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Where Does the Rain Go?

Activity

Mapping Water Flow & Flood Zones

Walk around your school and search for spots where water might collect during a heavy rainstorm—look for dips in the ground, puddle stains, or areas with no plants. Mark these flood-prone zones and imagine how water would move through your campus. Trace its path, hopping over sidewalks, flowing through grass, or “pooling” in low spots. What kind of solutions can you think of to help water soak into the ground or flow safely away?

Science Seed

At Palmer Elementary, we experience a warm, semi-arid climate with occasional heavy rains from tropical storms and hurricanes. These intense rains can quickly lead to flash flooding due to the Valley’s flat terrain and clay soils, which don’t absorb water easily. Urban features like roads and sidewalks also make it hard for water to be absorbed, but climate-smart solutions like rain gardens, native plants, and permeable pavements can help manage water and reduce flooding. By observing how water moves through your schoolyard, you can try out some of these solutions to protect your community and environment from flooding!

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Geraldine Palmer Elementary

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

This project was made possible by HEB.