INTERACTIVE
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Lesson 1
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Run Time: 6 Minutes
Water Cycle Activity
Term
Pic
The water cycle is so incredible! The sun is the engine that drives this entire process. The heat of the sun causes water on Earth to turn into water vapor and rise up in the atmosphere called, evaporation. Next, high up in the sky tiny droplets of water stick together to form clouds called, condensation. When these clouds get too heavy with water, they release as precipitation. Precipitation accumulates in bodies of water like oceans, rivers,and even in aquifers like in San Antonio.
Description
Term
Lesson 1
Pic
Term
Description
Pic
Place each term, picture, and definition on the correct area of the water cycle diagram.
Descriptions
pictures
Description
TERMS
Term
Pic
Description
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Lesson 2
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Run Time: 4:41 Minutes
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A roof downspout is a gutter that takes the water that comes off a roof and directs the water away from the building or house.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
A roof downspout is a gutter that takes the water that comes off a roof and directs the water away from the building or house.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
Roof Downspout
Title
Title
During rainy weather, roof downspouts may send water directly into the street.
Roof downspouts can be directed into the ground or onto a paved surface, such as a driveway.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A storm drain consists of a system of tunnels throughout the city that captures storm water runoff to prevent flooding.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
A storm drain consists of a system of tunnels throughout the city that captures storm water runoff to prevent flooding.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
Storm Drain
Title
Title
Storm drains prevent neighborhoods from flooding by carrying rainwater off streets and into nearby creeks or rivers.
A storm drain is an opening found throughout the city that collects stormwater runoff.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A culvert is like a tunnel or big pipe that helps water flow under a road, a path, or a railway. It's a way to keep water from flooding the road and to protect it from erosion.
A culvert is like a tunnel or big pipe that helps water flow under a road, a path, or a railway. It's a way to keep water from flooding the road and to protect it from erosion.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
Culvert
Title
Title
Culverts guide water where it needs to go and help prevent flooding.
Culverts help water flow safely under roads, sidewalks, or driveways.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A creek is a small, flowing body of water that moves through the land, like a tiny river.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Creeks and Rivers
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
A river is a big stream of moving water that travels across the land.
River
Creek
Title
Title
Stormwater runoff from a storm drain doesn't get cleaned. It can flow straight to local rivers.
Stormwater runoff goes directly to creeks without being treated at a waste water treatment facility.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
Rain Gauge
A rain gauge is a tool that measures how much rain falls in a specific area over a period of time.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
A rain gauge is a tool that measures how much rain falls in a specific area over a period of time.
Lesson 2
Title
Measurements from a rain gauge help warn people about possible floods so the water can be controlled before it causes damage.
Title
A rain gauge measures rainfall. A rapid increase indicates potential stormwater runoff to rivers and lakes.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Stormwater features help control stormwater runoff and excess rain.
Stormwater Sleuth
Lesson 2
Guess the Stormwater Feature
5 questions · 20 seconds each
Start
Back
00:20
Move the circle to discover what's hidden.
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
Lesson 2
Game Over!
Thanks for playing and learning about stormwater features
Next
Lesson 2
Back
Next
We have learned about the water cycle and how water moves continuously on Earth. When water falls on earth it is called rain.
Natural areas with soil and plants allow rain to soak into the ground and filter naturally. Hard surfaces that cannot absorb rain like rooftops, roads, parking lots, and driveways are called impervious surfaces.
Lesson 2
Examples of impervious surfaces
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Stormwater runoff occurs when rain moves over and off these hard, or impervious surfaces and picks up and carries away pollutants along its path, such as trash or pet waste.
Lesson 2
Stormwater runoff goes into our storm drains and directly into our creeks and rivers. This can make our local waterways unsafe for us to go swimming and harmful for local animals and fish that live in these areas.
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Next
Keeping storm drains free from pollutants helps keep nearby rivers, streams, and creeks clean.
