for their favorite Water Rocks songs.  

Bringing science home 

“Water Rocks! Out of the Box” is the brainchild of Water Rocks intern and ISU senior Emma Flemming, who is majoring in environmental science and international studies. Flemming worked as a 2019 summer intern with Water Rocks and was involved in classroom visits, camps and public appearances of the Conservation Stations. 

“I have a passion for environmental education and outreach that was strengthened during my previous internship with Water Rocks,” Flemming says. “No one could imagine that this semester would go the way it has, but working on “Water Rocks! Out of the Box” has been a great opportunity to stretch my thinking and skills. I certainly hope viewers will have as much fun doing the science activities at home as I’m having making the videos.” 

Recorded primarily in Flemming’s living room, the series adapts concepts and hands-on activities normally done in the classroom to enable students to participate in the learning from home. Each segment includes science-based learning objectives, vocabulary and reinforcing activities.

“New Water Rocks! Out of the Box” segments are posted at 1 p.m. each Wednesday and Friday at Water Rocks’ YouTube and Facebook  pages. Each segment contains a stand-alone lesson, complete with fun activities, educational components and games. The first segments posted cover the topics of watersheds and natural resources. 

Getting news out 

What holds the Water Rocks online outreach programs together is the weekly electronic newsletter, The Monday Mix. Designed to help teachers and parents with weekly science-based information, The Monday Mix includes at-home activities and worksheets; links to Water Rocks music, videos and online content; fun facts; and links to the latest Water Rocks series.  

The Monday Mix goes out to teachers and households every Monday morning. With links to the Water Rocks website, YouTube and Facebook pages, the newsletter makes it easy for subscribers to reach all of the online content and resources available.

Staudt is director of the Water Rocks program for Iowa Learning Farms, a conservation education effort of Iowa State University Extension.