Improving Stormwater Runoff
By: Lindsy Harness

Project at a Glance :

Students partnered with local experts from Groundswell and LGROW to explore better options for rainwater retention at Allendale High School.
       
Driving Question:

How can Allendale High School better manage their stormwater runoff?       

Standards:

• HS-ESS2-5: Earth's Systems
  
• 5-ESS3-1: Earth & Human Activity
  
• HS-ETS1-1 Engineering Design
  

Team / Culture Building:

• ​Creative DNA​​

Stakeholders:

• Students
  
• Teachers
  
• Administration and other school employees
  
• Allendale community
  

Empathy Building:

• Stakeholder Map

Inquiry / Need to Knows:

• Students worked with Anna Kornoelje, Project Manager
  Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW), Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) and Matt Bain, Aquatic Specialist at Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) to explore better options for stormwater retention at the Allendale High School campus.

Incubation:

• Students used the How Would ____________ Solve the Driving Question? to brainstorm possible solution ideas.
• Potential solution options:  Tree Planting, Native Plants for Retention Basins, Wildflower Gardens, and Reclaim Parking Spaces.
  

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Solution Building:

• Students used the NUF Test as a tool for testing their solution ideas.​

Critique and Revision: 

• Critical Friends ​

Authentic Audience:

• Audra Murphy, Principal
• Emily Hurrell, Assistant Principal
• Gary Torno, Facilities Director
• Dr. Garth Cooper, Superintendent​

Final Presentation:

• Students pitched final solution ideas to the authentic audience.​

Click here for teacher's full plan.

Community Partners:

Meet the Educator:
​
​Lindsy Harness teaches Biology at Allendale High School.

     "This PBL project allowed students to have a hands-on experience, using problem-solving skills to come up with solutions to a real world problem and effectively communicating their solutions to an authentic audience."