My AP Environmental Science students need to conduct studies on the medium sized stream on campus in order to meet the requirements set forth by the College Board. The stream is deep in areas and has broken glass in some areas. In order for my students to safely conduct this study they need waders.
My students attend a school with 800 students in a town that was once a mill town.
Many of their parents worked in the mills but are now either unemployed or commuting to surrounding towns to find work. Many of their parents did not attend college and do not place a high value on education. Our school has worked hard to promote the importance of education and urge our students to continue their education after high school. The students in the AP Environmental Science class I teach are intelligent and have the potential to go to college and succeed although many of them will have to rely on financial aid. Our school is a big football school and many of the students return to the high school every Friday night to watch the team. They are good kids who are motivated by doing science, not just hearing about it.
My Project
I am requesting a set of waders for my students to use when they conduct various stream water studies. They will get in the stream on our school campus and first measure the flow of water at different locations. Next, they will monitor the quality of the water using chemical tests for pH, nitrates, chlorides, phosphates, and dissolved oxygen. Lastly, they will monitor the stream using biological indicators. They will turn over rocks, sift through leaf litter on the bottom of the stream, and use kick nets to collect and identify the macroinverterates in the water. They will learn how to determine the quality of the stream based on which organisms they find and how plentiful they are. I have found that even high school kids still love to "play" in the water of a stream. Having the waders ensures that the students can "play" and I can turn it into the best kind of teachable moment. Students remember what they experience, more than what they hear.
Helping my students become excited about their AP Environmental Science class will help them become excited about college.
I want my kids to go to college and become aware of the environmental issues that will be important to them as they enter adulthood. As the population of the earth grows, the quality and quantity of water is going to become an even bigger issue. I want my students to go to college, be successful, and become environmental advocates in our community.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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