Even the youngest students learn the importance of water to living things. For 7th graders at Monticello and Roxboro Middle Schools, they dive a little deeper.
The opening unit for 7th-grade science is Earth’s Water, during which they study the properties of water, the water cycle, surface versus groundwater, the impact of human activity on water availability and quality, mastering concepts like permeability, cohesion versus adhesion, and solubility.
While much of their learning takes place in the classroom, they also have the opportunity to experience the Greater Cleveland Watershed with a visit to the Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center in Parma.
Located in the West Creek reservation, the Center is the “first facility in the Cleveland Metroparks dedicated to scientific research and promoting sustainable actions,” according to its website.
While at the Stewardship Center, students participate in the Stream Ecology program and work in small groups to study a topographic map of Cleveland’s waterways, including those underground, as they learn about the impact of major storms on the water systems.
A highlight is standing inside an actual pipe and imagining water rushing through it. They can observe snakes and fish while learning about what a healthy water stream should look like. They can even catch salamanders and tadpoles in the marsh.
There’s also an indoor station where they study erosion and deposition, determining how and where to build houses alongside a water source. They also look at various options for improving the sustainability of clean water, including rain drums, permeable concrete, rain chains, and rooftop gardens.
Roxboro teacher Megan McLaughlin said this trip is a highlight for students. “They love and always remember what they learned.”
Two classes at a time visit over eight different days, allowing students to experience the water system in-depth. Each of the four 7th grade science teachers, Lee Anne Chambers and Sarah Cusick at Monticello and McLaughlin and Patrick Williams at Roxboro, teaches multiple course sections.
In addition to reinforcing learning for students in an exciting way, the field trip directly benefits the school district through discounts on its sewer bill from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. That sounds like a win-win.