Project Description: In an effort to reduce nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, East
Kentwood freshmen analyzed the water quality of the Buck Creek
watershed and transformed a section of the school campus. Students
began by completing a comparative water quality analysis of a Buck
Creek tributary (on the campus of EKFC) and Buck Creek. Students used
the data to assess EKFC’s NPS pollution impact on the surrounding
watershed. Students then researched topics related to native plants
and water quality in their English class, culminating in a research
paper and bibliography. In addition, the students tested soil in
several areas of the courtyard, then grew and planted native flowers
and grasses for the garden to improve water absorption and quality of
runoff. The plants were grown in the students’ biology class, and some
plants were transplanted to the transformed courtyard. The project
also improved the aesthetic quality of the courtyard by featuring
student sculptures that reflect the ideas and values of conservation,
along with informational signage. Finally, in a second English class,
students worked on a research unit on eco-justice, and in history
class students studied social justice. At EFKC, content teachers are
teamed, and this project spanned over two teaching teams and 250
students working in Biology, English, Art, and Social Studies classes.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: This project raised the students’ awareness of what is occurring
in their own world. They have been provided an opportunity to interact
and impact their own ecosystem, realizing that they can make a
difference. Many students now want to plant in their own backyards
this summer.
Partners: Rebecca Marquardt, Landscape Architect; Jason Googins, Master Naturalist
Teachers: 4
Students: 250
Funder: GVSU College of Education and Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative
Project Description: The goal of this project was to analyze water quality of the Buck
Creek watershed and to maintain the recently-created rain garden on
the school's campus. Students completed a water quality analysis of a
Buck Creek tributary (on the campus of East Kentwood Freshman Campus)
to assess the school's nonpoint source pollution impact on the
surrounding watershed. Students built models and prototypes of rain
gardens to identify materials and designs to enhance rain garden
efficacy. Students then researched a variety of topics related to
native plants and water quality issues in their English class,
culminating in a research paper and bibliography. In addition, the
students maintained the native flowers and grasses of the garden to
improve water absorption efficacy and quality of runoff. Finally,
students worked on a parallel research unit on ecojustice, and in
history students studied social justice. In addition to completing
research, analyzing data,and creating models, biology students voiced
their NPS concerns by participating in a public Socratic seminar.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students will be much more engaged in the discussions and policy
decisions that revolve around water quality in the West Michigan
watershed. Most students were surprised to learn the extent to which
our watershed is polluted and, more importantly, the steps they can
take to improve our environment. The hope is students will utilize
their public debate skills and the knowledge gained from this
experience as they move forward in their academic and career pursuits.
Our cross-curricular project this year evolved into a presentation
that students created where they examined ONE way we (humans)
typically get out food, how that could negatively affect the
environment, and how we can develop novel solutions to address the
problem. An emphasis was put on making sure they could support their
arguments with data and reasoning based on scientific studies/reports.
This work included tying in math concepts related to the exponential
growth of the human population, social studies concepts of human
rights related to access to healthy food, and ELA components related
to presenting and defending claims using nonfiction sources. Some
students presented their work at the showcase too.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
I expect students will have a newfound sense of empowerment - they
can see how they could investigate a real-world problem that affects
their lives and start to form a solution. Next year I hope to have
them engage with community partners and get high-quality feedback on
the depth of knowledge they show in this project. Then we could see
substantial and exciting change in terms of how they view the
environment - particularly the role that growing and getting food
plays across many stewardship issues.
Partners:
Our Kitchen Table, Plainsong Farm, GVSU Sustainable Ag
Teachers:
Robert Barrett, 9th Grade, Biophysics; Joshua Miller, 9th Grade,
Math; Cody Bennett, 9th, ELA; Madison Arevalo, 9th Grade, ESL; Preston
Pierson, 9th Grade, History; Robert Barrett, 9th Grade, Science