Lesson 2
Next
Back
Lesson 2
Next
Next
Back
Stormwater Stroll
School Guide
Lesson 2
Stormwater Stroll Guide at School
Before you head out follow this guide to help you.
Outdoor Learning Experience
Blueprint
Check with a person in charge of your school for a campus blueprint. It can be helpful during the stormwater stroll and can be used as a reference when creating the stormwater stroll drawing. Ready for the next step?
Lesson 2
Blueprint
A campus blueprint can be very helpful.
Observe
Locate the highest point on your campus and look over the land paying attention to the way the ground slopes down.
Lesson 2
Observe
After observing the area, ask yourself, If it rained where would water flow ?
Lesson 2
Storm Drain
Search
Look for storm drains on campus during the exploration. How many storm drains did you find?
Lesson 2
Search
Search for gardens, trees, or other green areas. Do you know what happens when rain falls here?
Lesson 2
Search
Look for any trash on the ground, like candy wrappers, plastic drink bottles, or crumpled paper.
Lesson 2
Search
Remember to search for impervious surfaces, such as driveways and parking lots, that don't allow water to seep into the ground.
Lesson 2
Ask your teacher to take a photo or ask for permission to take photos of areas of interest to help make a more detailed observational drawing later.
Record
Lesson 2
Make a list in a journal of what you see during the stormwater stroll.
Record
Lesson 2
How do storm drains work?
Watch the video and answer the following questions.
Lesson 2
Review
Run Time: 44 sec.
Stormwater gets cleaned at a water treatment facility before going into a local creek or river.
Lesson 2
Review
True
False
How can you help your neighborhood storm drains?
Lesson 2
Review
Sweep leaves into the storm drain.
Keep storm drains clean and clear of debris.
It's YOUR Turn
Complete an outdoor exploration at school or home, then, you can begin drawing your Stormwater Stroll picture!
Lesson 2
Review
Have fun making your drawing!
Back
Next
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
START
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Welcome to Fiesta Lane, a hilly street with happy little people. Fiesta Lane was the kind of place where people loved to get together regularly for parties and neighborhood cookouts. Families spent quality time together, and neighbor helped neighbor.
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Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
What-you might be wondering-was the best part about Fiesta Lane?
At the bottom of the hill flowed a pretty little stream known as Fiesta Creek. All the kids on Fiesta Lane would go down to the creek to play, watch turtles, and skip rocks across the crystal, clear water.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
But Fiesta Lane was about to have a dirty little secret and boy do I mean dirty!
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
It was a perfectly sunny Spring Saturday at Fiesta Lane and all the neighbors went outside to, well, do what neighbors do outside! Let's find out what happened.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 306 Fiesta Lane Mrs. Sanchez and her daughter Maya were painting their house yellow. They had been planning to paint their home for months.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
They were so excited to finally get the project completed. But when they finished, they had left over paint and weren't quite sure what to do with it.
Maya looked around outside and saw a storm drain opening in the street. "Hmm," she thought to herself. "Maybe that would be a great place to dump the leftover paint-it will just get washed away with the rain!"
So that is what she did.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 307 Fiesta Lane lived the Aguilar family. Mr. Aguilar decided to change the car's oil on his new sports car. But Mr. Aguilar wasn't quite sure what to do with the dirty, used oil.
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Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
He had read in the newspaper that he could take it to a city recycling center, but it was over ten miles away.
So, Mr. Aguilar decided to pour the motor oil on some weeds in his front yard to kill them.
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Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 309 Fiesta Lane lived the Scotts. Mr. and Mrs. Scott were both pillars of the community and loved helping out their neighbor Ms. Turner.
Next
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Ms. Turner, who lived at 310 Fiesta Lane hadn't been able to mow her grass since her surgery two years ago.
So today Mr. Scott mowed Ms. Turner's lawn. But when it came to pick up all the grass clippings and leaves, Mr. Scott wasn't sure where to sweep them.
He decided to sweep them directly into a storm drain.
