Summer Session 2 and 3

 July 15^th Workshop session

Sarah Larochelle, Fredericksburg Academy, is developing a multi-stage project.  She will involve her students in composting and using the compost to help grow seedlings that will be transplanted to a garden area.  She will also have students examine the soil in the garden area, looking at several factors.  This could lead to an opportunity to eventually study the soil where compost has been added, to see if the character of the soil changes.  Sarah is also planning to have students work with making paper – using waste materials that aren’t usually added to compost.

 August 5^th Workshop session

Several teachers attended this session with a variety of project ideas.  Megan Laskowski and Meredith Stalker, Courtland Elementary in Spotsylvania County, are planning a pollinator garden for their school, focusing on native plants.  They are considering using a Nature Journaling model to guide/engage students in recording their observations of the plants as they grow and the different insects that might be attracted to those plants.  They noted that the area they hope to use is often wet, which led to a discussion of the use of rain barrels or types of drainage ditches that might help solve the problem.

             Carla Waller and Beth Wiesner, Rockledge Elementary in Prince William County, are developing plans for a bird survey in a wooded area adjacent to their school.  This would involve the use of feeders.  We discussed various types of feeders that might be used to attract different types of birds.  We also discussed the possible problem of squirrels, and types of feeders (or birdseed) that are squirrel proof.  We also discussed the use of bird ID apps such as Merlin or BirdNet, and materials that will help the students observe the birds at the feeders (birdcams, spotting scopes, and binoculars.)

Gwenette Monroe, Hugh Mercer Elementary, Fredericksburg, and Christine Rigg, Salem Elementary in Spotsylvania, are both developing composting projects.  Gwenette is focusing on worm composting, introducing students not only to the ideas and processes of composting but also to the study of worms and the role they play in enriching soils.  The idea of getting the worms from local bait stores was discussed as a better alternative to relying on the worms that are delivered with the worm composting cabinet.  Christine is looking at several small classroom composting sets that allow students to closely observe the process of decomposition – and the changes in the soil and composted materials over time.  These kits also allow for side-by-side comparison of how different materials decompose. 

Resource Links:

Downtown Greens (downtowngreens.org) is a Fredericksburg-based nonprofit organization. An organic, urban green space that provides a number of garden-based youth programs.

Friends of the Rappahannock (riverfriends.org) is an organization that provides watershed related educational opportunities, advocates for the Rappahannock river, and engaged in a number of restoration projects along the river.

Tri-County/City Soil & Water Conservation District (tccswcd.org) provides “technical assistance, information, educational programs … to citizens on many aspects of water quality, pollution, and stream health.”

 

Summer Session 1

        We had our first summer session on Saturday, July 1st, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Crow's Nest Research Center.  Beth Wiesner and Carla Waller from Rockledge Elementary School, Prince William County, Amtulnoor Grosser from Garrisonville Elementary in Stafford County, and Michelle Midkiff from Fredericksburg Academy in Fredericksburg attended.  

        We looked at some new materials and resources and discussed projects.  Beth and Carla are collaborating on an insect survey project.  They'll have students collecting, identifying, and describing the insects they collect using sweep nets.  They also want to develop a journal that students will use during the survey. Amtulnoor will extend her aquaponics project.  She is looking at different approaches to teaching her students about this topic, possibly working with a hydroponics unit first, then introducing the idea of plant nutrients supplied by the fish.  Michelle is planning a set of learning centers that would be linked to her classes kayak trips to the quarry.  There might be a birding station, a nature journaling stations, and a water quality station.  We also talked about the possibility of sampling the water for microplastics.

        The session was very productive in terms of asking questions and discussing ideas.  It was also a beautiful day for sitting outside and talking about the projects.

Related Links:

How to Collect Insects with a Sweep Net: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grpgFICyod4

Babylegs for Microplastic sampling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5oMwgXNq8s

How to make Babylegs samplers: https://www.core77.com/projects/89327/BabyLegs-a-DIY-Research-Trawl-That-Allows-Citizens-to-Monitor-Ocean-Plastic

Additional Resources from Michelle Midkiff:

"In case anyone is interested, this is the gardening/hydroponics grant I applied for. They are accepting applications through July 21. You need a letter from your principal, so make sure to factor that into your time frame."

https://kidsgardening.org/the-latest-green-our-planet-2/

"Also, I thought Beth and Carla might be interested in this: https://naturalsciences.org/exhibits/special-exhibitions/exquisite-creatures

And this, where you can zoom in on insects, which is breathtakingly beautiful: http://microsculpture.net/microsculpture.html#:~:text=Levon%20Biss%20explains%20his%20photographic,in%20front%20of%20the%20lens."

