Los Angeles (October 14, 2020) – As the 2020-21 school year is well on its way with distance learning continuing, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is providing several resources that students, teachers and parents can access online. As the nation’s largest municipally-owned utility, serving water and power to LA’s population of 4 million, LADWP has a variety of online resources for students of varying ages and their teachers, related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and water sustainability and career information.
A Drop in the Bucket Program from The Wildwoods Foundation in Partnership with LADWP
Click here to access the online activities. Be prepared to answer a few basic questions about your school and classroom to access the link. Videos and two interactive activities from The Wildwoods Foundation are available especially for teachers to access on the topic of water conservation. Additional videos and interactive activities are planned to be available in November. Also, live streaming presentations are available for teachers serving in schools within the LADWP service area.
e-SMARTkids Website Link
The special, newly-revised and updated comprehensive online resource, e-SMARTkids, contains numerous lessons, experiments and games for students; lesson guides for teachers; and information for parents on electricity and electric safety. New lessons on water as well as on hydroelectricity have been added.
In addition, students interested in career explorations, can review the extensive section on opportunities in the green industry and electric utility industry.
Two Career Virtual Chats
Water Resources Career Chat – STEM Careers– This 54-minute chat with an LADWP engineering manager moderator, four engineers and one environmental specialist on the panel, not only covers LADWP jobs and backgrounds but also important topics such as conservation, recycling, stormwater capture and groundwater. The group also answers viewers’ questions. To view this recorded chat, click here.
LADWP Power System Careers Chat – This 49-minute chat features three LADWP staff members in electrical, mechanical and civil engineering disciplines and three representatives working in the skilled craft trades including a chief electric plant operator and two electrical mechanic trainees. Both male and female speakers share information about the work they do and their own backgrounds that led to their service at LADWP. In addition, background information about LADWP’s work on infrastructure projects and increasing renewable energy sources as well as the city of Los Angeles’ hiring process and LADWP internships are also covered. To view this recorded chat, click here.
Water Conservation Virtual Chat
This recorded 44-minute virtual chat covers important information about the background and history of LADWP as well as local water supply sources for the city of Los Angeles, the water cycle and best practices in both indoor and outdoor conservation.
Cathleen Chavez-Morris, an LADWP environmental supervisor and water conservation expert leads this session for grades 1-8 which also includes questions from students. To access this session, click here.
Los Angeles Times – Times in Education Program
For more than 10 years, LADWP has sponsored the Los Angeles Times in Education Program (TIE) which covers all major topics related to the utility.
The TIE program integrates with the newspaper, using it as a living textbook. The program includes three guides (two pictured below) —““Water, Energy, the Environment and You,” “Conservation Connection – Water” and “Conservation Connection – Energy.”
Teachers in grades 4-12 can also sign-up with the LA Times to receive free access to the newspaper’s digital edition.
Note that only schools within the LADWP service area are eligible for the poster contest. This includes 80% of LAUSD schools and most campuses in schools in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Harbor area and the Owens Valley. Teachers can sign up for this free program by going to: https://www.nieonline.com/latimes/order.cfm
LADWP has partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District, non-profit organizations and other utilities working with teachers, administrators and students in presenting numerous programs, teacher trainings and lesson materials for more than 40 years.
For more information or links to any of these programs, you can also visit www.ladwp.com/education.