Today we're going back to the flooding of Coon Valley in 2018. The area endured over 12 inches of rain in just a few days. To complicated matters, multiple dams broke in already saturated areas. The evening of August 27th was unforgettable as residents were awoken in the middle of the night to evacuate. Emergency management performed over 350 rescues and 46 roads were closed in just Vernon county. Farms, business, homes, community spaces, and roads were devastated. The students in today’s episode were all old enough to remember that night and no doubt, it left an impact. So when Erica Manix, 4th grade teacher at Coon Valley elementary, posed a “driving question” - how to prevent flooding in Coon Valley? The students were motivated and engaged because this opportunity hit home. Students conducted research, leaned on community experts, used their own experience to understand the complexity of the event and consider proactive ways to prevent future flooding.

Consult our show notes at http://www.proudruralteacher.com.