Have you ever tried to learn something when you are completely uncomfortable? That is what can happen when students have wet feet and still have lots of work to do. We tell students that they should buy boots to use for going to the creek, but often, parents don't see the need for buying boots :-)
My students are in 7th and 8th grade.
They are involved in a program called Creek Connections. There are about 75 7th graders and 20 8th graders involved in this program. The 8th graders that are involved were in the program in 7th grade and come back for a second year to "teach" the new 7th graders how to do the chemical and biological testing at the stream. These students attend school in a suburban area that has a great deal of urban characteristics. Most of our students are rather out of touch with nature and many of them "suffer" from Nature Deficit Disorder - so I use this opportunity to get my students outside and learning about the environment that surrounds them where they live.
My Project
Western Pennsylvania has many stream miles that have been impacted by Abandoned Mine Drainage. This is left over from the days when Western Pennsylvania was a hub of coal mining. Creek Connections helps to educate students about this important part of Pennsylvania history as well as teaching students how past practices still effect the organisms that are still living in our waterways.
Through this program, we conduct 8 chemical tests at the stream (pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, turbidity, iron, phosphates, nitrates). We also conduct biological testing in which we use kick nets and D nets to search for the critters (aquatic macroinvertebrates). We do this testing 10 times throughout the school year. The students are able to look at the data over the years to follow trends in the stream. The students learn about water quality and what can be done to improve it. They learn that different macroinvertebrates are able to live in different qualities of water.
I am hoping with these boots, students will be more able to "jump into" their learning experience.
Because we go to the stream all throughout the school year, that means that we are outside in all weather conditions. If students don't have boots, then they can't go in the water. Only the students that have purchased boots on their own are able to go into the water on the cold days. If we have boots to supply to the students - then everyone can fully participate!
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