Next
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
After Mr. Scott finished mowing, Ms. Turner went outside to put some "Ant-Be-Gone" fire ant killer on a huge ant mound.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Now the directions on "Ant-Be-Gone" said to use just a teaspoon full on each mound.
But Ms. Turner forgot to bring out a teaspoon.
She figured the more she put the more ants that would die.
Next
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 311 Fiesta Lane lived Rebecca McKenzie and her dog Buckets.
Rebecca walked him everyday so the kids on the street could play with him.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
But as Buckets was walking, he answered the "call of nature" right in the Aguilar's front yard. Rebecca thought it was good fertilizer for the yard.
So she left his "call of nature" on the lawn.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The spring Saturday seemed wonderful on good little Fiesta Street until it began to rain.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
And it wasn't just any little rain. It was a storm that all the neighbors watched inside from the comfort of their houses.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The next day was beautiful.
A few of the kids on Fiesta Lane went down to Fiesta Creek to look for some frogs and skip some rocks.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
That was when Fiesta Lane's dirty little secret was revealed.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Fiesta Creek was no longer a pretty little stream.It was now a very polluted creek. In fact, some dead fish even floated on top of the water through the pollution! Yuck!
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
"But how?" the children asked themselves as they stared at the polluted waterway.
"How could this have happened?"
Next
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The residents of Fiesta Lane now realized the choices they had made affected their local creek.
The paint Maya dumped in the storm drain went directly into Fiesta Creek. After seeing what happened, she decided to take any leftover paint to a recycling center next time.
The motor oil Mr. Aguilar dumped in the weeds did not stay there. Instead, it went directly into the storm drain with the stormwater runoff.
He knew next time he would take the used motor oil to a recycling center.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Mr. Scott should not have swept the leaves into the storm drain, but instead used them as mulch for his backyard.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Ms. Turner should have used the proper amount of "Ant-Be-Gone" and checked the forecast for rain.
If it rains, all the "Ant-Be-Gone" fire ant killer can wash away with the stormwater runoff and go directly into the storm drain that leads to Fiesta Creek.
What a waste!
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Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Rebecca might have believed Buckets' "call of nature" was good fertilizer for the yard, but the best thing to do is to pick it up and put it in a plastic bag to throw out with the garbage.
This prevents dog poop from washing into the storm drain and going directly into Fiesta Creek.
Back
Next
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The neighborhood of Fiesta Lane understood now what they could do to keep their local waterway free from pollution.
They remembered to make sure that only rain goes down the storm drain!
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The TAle of Fiesta Lane
Lesson 3
Challenge
Select the correct answer for each question before time runs out. You only have 10 seconds!
Let's go!
Back
00:03
Lesson 3
Good luck!
00:10
What was the name of the stream that flowed at the bottom of the hill?
Lesson 3
00:10
What did Mr. Aguilar do with the used motor oil?
Lesson 3
00:10
After mowing the lawn for Ms. Turner, what did Mr. Scott sweep into the storm drain?
Lesson 3
00:10
How did Fiesta Creek get so polluted?
Lesson 3
00:10
What is the only thing that should go down a storm drain?
Lesson 3
Lesson 3
Challenge Over
Thanks for taking the Fiesta Lane Challenge!
Next
INTERACTIVE GLOSSARY
Drag the focus to the letter you are going to expose.
World Water Day
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impervious surface
A hard surface area that prevents or reduces the infiltration of water into the ground.
Blueprint
/ˈblo͞oˌprint/
noun
A design plan or other technical drawing.
Simple Actions to Help
We can all help keep our waterways clean by picking up trash, even if it's not yours, and throwing it in the proper place.
Incorrect
The Academy of Water Influencers
A virtual institution of action designed to empower high school students to become water leaders and influencers based here in San Antonio.
evaporation
Water on Earth heated by the sun that rises into the air as water vapor.
accumulation
The gathering of water on land or underground.
atmosphere
The air around us.
storm drain
A system of tunnels throughout the city that captures stormwater runoff to prevent flooding.
stormwater runoff
Rainwater that picks up pollutants as it runs off of surfaces such as pavements, rooftops and lawns that directly flows into nearby rivers, creeks and lakes.
