The Clinton River Water Festival is an educational and enjoyable learning experience for fifth-grade students from the Clinton River Watershed community schools in Oakland County. The festival design allows students to learn about the central role water and the Clinton River play within the region. Some of the topics that are explored during the festival include: storm water, waste water treatment, soil erosion, wetlands, creeks and streams, habitat, as well as sources of pollution. Several governmental and environmental agencies work with Pre-College Programs to plan and execute the festival at Oakland University.
Save the Date
Information for Teachers
Information for Presenters
Information for Teachers
Oakland University is pleased to welcome you and your students to the Clinton River Water Festival. We hope you and your students will find it educational and enjoyable. The importance of clean water to us, and our future, cannot be overstated. It is our hope that the Clinton River Water Festival will promote and augment many of the environmental lessons taught to children.
Information for Presenters
Thank you so much for volunteering your time and expertise as a presenter at the 2010 Clinton River Water Festival. Your time and effort as a professional will have an impact on the students for years to come.
They may not all become water professionals, but they will be voters in a community where water issues will require citizen input. They will need proper information to make informed decisions, especially about the Clinton River.
Fifth grade students are at a specific place in their developmental process. Below are some simple suggestions to help you prepare a successful presentation based on strategies designed for a fifth grader’s ability. Please note that these are only suggestions. The most important part of your presentation is you and your expertise and creativity.
- Keep in mind that fifth grade students have the attention span of 10 year olds — a statement of the obvious but often overlooked by those of us who live in an adult only world.
- You can hold the fifth graders attention by dividing your topic into 3-5 minute segments. Short, simple portions of information will be received with enthusiasm. Even the most complex topics can be presented in small bits.
- The first segments should be introductory and informational. The later segments should be an opportunity for your students to problem solve and make predictions based on what you taught them.
- Keep your sentences short and topics in simple, concise form.
- Allow your segments to move quickly — but don’t race. Timing will keep you interesting and will keep your fifth graders engaged.
- Smile! Keep your delivery upbeat and personal.
- Choose a theme or catch phrase that you can incorporate into each segment. Think of the one concept that you want each student to remember and turn it into a jingle that you can repeat (or that they can repeat in unison with you) and that they will remember.
- Ask for volunteers. Fifth graders love to help perform even the simplest tasks. Have them hold your pointer, plug in your overhead projector, close the door, hold a poster, distribute worksheets, etc.