Classroom Visits
Scheduling/Availability
The Water Rocks! team travels to schools across the state of Iowa to offer our signature in-classroom presentations throughout the school year. We provide 2-3 Iowa State University staff and/or student interns to present to your class and lead high energy, hands-on, interactive student activities!
From our experience, the most effective learning occurs when we work with students in relatively small groups - one class at a time (maximum 30 students per class). This allows the greatest opportunity for hands-on learning, interaction, and dialogue. We are happy to offer multiple presentations back-to-back in order to reach multiple classes and/or grades.
Our online lottery system for Water Rocks! classroom visits will reopen in August 2026—be sure to subscribe to Water Rocks! e-news for priority notification when requests open each season!
Presentation Length
We require a minimum of 30 minutes per presentation (ideally 45-50 minutes per presentation). We are not able to present at events when the presentation times are less than 30 minutes.
Age Groups
Water Rocks! classroom visits are available to Grades 2 through high school.
Cost
Water Rocks! classroom visits are available at no cost to Iowa schools. Many thanks to our partners for making this possible!
How to Request a Visit
Our online lottery system for Water Rocks! classroom visits will reopen in August 2026—be sure to subscribe to Water Rocks! e-news for priority notification when requests open each season!
We often receive 2x-3x as many requests as we are able to fulfill—therefore we implement a rolling lottery system to determine which schools we'll be able to visit each season.
Schedule of Events
Check out what schools we've been to and where we're headed next on our Calendar page.
I have other questions about classroom visits. Who can I talk to?
Liz Ripley
ejuchems@iastate.edu
515.294.5429
What We Teach
The Water Rocks! team offers multiple learning modules to choose from when we visit schools, including:
Ecosystems & Biodiversity (Grades 4+)
Pollinators (Grades 2+)
Wetlands (Grades 2+)
Water & Watersheds (Grades 3+)
We will work with teachers to determine which module(s) best fit the audience and the time constraints for the event. Each lesson is adapted for grade level appropriateness and readily scaled up or down when visiting multiple grades within the same school. Each of our modules is aligned with the Iowa Academic Standards for Science—descriptions of each module are included below.
Ecosystems & Biodiversity
Grades: 4-8
Recommended Timing: 45-50 minutes
Iowa Academic Standards for Science for "Biodiversity Bonanza" module
Students will learn about the importance of biodiversity, niches within ecosystems, the ecological food chain, trophic levels (who’s eating who!), and more in this highly interactive unit. Get ready to test your skills in a competitive game of Biodiversity JENGA!
The Power of Pollinators
Grades: 4-8
Recommended Timing: 45-50 minutes
Iowa Academic Standards for Science for "The Power of Pollinators" module
The Power of Pollinators invites students into the remarkable world of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that help ecosystems thrive. Through interactive games and hands-on learning, students uncover the science behind pollination, understand the interconnected relationships between plants, pollinators, and people, and investigate the challenges pollinators face in a changing world. Filled with curiosity and real-world conservation connections, The Power of Pollinators helps students see how small actions can add up to make a big difference for pollinators in their own communities. Depending on available space and timing, this presentation includes the much-beloved game(s) Monarch Migration Madness and/or Pollinator Jenga.
The Fabulous World of Wetlands
Grades: 2-8
Recommended Timing: 45-50 minutes
Iowa Academic Standards for Science for "The Fabulous World of Wetlands" module
The Fabulous World of Wetlands takes students on an interactive game-show adventure through one of nature’s most important ecosystems! Through action-packed learning, wetland soundscapes, and migration games, students discover what wetlands are, why they matter, and the amazing plants and animals that call them home. Packed with movement, laughter, and high-energy + hands-on learning, Water Rocks! turns environmental science into an exciting wetlands expedition that inspires students to become stewards of the natural world.
We All Live in a Watershed
Grades: 3-8
Recommended Timing: 45-50 minutes
Iowa Academic Standards for Science for "We All Live in a Watershed" module
We All Live in a Watershed takes students on an interactive journey to discover how land, water, and people are connected. Through dynamic audience participation, hands-on watershed mapping, and collaborative learning, students explore what a watershed is, how water moves across and through the landscape, and how everyday choices can impact rivers and streams. Packed with teamwork, critical thinking, creativity, and high-energy engagement, Water Rocks! empowers students to think differently about the water around them and work to protect the natural resources we all share.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have a date set for a Water Rocks! school visit. What's next?
We highly encourage you to explore our Pre-Visit Lesson Suggestions page. Prior to your scheduled Water Rocks! presentation, consider utilizing the resources there to introduce students to the topics that will be covered. From our experience, we observe the highest levels of engagement and students gain the most from our classroom programs (plus we can go deeper in-depth with the content) when they’ve had a basic introduction to the material prior to our visit!
Do you have any programs available for high school students?
Interested in a school visit or presentation for high school students? Contact Liz Ripley via email or phone (515.294.5429) to discuss details.
Do you have any programs available for younger students?
The Water Rocks! team does not have Fall 2025 capacity for Grades Pre-K-1. However, stay tuned for possible opportunities for these age groups in the fall and winter months.
We are a big school. Can you come and present for multiple days?
At this time, we are only able to offer single-day programs.
What do teachers and students have to say?
Teachers and students think Water Rocks! classroom presentations are out of this world! Check out our Testimonials page to hear what teachers and students have to say.