Correct Only rain should go down the storm drain.
Where does the water go when it hits the ground? Look for puddles, sloped surfaces and drains to find out.
downspout
A small pipe, or gutter on the side of a house that helps rainwater get from the roof to the ground.
water cycle
The continuous movement of water from the Earth to the atmosphere.
World Water Day
A day dedicated to educating people all over the world about the value of water and why it is important to keep it clean from pollution.
Correct Stormwater does NOT get treated before going into local creeks.
Send your pictures and messages to: gabriela.diaz@saws.org
rain gauge
A tool that measures how much rain falls in a specific area over a period of time.
roof downspout
A small pipe, or gutter on the side of a house that helps rainwater get from the roof to the ground.
pollution
When the environment is contaminated, or dirtied, by waste, chemicals and other harmful substances.
precipitation
Water released from clouds when they get too heavy.
impervious surface
Ground which is covered by sidewalks, streets, rooftops, parking lots, or anything that can't absorb water.
Let's Reflect
- What surprised you the most on the stormwater stroll?
- What are some things that you saw that could cause stormwater pollution?
- What can you do at your school to keep local waterways clean?
Incorrect
condensation
Tiny drops of water that stick together to form clouds in the cool sky.
Creek
A small river.
Culvert
A culvert is like a tunnel or big pipe that helps water flow under a road, a path, or a railway. It's a way to keep water from flooding the road and to protect it from erosion.
Consider these stops during your stroll!
- The Playground or Sidewalk
- Grassy or Garden area
- Parking lot or Bus area
blueprint
A design plan or other technical drawing.
What happens to rain when it falls on a grassy or green area?
Plants help water soak into the ground and keep it clean.
WWD-English-25-26
Gabriela Diaz
Created on July 15, 2025
Celebrate Water: World Water Day
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Transcript
INTERACTIVE
Start
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Next
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Lesson 1
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Run Time: 6 Minutes
Water Cycle Activity
Term
Pic
The water cycle is so incredible! The sun is the engine that drives this entire process. The heat of the sun causes water on Earth to turn into water vapor and rise up in the atmosphere called, evaporation. Next, high up in the sky tiny droplets of water stick together to form clouds called, condensation. When these clouds get too heavy with water, they release as precipitation. Precipitation accumulates in bodies of water like oceans, rivers,and even in aquifers like in San Antonio.
Description
Term
Lesson 1
Pic
Term
Description
Pic
Place each term, picture, and definition on the correct area of the water cycle diagram.
Descriptions
pictures
Description
TERMS
Term
Pic
Description
Next
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Next
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Lesson 2
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Run Time: 4:41 Minutes
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A roof downspout is a gutter that takes the water that comes off a roof and directs the water away from the building or house.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
A roof downspout is a gutter that takes the water that comes off a roof and directs the water away from the building or house.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
Roof Downspout
Title
Title
During rainy weather, roof downspouts may send water directly into the street.
Roof downspouts can be directed into the ground or onto a paved surface, such as a driveway.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A storm drain consists of a system of tunnels throughout the city that captures storm water runoff to prevent flooding.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
A storm drain consists of a system of tunnels throughout the city that captures storm water runoff to prevent flooding.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
Storm Drain
Title
Title
Storm drains prevent neighborhoods from flooding by carrying rainwater off streets and into nearby creeks or rivers.
A storm drain is an opening found throughout the city that collects stormwater runoff.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A culvert is like a tunnel or big pipe that helps water flow under a road, a path, or a railway. It's a way to keep water from flooding the road and to protect it from erosion.
A culvert is like a tunnel or big pipe that helps water flow under a road, a path, or a railway. It's a way to keep water from flooding the road and to protect it from erosion.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
Culvert
Title
Title
Culverts guide water where it needs to go and help prevent flooding.
