Oregon is home to a huge diversity of waterways, with 129 boatable lakes, over a dozen coastal bays, 363 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline and 11,619 miles of rivers and streams for water recreation. With the bounty of places to play, the Oregon State Marine Board invites educators water safety and environmentally-minded organizations to take advantage of a free, interactive curriculum on boating, water safety and marine stewardship. The new “Water Wits” STEM curriculum is interdisciplinary, academically rigorous, interactive and can be student-led. The curriculum includes 12 lesson plans divided into grade units (K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12th grades). All lessons are aligned to state and national education standards including Next Generation Science and Common Core, across multiple subjects. Additionally, each lesson is designed to complete in one class period, but many lessons offer rich opportunities for expansion and exploration. This curriculum goes beyond learning water safety and the importance of wearing life jackets. This curriculum delves into safety from the aspect of best practices for smart decision-making in, on and around the water. The stewardship component challenges students to think about how they can reduce their impacts and manage water resources for people and wildlife. Furthermore, the science component questions how physics, engineering, ecology and the social sciences are used to explain and inform people about the best behaviors for personal safety and enhanced stewardship. Educators are encouraged to visit the Marine Board’s Water Wits page and submit the Water Wits Request Form. Agency staff will email the grade unit material within two business days.
