Real Learning Real Work Update |
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Students from Chimacum Middle School Planting native trees and shrubs in their plots.
Image by Kevin Merrigan.
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Students from Sequim Middle School planting in their assigned plots at River's Edge along the Dungeness River.
Image by Kevin Merrigan.
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The success of this program would not be possible without the help and cooperation of the teachers and volunteers from Blue Heron Middle School, Chimacum Middle School, and Sequim Middle School. We even had students from Chimacum High School there to support us on Chimacum's second field trip! We work closely with the teachers throughout the program, so we asked them to tell us a little about what they have observed and their perspective on the impact of the program!
“The Real Learning Real Work program has been a cornerstone tool in our 7th grade classes for years. It allows students to create solutions to a real world problem that is meaningful to them. It also allows teachers an opportunity to integrate math, science, art and language arts seamlessly into a unified project. And it provides an opportunity for teachers and students to forge deeper relationships while working outdoors in all weather conditions.”
-Roger Mills, Blue Heron Middle School Teacher
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Students from Blue Heron Middle School collaborating in their plot groups.
Image by Kevin Merrigan.
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"From a science classroom teacher perspective, I cannot speak highly enough about the impact of the work done by the North Olympic Salmon Coalition. Their various lessons touched on biology, botany, ecology, data collection and engineering. These classroom visits prepared student for their eventual field work at River’s Edge to support salmon habitat restoration. I believe our students are now more equipped than ever to become the eventual stewards and advocates of this special place we all call home."
-Joseph Landoni, Sequim Middle School Teacher
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Macroinvertebrate Lessons at Chimacum |
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Students looking at macroinvertebrates at their tables. Image Al Gonzalez |
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This year, we also visited Al Gonzalez’s 5th-6th graders at Chimacum Elementary School and provided a lesson on the history of the Chimacum Watershed and a lesson analyzing the health of Chimacum Creek based on the aquatic organisms present. NOSC staff brought in small trays containing various macroinvertebrates (small organisms with no backbone that can be seen without a microscope) found in the creek, including stoneflies, mayflies, caddisflies, leeches, worms, midges, and various other organisms! Students used digital microscopes to take pictures of these aquatic animals to identify them. Based on the life present in their samples, students would determine the water quality of Chimacum Creek. We would like to thank Al Gonzalez for being able to provide such amazing technology for students that allows them to have a more interactive experience with science! |
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This may look like debris, but students found many aquatic organisms using a microscope.
Image by Al Gonzalez.
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.Students get images from their microscopes sent to the computer to see the macroinvertebrates up close.
Image by Al Gonzalez
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Salmon in the Schools Concludes |
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Students from Salish Coast Elementary Releasing Salmon.
Image by Nate Roberts.
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Our Salmon in the Schools program concluded earlier this May with field trips to Chimacum Creek where local elementary students from Salish Coast Elementary and Chimacum Elementary released the coho salmon they had raised in their classrooms. Grand funding from the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) provided our 3 partner schools with the equipment needed to raise the fish, three class lessons on the salmon life cycle and healthy habitat, assistance in aquarium maintenance, and help in planning and facilitating a field trip to release their fish. We reached 240 elementary students this year and have plans to include even more schools next year! We would like to thank the teachers and volunteers from Salish Coast Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, and Chimacum Elementary for helping make this a successful program! We could not have done it without you!
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Students from Chimacum Elementary walking onto the field to play a game based on the life cycle of salmon!
Image by Mae Wolfe.
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Hear what some of the teachers had to say about Salmon in the Schools:
"The classroom lessons taught students the life cycle of the salmon and the importance of salmon in the ecosystem. Students gained important life science lessons that support the Next Generation of Science Standards. The students would ask, 'When will we have the scientists for another lesson?'"
-George Kheriaty, Hamilton Elementary School Teacher
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Teachers from Chimacum Elementary holding coho salmon in their cups.
Image by Mae Wolfe.
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[What did you like most about the SITS?]
"The daily hands-on learning & engagement from students. Every day for 3 months students were able to feed, monitor water quality & observe the different phases of the salmon life-cycle. Students said 'Watching the salmon hatch, How cool is that!'"
-Michelle Mosley, Chimacum Elementary School Teacher.
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Students arriving at HJ Carroll to release their salmon at Chimacum Creek!
Image by Michelle Mosley.
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THANK YOU! You helped us reach and exceed our GiveBIG goal to support our new Salmon in the Schools program. We're so grateful to you, our generous community, and the myriad of ways you bolster, encourage, and champion our work. Not only do the students benefit from your generosity, but the salmon do as well! This image by Michele Mosley is from the Chimacum Elementary School release day in late April. Such a joyous time was had by all!
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Visit Us at Your Local Farmer's Market This Summer! |
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NOSC will be hosting an information table at multiple farmer's markets in Jefferson and Clallam County this summer! Come by to get a sticker, learn about NOSC happenings, and check out our merchandise!
Locations/Dates:
Port Angeles
June 11
July 23
Port Townsend
July 2
August 13
Sequim
July 9
August 27
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Base funding for the RFEG program comes from a grant from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, a portion of state commercial and recreational fishing license fees, and excess egg and carcass sales administered by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. |
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Give Us Your Feedback
Questions or Comments? Let us know what you think!
outreach@nosc.org
360.379.8051
www.nosc.org
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