SEEd-aligned K–12 curriculum built with Utah educators, equipping students to understand where water comes from and why their choices matter.
K–12 Water Education
Building water literacy early is one of the most effective ways to create lasting, generational change.
Utah Water Ways works in partnership with the Utah State Board of Education and science teachers from across the state to develop grade-specific, SEEd-aligned curriculum that helps students understand water in a way that is relevant to their lives, communities, and future.
Together, we are creating a cohesive learning experience that connects water conservation, water systems, infrastructure, and policy, ensuring students not only understand where water comes from and where it goes, but also how decisions are made and why their actions matter.
What We’re Building
Our K–12 curriculum is designed to move beyond awareness and into understanding and application:
- Grade-specific, SEEd-aligned units developed with Utah educators
- Integrated lessons on Utah’s water systems, the Great Salt Lake, and local watersheds
- Real-world connections to infrastructure, conservation practices, and policy decisions
- Content that reflects Utah’s unique environment, history, and growth
Expanding Through Partnership
With support from the Intermountain Community Care Foundation, we are expanding and enhancing this work to reach more classrooms and deepen impact.
This next phase includes:
- Professional development for teachers—equipping educators with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to teach water in meaningful ways
- Hands-on activity kits for students—bringing concepts to life through interactive, classroom-ready materials
- A statewide cohort of educators, identified in partnership with USBE, teachers who will pilot and implement the enhanced curriculum and help refine it over time
How We Show Up
Our approach is grounded in partnership and accessibility:
- Collaborating directly with districts and teachers to ensure curriculum meets classroom needs
- Conducting site visits to schools to support implementation and engage students firsthand
- Presenting at statewide education and science conferences to share tools, insights, and best practices
This work is designed to scale by building a statewide model for water education that can be adopted across districts and sustained over time.
By connecting classroom learning to real-world programs like Slow the Flow and community-based landscape projects, students gain a clearer understanding of how water decisions show up in their own communities and how they can be part of long-term solutions that support the Great Salt Lake.
More information about site visits or participating with UWW/USBE on pilot programs email
