GEA - China Update, June 1999

More Information About GEA-China GEA-China Updates Plans and Projects Accomplishments Introduction to China Founding Partners Founders Quotables Committee

By the time Chinese schools closed for the summer in August, 1999, 18 of the original 33 schools had finished the entire course on Water Conservation, while the others will resume in the autumn by teaching the remaining chapters. Teachers not only used the methods and skills learned from American teachers this past February, but explored new ways of presenting the same points, making the lessons more flexible. In one school, students produced puppet shows to publicize water conservation. A Water Conservation Forum was set up, where students were invited to discuss water conservation issues. In another school, students employed the internal television system to publicize water conservation to all the students in the school. More than 1,000 students and teachers watched the presentation.

These drawings were created by 8-9 year-old students from Wan Quan Primary School. They were introduced to the Water Conservation books courtesy of GEA - China in April, 1999. Click on image for larger image.

Other pilot schools such as Wanquan Primary School and Beijing No.80 Middle School organized similar activities. Some students voluntarily made investigations on water conservation in their community. Many voluntarily completed a family water audit, added new items for monitoring, and made detailed audit reports.

• Teachers from the Huiwen Middle School developed experiments to make the teaching more effective. For example, they cultured a pea both in clean water and the solvent of detergent, to show the impact of the water polluted by phosphorous.
• Affiliated Primary School of Beijing Science & Engineering University designed a questionnaire for parents to assess their opinion about environmental ection and the water conservation education; Xiaoyou Primary School even invited parents to participate the class sessions.
• Some of the pilot schools organized the activities mentioned in the "Act Locally" chapter, such as setting up glass-fronted billboard for water conservation, holding environmental action drawing contests, and exhibiting excellent art.

Results

In the spring ‘99 semester, 4400 students attended the classes on Water Conservation. After studying the issues, their awareness had increased measurably. Now most students will not waste or pollute water. Many applied their knowledge to persuade others to conserve. In June, the GEA - China staff visited pilot schools to learn about the progress.

• Huiwen Middle School held a presentation to summarize the results, with representatives of every action group presenting their audit report and proposals. Some of their suggestions have been supported by school leaders.
• Teachers of Wanquan Primary School encouraged students collect the empty cans in their home, and sold them to buy water-efficient faucets to replace old faucets in the school.
• Students of Baiyun Road Primary School put forward about 40 suggestions to the school administration, and some have been adopted.

Conclusion

All of the pilot schools put great enthusiasm and effort to implement the Water Conservation text book, and awareness has been raised remarkably. For Chinese teachers, the teaching methods for environmental education have been extended, and many schools expressed a strong willingness to implement the Energy Conservation education next semester.

GEA - China Follow-Up