News from KLRN Education



Water, our planet and us
Yvonne Yates
Director of School Services, KLRN

There are about 326,000,000,000,000,000,000 gallons of water that can be found on our planet. This water evaporates from the ocean, travels through the air, rains down and then flows back to the ocean. About 70 percent of the planet is covered with oceans.

According to an article from How Stuff Works, ninety-eight percent of the water on the planet is in the oceans, and therefore is unable to be used for drinking because of the salt. About 2 percent of Earth’s water is fresh, but 1.6 percent of the planet's water is locked up in the polar ice caps and glaciers. Another 0.36 percent is found underground in aquifers and wells. Only about 0.036 percent of the planet's total water supply is found in lakes and rivers. That's still thousands of trillions of gallons, but it's a very small amount compared to all the water available.

It is a chilling thought to think about the amount of drinkable water that makes up our earth. Benjamin Franklin said that “when the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

As spring approaches, my mind drifts to thoughts of lunch by the river, Earth Day (April 22nd), and Fiesta San Antonio (April 19-29th). All three of my day dreams have a link to the conservation of water and natural resources. In 2010 Fiesta San Antonio starting to make strides to make Fiesta GREEN. Our wonderful Riverwalk expanded, and went through a growth spurt in 2011 to extend to The Pearl. Talk to your students about the importance of water and what they can do to help conserve water. It is up the educators of our community to not only teach the core subject but also civic and social awareness to students. Visit SAWS Education Website and check out the resources that PBS has to offer. Don’t forget to get your free KLRN Connect account today, too.

6 comments:

  1. I would like to get the Texas the State of Water. Also, if I am getting emails from you does that mean I have a KLRN Connect account?

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  2. Glad to see some publicity for what will become our greatest challange in the very near future. We take for granted the miracle of clean water flowing in our homes when over 3 million people a year die from diseases related to impure water (www.iv7direct.com/Clean-Water-Saving-Lives.html). I was very excited when SAWS finally raise residential rates for water. Hopefully this will discourage excesses like sprinklers runoff two block down the street and businesses watering while it rains.
    -J Duffy

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  3. Thanks so much Lisa. To answer your question, you will need to set up your free account with KLRN Learning Media, the link can be found on top of this page, in order you enjoy the wonderful resources. Would you mind sending us your address so that we may send you your freebie? E-mail us to yyates@klrn.org. Thanks!

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  4. Thanks so much Duffy. Would you mind sending us your address so that we may send you your freebie? E-mail us to yyates@klrn.org. Thanks!

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  5. I would love to receive Texas the State of Water. This would be a great resource for my teachers!

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  6. Mary, thank you for your intrest.Would you mind sending us your address so that we may send you your freebie? E-mail us to yyates@klrn.org. Thanks!

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