URBAN WATERSHED FIELD TRIP

So today was another reminder of how great things are at Grant School.  My class took the first Flat Branch Watershed hike today and everything worked out great.  We used a model where the children brought ipads with with learning materials preloaded on them.  Students completed a photo scavenger hunt of pictures from the watershed.  We discussed each picture and its connection to the watershed.

We made our own ball field at Flat Branch Park

Next was lunch and recess time.  Students used the grounds at Flat Branch as their playground.
Main attractions included whiffle ball, wildlife viewing and litter pickup.

Can you spot the Mr/s. Garter Snake?

Cale and Sadie found one stream critter while others picked up litter.

Students taking notes about a photo on the scavenger hunt.

After our free time, the class discussed a few more photos before independent reading and math.  The sprayground park area was our classroom today and I was so impressed with students focus on their tasks.  Readers answered comprehension questions from an Columbia Daily Tribune article on the impact of a major fire in 2012.  During math, students worked on probability with questions based in the context of a Stream Team litter pick up.

This was our classroom today for independent learning. 

These learners are focused readers.

For the rest of the hike, we did manage to locate only 1 stream organism and a small school of fish.

Students will finish their learning tasks on Monday including viewing a movie about the 3M wetland area and completing a written reflection on human impact, both positive and negative, on urban ewatersheds.

I am very excited to observe students' comparisons and differences next week between urban and wilderness watersheds during our Gans Creek Watershed Walk in Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

This truly a wonderful group to work with.  Our class has many well rounded learners and athletes with a creative flair.   Today I observed students discuss the role of sediment as a pollutant in a watershed, fool the teacher with a strong fastball, and share a story that began with a sumo wrestler and ended with a butler!  There were many eager scientists today too. Great job, kids!