Following the Water: A STEM Journey for the Sakarya River

  https://share.google/dt6rgrQOyVdjEXTmW  Group The Network of Europen  Blue Schools platforms https://www.instagram.com/scientix_turkiye?igsh=MTA0b29vejlueWJxbw==   STEM National Workshop https://www.sakarya-saski.gov.tr/   expert interview https://yaliilkokulu.meb.k12.tr/ https://www.calameo.com/books/00548384609a4e64fbb38 https://youtu.be/1yJ1_6MZaBg?si=IslIXSD6nQbOl_cB https://www.instagram.com/yaliilkokulu?igsh=MWkya2dsZDRzY3BwaA== https://kazimpasailkokulu.meb.k12.tr/ https://cevredostuanaokulu.meb.k12.tr/ https://sakaryailkokulu54.meb.k12.tr/

Gökhan BERBER, an engineer working for the State Water Works, visited our school to inform students and answer their questions.

  Our project is an interdisciplinary project focused on sustainable water management, developed at the Turkey STEM National Workshop. Its main purpose is to draw attention to the decreasing flow of the Sakarya River, to enable students to connect with the water ecosystem, and to find solutions to real-world problems using a STEM approach. Initially, through a story we prepared as a project group, students became aware of the relationship between land and water, and understood the importance of the river's biodiversity from an ecosystem perspective. Then, through research, a parent-supported field trip, and expert support from the local municipality, students identified the causes of the seasonal water decrease in the river as agricultural irrigation, drought, and irresponsible use. Furthermore, thanks to the support of municipal experts and the Project Wet organization, students were introduced to concepts such as the importance of water footprint and the water cycle. Using a ...

  We live in an area bordering the Sakarya River, so we conducted field observations to see the problem firsthand. The participation of parents broadened our awareness campaign. The children were able to observe the decreasing water levels firsthand and had a unique experience.

  🏫 How Does the Learning Process Work? In the first stage, students analyze a real-world problem and conduct research on the Sakarya River. Then, an expert seminar is given to both parents and students, and they deepen the process with experiments. Next, students design their own fog mist net prototypes, create drawings, and test their products. At the end of the process, the developed projects are exhibited and shared through presentations. 🐟 STEM Touching Children's Worlds Through Storytelling In the project, students explore environmental problems through the characters Yayın Can and Sazancan Dede. River creatures, threatened with losing their habitats due to decreasing water levels, ask for help from the children. Through this approach, students not only gain knowledge but also develop environmental awareness by empathizing. 🌱 Expected Outcomes of the Project The expected outcomes of the project are: • Autonomous fog harvesting prototype • Alternative water source for agric...

our video preparation process   our experiment our posters our workshop our workshop                                                                          our workshop our workshop Our final prototypes  

                                              Completing the process was quite enjoyable. I generally thought I could have this much fun. First, we made a plan and uploaded the driver. I will share this plan separately. We wrote a participatory story with a compelling problem statement for the introduction. Our story takes place in the Sakarya River, where catfish and carp, which are abundant, roam freely. It was adapted to the normal story of these fish. Then we uploaded it to "Calameo". The most important part of the process was the researchers who noticed the fog nets. For this, we used biomimicry and desert insects as inspiration. How the fog can be captured was realized through an experiment. This is the path to solutions you can benefit from in the process. As we approached the end, we added films for studying to help children gain water awareness. We wrote a collabor...

The Turkish STEM National Workshop was a great opportunity for both me and my students. During the workshop, my group and I were discussing everyday problems, and the recent water shortage came to mind. Despite living in a place with abundant water sources, our resources were drying up. The Sapanca River and the Sakarya River were just a few examples. The decrease in the Sakarya River, particularly during the summer due to agricultural irrigation, led us to focus on that area. Finding a solution wasn't easy. Nature is truly miraculous. It seems to extend a helping hand for every problem we create. It was through this that we realized we could solve one problem with another. Fog could be the helping hand of the sky. This is how our project, "The Silver Blanket from the Sky: Fog," was born. I'm attaching a picture from that evening now. General Project Information 3G Mist: A Silver Blanket from the Sky – An Eco-Friendly STEM Project for the Sakarya River An innovative p...

It takes time to become aware of what we have in life. Sometimes, by the time we realize it, it may be too late. Each new generation borrows experiences and life lessons from the previous one. As a teacher, my greatest dream is for our experiences and awareness to be passed on to our students. This blog will tell you about how this dream journey comes together in a project.Perhaps these kinds of projects will inspire you too.