Stream table workshop at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

On Thursday, we visited the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History for a stream table workshop. We built and tested filters in small groups (and using different materials than our classroom filters), and spent time exploring a large stream table. We used it to observe water flow and erosion, and experimented with methods of curbing it.

The greenish tint to the right of this tiny ranch is food coloring, which represents agricultural waste. When the water starts flowing, it quickly finds its way into the river. 

Using plants to reduce erosion 

Deciding where to build a town along the river 

Building filters as part of the workshop 

After our workshop, we spent some time exploring the museum in small groups. Everyone found plenty of things to investigate.

Comparing the the DNA of humans and chimps. It's amazingly similar. 

Ariana turns the tables on the dinosaur. 

Group photo in the giant canoe 

Investigating Water

Water, Water, Everywhere

Last Thursday, as part of ongoing science unit on water use and water quality, the 5-6s collected samples from various locations in and around SK.

Eva and Niko make observations of their water sample.

Then, on Tuesday, we had a class discussion about the kinds of observations they made and whether or not those observations were objective or subjective.

Water from all around Summers-Knoll, including samples from Karl's fish tank,
the water fountain, the sink drain, the toilet, Mallett's Creek, and
much, much more. 

A sample from the gutters of S-K. A guiding question: Would you be willing to drink this? Why or why not? 

Collecting a sample from nearby Mallett's Creek

We'll be learning how to analyze these samples in different ways in the days and weeks ahead.

Field Trip: Mary Beth Doyle

We took a field trip this afternoon to Mary Beth Doyle Park, the location of the capstone of the Malletts Creek restoration project. We'll be doing a lot of work with watersheds this year, visiting key locations along Washtenaw County waterways. 

Read more about Mary Beth Doyle Park here! 

We spotted plenty of wildlife along the way, including this somewhat nervous praying mantis.

Jason Makes Students Stare into the Sun for a Photo, #124 in an ongoing series.

Watersheds, Wet Meadows, and Long Walks

Today the fifth and sixth graders started work on watersheds. They started by making models and looking at rain flow and point source pollution. We ended the day with a walk to the wet meadow and food forest at Buhr Park.