Patawomeck Stories - Dr. Brad Hatch

 

Slides from a presentation by Dr. Brad Hatch of the Patawomeck Tribe about eel pots, carp pens, and Patawomeck fishing/basketry.  Click here to see the PDF.

Summer Workshop Dates

We’ve set some dates for the summer workshop sessions.  The sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. through 11:00 a.m. and will be at the Crow’s Nest Research Center.  While you only need to attend one session, you're welcome to come to as many as you'd like.  The dates are:

• June 24
• July 1
• July 15
• August 5

These sessions provide the opportunity to discuss and develop ideas for your project, and order (or collect if you’ve already sent us your list) materials you’ll be using.  The sessions are family friendly, and we will provide drinks and snacks.  Please e-mail me to let me know what session you plan on attending.  And, if you’ve already decided on a project and you’re ready to start ordering materials, please send that information.  If none of the dates work for you, let me know and we will arrange a make-up session.

I’ve updated the project website with links from the first workshop (see post below).  If you couldn’t attend that workshop, take a look at the PowerPoint and visit the Friends of the Rappahannock site (links are in the post) to see some of their watershed linked activities.  The PowerPoint provides a list of some project ideas and if you have any questions about those projects, please let me know.

Workshop 1 - Links

 

        We had our first workshop June 10th, at the Crow's Nest Research Center.  Nancy Stalik, Education Director at the Friends of the Rappahannock provided a workshop on Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) along with a lot of great ideas demonstrating how MWEEs work for all students, and can be especially helpful in working with exceptional children.  Lisa Lewis talked about teaching exceptional children and Dr. Brad Hatch talked about the Patawomeck tribe and its historical use of eel pots and nets in the local watershed.  Amtulnoor Grosser talked about her work with aquaponics and Shin Chang-Meadows spoke about the possibilities of publishing your own children's books.

        I've copied some of the links for possible project ideas below and I've added a link to the PowerPoint presentation for the workshop. I've also added a new page on Aquaponics - you'll see the link on the website home page.

Friends of the Rappahannock watershed information, including grade-level activities and MWEE guides: 

https://riverfriends.org/justforeducators/

Tubric manipulative for developing Leading Questions for watershed investigations: 

https://www.tubric.com/

Chesapeake Bay Backpack MWEE resources:
https://www.baybackpack.com/

Patawomeck Tribe Museum website:
https://www.patawomeckindiantribeofvirginia.org/museum

Nature Journaling website, from a previous grant:
https://cnrcnaturejournaling.blogspot.com/ 

Workshop 1 PowerPoint:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F787haFOso_SZD0TDClxWJWQRWJ7yVXk/view?usp=sharing

Agenda for First Meeting

 Agenda

9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

·       Introductions

·       Review goals/objectives for the grant

·       Hands-on introduction to watersheds, Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs),    and watershed education for exceptional children provided by educators from Friends of the      Rappahannock.

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

·       Some ideas for possible projects – discussion and practice with examples

o   Nature journaling

o   Weather stations

o   Pop-up nature centers

o   Hydronponics/aquaponics

o   Mini-gardens, including the use of Virginia Native Plants

o   Dr. Brad Hatch, an archeologist with the Patawomeck tribe, will demonstrate how Patawomeck eel pots can be built in the classroom using simple materials.

·       Expectations

o   Choosing a summer session

o   Final reports

o   Stipends

·       Ordering Materials

        We’ll provide drinks (water, iced tea, fruit juice) and snacks.  This is a family-friendly workshop, so if you would like to bring family members, they are welcome. 

 !!!!!!! If you can’t attend this workshop, and you haven’t notified me yet, please send an email.

 

Welcome

The first meeting for this Chesapeake Bay Trust funded project will take place at the Crow's Nest Research Center (CNRC) on June 10, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The first part of the session will be a hands-on demonstration of a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) with an emphasis on project-based learning.  The second part will be a discussion of project topics and materials.  The CNRC is located at 400 Marborough Point Road, in eastern Stafford County.