Culverts help water flow safely under roads, sidewalks, or driveways.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
A creek is a small, flowing body of water that moves through the land, like a tiny river.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Creeks and Rivers
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Lesson 2
A river is a big stream of moving water that travels across the land.
River
Creek
Title
Title
Stormwater runoff from a storm drain doesn't get cleaned. It can flow straight to local rivers.
Stormwater runoff goes directly to creeks without being treated at a waste water treatment facility.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Rainwater Drainage
Reference Guide
Rain Gauge
A rain gauge is a tool that measures how much rain falls in a specific area over a period of time.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
A rain gauge is a tool that measures how much rain falls in a specific area over a period of time.
Lesson 2
Title
Measurements from a rain gauge help warn people about possible floods so the water can be controlled before it causes damage.
Title
A rain gauge measures rainfall. A rapid increase indicates potential stormwater runoff to rivers and lakes.
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Stormwater features help control stormwater runoff and excess rain.
Stormwater Sleuth
Lesson 2
Guess the Stormwater Feature
5 questions · 20 seconds each
Start
Back
00:20
Move the circle to discover what's hidden.
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
00:20
Lesson 2
Type one of these word choices: storm drain rain gauge creek downspout culvert drive way
Next
Lesson 2
Game Over!
Thanks for playing and learning about stormwater features
Next
Lesson 2
Back
Next
We have learned about the water cycle and how water moves continuously on Earth. When water falls on earth it is called rain.
Natural areas with soil and plants allow rain to soak into the ground and filter naturally. Hard surfaces that cannot absorb rain like rooftops, roads, parking lots, and driveways are called impervious surfaces.
Lesson 2
Examples of impervious surfaces
Back
Next
Stormwater runoff occurs when rain moves over and off these hard, or impervious surfaces and picks up and carries away pollutants along its path, such as trash or pet waste.
Lesson 2
Stormwater runoff goes into our storm drains and directly into our creeks and rivers. This can make our local waterways unsafe for us to go swimming and harmful for local animals and fish that live in these areas.
Back
Next
Keeping storm drains free from pollutants helps keep nearby rivers, streams, and creeks clean.
Lesson 2
Next
Back
Lesson 2
Next
Next
Back
Stormwater Stroll
School Guide
Lesson 2
Stormwater Stroll Guide at School
Before you head out follow this guide to help you.
Outdoor Learning Experience
Blueprint
Check with a person in charge of your school for a campus blueprint. It can be helpful during the stormwater stroll and can be used as a reference when creating the stormwater stroll drawing. Ready for the next step?
Lesson 2
Blueprint
A campus blueprint can be very helpful.
Observe
Locate the highest point on your campus and look over the land paying attention to the way the ground slopes down.
Lesson 2
Observe
After observing the area, ask yourself, If it rained where would water flow ?
Lesson 2
Storm Drain
Search
Look for storm drains on campus during the exploration. How many storm drains did you find?
Lesson 2
Search
Search for gardens, trees, or other green areas. Do you know what happens when rain falls here?
Lesson 2
Search
Look for any trash on the ground, like candy wrappers, plastic drink bottles, or crumpled paper.
Lesson 2
Search
Remember to search for impervious surfaces, such as driveways and parking lots, that don't allow water to seep into the ground.
Lesson 2
Ask your teacher to take a photo or ask for permission to take photos of areas of interest to help make a more detailed observational drawing later.
Record
Lesson 2
Make a list in a journal of what you see during the stormwater stroll.
Record
Lesson 2
How do storm drains work?
Watch the video and answer the following questions.
Lesson 2
Review
Run Time: 44 sec.
Stormwater gets cleaned at a water treatment facility before going into a local creek or river.
Lesson 2
Review
True
False
How can you help your neighborhood storm drains?
Lesson 2
Review
Sweep leaves into the storm drain.
Keep storm drains clean and clear of debris.
