The Water Project :  

• “WHY IS WATER SO IMPORTANT?”
• “WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES SURROUNDING WATER IN THE WORLD?”
• “HOW DO WE GET CLEAN WATER?”
• “WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO CLEAN WATER?”
• “WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WATER ISSUES I LEARN ABOUT?”

 Science teachers from Seattle and Kenya collaborated in March of 2012 to develop lessons that foster student inquiry into these global questions. Together they designed a curriculum that provides students with the underpinnings of scientific knowledge while maintaining common core high school standards. Students in both regions conduct investigations across disciplines to understand social and political issues impacted by water, as well as the natural ecology, science and technology that are fundamental to the availability of clean water. Together, Kenyan and Seattle students are challenged to execute a “Call to Action”, encouraging communities to contribute to clean water campaigns for the good of the future.

The Elephant Project: 

The Diabetes Project: 

Developed in 2014 by The University of Washington’s Genome Sciences Education Outreach (GSEO), The Diabetes Project curriculum fosters student exploration about the genetic and environmental contributions to this challenging disease at a time when an increase in type 2 diabetes nationally and globally gives meaningful context to learning.

In this unit, students learn about the role of glucose in the body, and how the failure of mechanisms that maintain balance result in chronic high blood glucose levels. Students consider genetic factors that contribute to the disease, as well as environmental factors that influence health, including social, political and economic structures. Throughout the unit, prevention and treatment are emphasized as students learn how good nutrition, exercise, personal choice, public health policies and community engagement can contribute to positive health outcomes.

As a summative assessmet, students create a Call to Action project, in which they implement direct, meaningful, and relevant actions in order to make a contribution towards combating diabetes within their community.

The Malaria Project:   

The Malaria Project has been developed to provide secondary teachers with an introductory package of lesson plans about malaria. Malaria is a significant health and development concern facing millions of people — it is the largest cause of child mortality in Africa and its control and prevention are part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Controlling malaria is a critical key to breaking the cycle of poverty in developing countries. Malaria is increasing largely as a result of environmental degradation and change, but is preventable and treatable.

As a critical global issue with curriculum links to environmental and world studies and science, malaria deserves some time and attention in the classroom. The purpose of this project is to help students develop an understanding of both the science of malaria infection and the socio economic impacts the disease has worldwide.

The Bird Biodiversity Project: