The Finale!

Today students brainstormed solutions to the various problems they discovered in Gray Area.  We played the role of the city council as students weighed the pros and cons of each proposal and voted into policy some of the best ideas.  We also discussed the summer project opportunities, wrapped up our Rachel Carson study, and enjoyed some quality time together engaging in our most popular brain games from the year.

We finished with a little year-in-review game.  Students answered systems questions using Kahoot and their responses earned them some positive or not-so-positive inputs to their forest and pond snack ecosystems.  A little acid rain with that dirt dessert?!? :)  What a wonderful year and what a wonderful group!

Our attempt at mourning the end of a great year.

Gray Area Conclusion

We've made it to the end of our Gray Area investigations.  Students have looked at acid rain, chlorine, sediments, phosphates, and oil as possible culprits in our mystery.  Today we had an emergency board meeting to go over all the evidence and draw conclusions about the most likely reasons for the dying fish.  Students justified their votes with evidence and found that the answer wasn't as cut and dry as they may have thought.  As in real life, with so many elements at play, there is often a lot of "gray area" when it comes to making the best choices for us and our environment.  Next week we will look at possible solutions to the problems we've discovered and pros and cons of those as well.  I was proud of all of the students work, ideas, ability to think through different layers of the issues, and the connections they made to our overarching systems theme.

Jones Gap Field Study

We had a wonderful learning experience at Jones Gap!  Students explored the river and forest systems of the park.  They were able to use field guides for plant and animal identification, conduct several water quality tests, and understand the important interactions between the two habitats. Thanks to all our wonderfully behaved students and fantastic chaperons!

Introduction by Ranger Tim

Ready for river entery

 

Searching for macroinvertebrates

Measuring the temperature of the Middle Saluda River

Measuring water pH

At the microscopy lab

A Waterpenny

A Mayfly nymph

Using an adaptation to listen for the Red-eyed Vireo

Forest hike

The whole crew!

Phosphates and Algal Blooms

Our Gray Area investigators were hot on a new trail today as they conducted various tests to determine if phosphate from fertilizer or manure might be causing an algal bloom in James Pond. With their eyes on the cattle ranch, small town, and golf course, they discovered algal blooms result from excessive algae growth and as the overabundant algae rots away it causes bacteria to use up all the oxygen in the water and causes negative effects on fish populations.  Ask your student who we discovered our new leading suspect to be!

Phosphate tests of area drainage

Bio-assessment

Collecting Birdwatching Data

Jones Gap Preparation

We spent today preparing by doing some review and covering expectations.  Students can continue to practice the must-know terms at this link.  We also looked at water quality tests we will conduct at the park, layers of the forest, and life cycles of some of the macro-invertebrates we hope to find.

We focused heavily on our M^3 Math today as we embarked on Chapter 2 and graphing. Students will be collecting survey data and learning to represent it in various way.  Today we interpreted bar graphs and double bar graphs and our math discussions focused on writing quality questions that use and compare the data shown.  

 Students facing off in "Can It or Can't It"...be answered by the graph.

Feel free to use some of these websites as a fun follow-up to our lesson. 
Interpreting Data

Data Bank Research

Bar Charts

Bar Charts 2

IXL

Create your Own

We also wrapped up our investigation from last week on mountain lion hunting and its effects of erosion.

Population Boom

Today we investigated an interesting connection between the sediment problem from last week and the mountain lion hunting occurring in the area.  Students played a game to simulate the fluctuation in the deer population with and without predators.  They found that mountain lion hunting reduces predators for deer and their population is able to experience booms and crashes. On these booms, they overgraze and reduce ground cover resulting in more erosion than usual.

Students also had the chance to finish their expert cards for our trip to Jones Gap.  Check out their good work below.

Chloe- Wild Ginger
Ella- Flowering Dogwood
Nate- Red-tailed Hawk
Aiden- Rhododendron
Sarah- Eastern Hemlock
Andrea- Sassafra
Brandon- Crayfish
Hayden- Red-spotted Newt
Cooper- Eastern Chimunk
Julian- False Solomon's Seal
Spencer- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Turbidity

Today students considered another factor that may be causing problems for fish in Gray Area.  With logging an active business in the area, some of the rivers were looking a little dirty.  Students used secchi disks to determine the clarity, or turbidity, of the water in the various lakes and rivers in the area.  They then examined the sediment files to understand the effects of erosion and high levels of sediments on the organisms living there.

Bare earth verses plant material erosion demonstration.

We also did a creative thinking activity where students were challenged to use design thinking and originality to create a special hats for our friends the ats who are plagued by wild, pesky gnats. Here are some of their clever designs.