PBL Curriculum Design Lab - SNOWPACK SERIES - Water Demand Forecasting and Climate Change

Water we thinking? Local climatologists monitor daily, weekly, and seasonal fluctuations in precipitation and the depth and structure of our snowpack. They need to provide precise forecasting data to decision makers so that multiple downstream stakeholders can collaborate on managing for a future of less snow, more intense rainstorms, and extended droughts and heat waves. The snowpack situation is worse in the Colorado River Basin which serves multiple states. Will climate refugees from Arizona and California cause overpopulation in our state based on the assumption that we have plentiful water even as our own Cascade snowpack reserves shrink? As students become aware of these systemic complexities, how do we think about scales of adaptation? What is our personal response… ability? Lab participants will explore a range of excellent lesson frameworks, phenomena, and local “living textbook” resources, the same policies, plans, and performance measures that water resource managers use every day to guide their work. Together, we will practice the Impact Project Design process which empowers students to think like a project manager and develop solutions that are directly aligned with local water resource management goals. We keep it real, local, and relevant, supporting student agency and ownership at the household, school, or neighborhood scale. There are numerous entry points for science, engineering, math, social studies and common core. Bring a team! This Lab is an ongoing practicum that convenes teachers, student leaders, and subject matter experts from industry, government, and nonprofit sectors to ensure a rich learning exchange.