It's YOUR Turn
Complete an outdoor exploration at school or home, then, you can begin drawing your Stormwater Stroll picture!
Lesson 2
Review
Have fun making your drawing!
Back
Next
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
START
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Welcome to Fiesta Lane, a hilly street with happy little people. Fiesta Lane was the kind of place where people loved to get together regularly for parties and neighborhood cookouts. Families spent quality time together, and neighbor helped neighbor.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
What-you might be wondering-was the best part about Fiesta Lane?
At the bottom of the hill flowed a pretty little stream known as Fiesta Creek. All the kids on Fiesta Lane would go down to the creek to play, watch turtles, and skip rocks across the crystal, clear water.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
But Fiesta Lane was about to have a dirty little secret and boy do I mean dirty!
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
It was a perfectly sunny Spring Saturday at Fiesta Lane and all the neighbors went outside to, well, do what neighbors do outside! Let's find out what happened.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 306 Fiesta Lane Mrs. Sanchez and her daughter Maya were painting their house yellow. They had been planning to paint their home for months.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
They were so excited to finally get the project completed. But when they finished, they had left over paint and weren't quite sure what to do with it.
Maya looked around outside and saw a storm drain opening in the street. "Hmm," she thought to herself. "Maybe that would be a great place to dump the leftover paint-it will just get washed away with the rain!"
So that is what she did.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 307 Fiesta Lane lived the Aguilar family. Mr. Aguilar decided to change the car's oil on his new sports car. But Mr. Aguilar wasn't quite sure what to do with the dirty, used oil.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
He had read in the newspaper that he could take it to a city recycling center, but it was over ten miles away.
So, Mr. Aguilar decided to pour the motor oil on some weeds in his front yard to kill them.
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 309 Fiesta Lane lived the Scotts. Mr. and Mrs. Scott were both pillars of the community and loved helping out their neighbor Ms. Turner.
Next
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Ms. Turner, who lived at 310 Fiesta Lane hadn't been able to mow her grass since her surgery two years ago.
So today Mr. Scott mowed Ms. Turner's lawn. But when it came to pick up all the grass clippings and leaves, Mr. Scott wasn't sure where to sweep them.
He decided to sweep them directly into a storm drain.
Next
Next
Back
The Tale of Fiesta Lane
After Mr. Scott finished mowing, Ms. Turner went outside to put some "Ant-Be-Gone" fire ant killer on a huge ant mound.
Next
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Now the directions on "Ant-Be-Gone" said to use just a teaspoon full on each mound.
But Ms. Turner forgot to bring out a teaspoon.
She figured the more she put the more ants that would die.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
At 311 Fiesta Lane lived Rebecca McKenzie and her dog Buckets.
Rebecca walked him everyday so the kids on the street could play with him.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
But as Buckets was walking, he answered the "call of nature" right in the Aguilar's front yard. Rebecca thought it was good fertilizer for the yard.
So she left his "call of nature" on the lawn.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The spring Saturday seemed wonderful on good little Fiesta Street until it began to rain.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
And it wasn't just any little rain. It was a storm that all the neighbors watched inside from the comfort of their houses.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The next day was beautiful.
A few of the kids on Fiesta Lane went down to Fiesta Creek to look for some frogs and skip some rocks.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
That was when Fiesta Lane's dirty little secret was revealed.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Fiesta Creek was no longer a pretty little stream.It was now a very polluted creek. In fact, some dead fish even floated on top of the water through the pollution! Yuck!
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
"But how?" the children asked themselves as they stared at the polluted waterway.
"How could this have happened?"
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The residents of Fiesta Lane now realized the choices they had made affected their local creek.
The paint Maya dumped in the storm drain went directly into Fiesta Creek. After seeing what happened, she decided to take any leftover paint to a recycling center next time.
The motor oil Mr. Aguilar dumped in the weeds did not stay there. Instead, it went directly into the storm drain with the stormwater runoff.
