Summer 2021 Texas Aquatic Science Textbook Scholarship

Hello Educators!

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Outreach & Education Division is currently accepting applications for the Summer 2021 Texas Aquatic Science Textbook Scholarship through Friday, July 30, 2021. A link to the application can be found on the Texas Aquatic Science TPWD webpage

TEXAS AQUATIC SCIENCE

Texas Aquatic Science (TAS) is a comprehensive, TEKS-aligned middle and high school water education curriculum. The curriculum provides hands-on, engaging classroom activities, as well as investigative field activities that are intended for the outdoors.

STUDENT TEXTBOOK AND PORTAL The student textbook provides clear and concise scientific information on the wide range of Texas aquatic ecosystems such as springs, streams, rivers, wetlands, bays, estuaries, and the Gulf of Mexico. Relevant chemistry, physics, geology, geography, ecology, and biology principles are included throughout the text. With an emphasis on sustainability and water conservation, the text encourages practices that we can do to conserve our natural resources, as well as presents job and volunteer opportunities for students to generate interest in pursuing careers in aquatic science. The TAS Student Portal also includes short videos for each chapter.

TEACHER GUIDE The Texas Aquatic Science curriculum looks at water from the molecular level to the level of aquatic ecosystems. The free Teacher Guide includes activities to guide students through the understanding that the characteristics of the water molecule make it unique in its value to all of life, and conservation of water is a priority for all of us. Students are also introduced to the wide variety of aquatic ecosystems through science investigations, games, models, Internet projects, reading the student guides, short videos, and field-based assessments of water quality and environmental conditions in a variety of field trips. Students use multiple intelligences to learn and to demonstrate their new knowledge in creative products and performances. To ensure the protection of answers throughout the TAS Teacher Guide and its sub-parts, they are password protected. Access Request Form and Access Link (after you have requested the password)

CERTIFIED FIELD SITES TAS incorporates a field exploration component where school groups can visit an informal education facility to apply their aquatic studies to the real world. These informal education facilities are called Texas Aquatic Science Certified Field Sites. These sites include informal science learning locations such as State Parks, nature centers, zoos, and aquariums with the aim of increasing project-based learning opportunities and the real-world relevancy they bring to learning.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INFORMATION

All educators are encouraged to apply by Friday, July 30, 2021. First preference will be given to schools meeting the following criteria:

1. The school serves a predominantly high need student population with greater than 75% of students representing a low socioeconomic scale.
2. The school aims to actively use the Texas Aquatic Science curriculum.
3. The school aims to participate in Texas Aquatic Science field activities at a Certified Field Site or on the school grounds.

Questions? Send to ConservationEdu@tpwd.texas.gov

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Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center | Texas Master Naturalist

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