He knew next time he would take the used motor oil to a recycling center.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Mr. Scott should not have swept the leaves into the storm drain, but instead used them as mulch for his backyard.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Ms. Turner should have used the proper amount of "Ant-Be-Gone" and checked the forecast for rain.
If it rains, all the "Ant-Be-Gone" fire ant killer can wash away with the stormwater runoff and go directly into the storm drain that leads to Fiesta Creek.
What a waste!
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
Rebecca might have believed Buckets' "call of nature" was good fertilizer for the yard, but the best thing to do is to pick it up and put it in a plastic bag to throw out with the garbage.
This prevents dog poop from washing into the storm drain and going directly into Fiesta Creek.
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The Tale of Fiesta Lane
The neighborhood of Fiesta Lane understood now what they could do to keep their local waterway free from pollution.
They remembered to make sure that only rain goes down the storm drain!
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The TAle of Fiesta Lane
Lesson 3
Challenge
Select the correct answer for each question before time runs out. You only have 10 seconds!
Let's go!
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00:03
Lesson 3
Good luck!
00:10
What was the name of the stream that flowed at the bottom of the hill?
Lesson 3
00:10
What did Mr. Aguilar do with the used motor oil?
Lesson 3
00:10
After mowing the lawn for Ms. Turner, what did Mr. Scott sweep into the storm drain?
Lesson 3
00:10
How did Fiesta Creek get so polluted?
Lesson 3
00:10
What is the only thing that should go down a storm drain?
Lesson 3
Lesson 3
Challenge Over
Thanks for taking the Fiesta Lane Challenge!
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INTERACTIVE GLOSSARY
Drag the focus to the letter you are going to expose.
World Water Day
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impervious surface
A hard surface area that prevents or reduces the infiltration of water into the ground.
Blueprint
/ˈblo͞oˌprint/ noun
A design plan or other technical drawing.
Simple Actions to Help
We can all help keep our waterways clean by picking up trash, even if it's not yours, and throwing it in the proper place.
Incorrect
The Academy of Water Influencers
A virtual institution of action designed to empower high school students to become water leaders and influencers based here in San Antonio.
evaporation
Water on Earth heated by the sun that rises into the air as water vapor.
accumulation
The gathering of water on land or underground.
atmosphere
The air around us.
storm drain
A system of tunnels throughout the city that captures stormwater runoff to prevent flooding.
stormwater runoff
Rainwater that picks up pollutants as it runs off of surfaces such as pavements, rooftops and lawns that directly flows into nearby rivers, creeks and lakes.
Correct Only rain should go down the storm drain.
Where does the water go when it hits the ground? Look for puddles, sloped surfaces and drains to find out.
downspout
A small pipe, or gutter on the side of a house that helps rainwater get from the roof to the ground.
water cycle
The continuous movement of water from the Earth to the atmosphere.
World Water Day
A day dedicated to educating people all over the world about the value of water and why it is important to keep it clean from pollution.
Correct Stormwater does NOT get treated before going into local creeks.
Send your pictures and messages to: gabriela.diaz@saws.org
rain gauge
A tool that measures how much rain falls in a specific area over a period of time.
roof downspout
A small pipe, or gutter on the side of a house that helps rainwater get from the roof to the ground.
pollution
When the environment is contaminated, or dirtied, by waste, chemicals and other harmful substances.
precipitation
Water released from clouds when they get too heavy.
impervious surface
Ground which is covered by sidewalks, streets, rooftops, parking lots, or anything that can't absorb water.
Let's Reflect
Incorrect
condensation
Tiny drops of water that stick together to form clouds in the cool sky.
Creek
A small river.
Culvert
A culvert is like a tunnel or big pipe that helps water flow under a road, a path, or a railway. It's a way to keep water from flooding the road and to protect it from erosion.
Consider these stops during your stroll!
blueprint
A design plan or other technical drawing.
What happens to rain when it falls on a grassy or green area?
Plants help water soak into the ground and keep it clean.