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Earthworks
Earth System Science for Secondary Teachers
Rocky Mt. Arsenal Wetland Area Study
I plan to take my students to a wetland area on the Rocky Mt. Arsenal (Denver, CO), to survey and gain an appreciation for organisms that live in that environment. (If the RMA is not available, I will implement the plan at an alternate site near the school).
Who: AP Biology Students - All Seniors
What: A survey of organisms (microorganisms, macroinvertebrates, insects, fish, plants, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, and water chemistry in a wetland area.
Why: To offer my student an opportunity to learn various techniques of data collection, and to do real science in the field.
Where: Rocky Mt. Arsenal (if possible) or an alternate site in Northeast Denver.
When: 6-10 field visits during the school year (August - May)
Potential Barriers: Bomblets at the Arsenal, lack of parental permission (not likely).
Methods: Water chemistry, observation, use of dichotomous keys, field guides, making casts of tracks, and possibly catch and release fishing.
Connections Between Projects: DUH!
Extension: Students can compare information about their pond to that from other sites - slow and fast moving streams, ponds in other environments, and even correspond with other Earthworks teachers' classes.
Fun With Piezometer Wells
Jill Spivey (Earthworks 2000)
What: We will drill a number of piezometer wells in the vicinity of Montbello (the northeast section of Denver, CO)
When: Hopefully, during fall 2000 and spring 2001
Why: AP Biology students can test water chemistry and look for microorganisms. Geology students can become familiar with soil horizons and the interconnectedness of groundwater & surface water
Where: Either a pond at 54th and Chambers (Montbello) or a pond on Rocky Mountain Arsenal*
Who: AP Biology students (seniors) and Geology students (10-12)
How: I am hoping to get permission from the water department to place a number of piezometer wells around a pond. An auger will be used to drill the holes, and one-inch diameter PVC pipe (with screen cut into one end and that end capped) will be packed into the hole with play sand. Biology students will use a bailer to collect water from wells in order to perform water chemistry studies (fall) and microorganism studies (spring). Geology students will drill the holes in order to study soil types and horizons, and to appreciate the relationship between surface and groundwater.
*If, for some reason, it is not possible to place the wells at 54th and Chambers, I will check with Rocky Flats, an area that used to contain radioactive stuff, but is slowly being cleaned up and turned into a wildlife refuge. It is located 1-2 miles from Montbello High School.
Water Sampling Project
Jill Spivey (Earthworks 1999)
I'd like to be able to take water samples from Sand Creek or Rocky Mountain Arsenal (or both). We could do complete pond studies, including chemical environment, invertebrate counts, and plant life.
The two water bodies are proximal to Montbello High School, and the studies can be used over the whole year in biology
Ideally, it would be useful to do it once first semester (chem unit) and twice second unit (plants then animals).
Resources? Buses (transportation), nets, ziploc bags or collection jars, rubber boots, ID books, water testing kits, CBLs would be fun.
Sand Creek is nearby, Rocky Mountain Arsenal is in their back yard. They would probably see these studies as being meaningful, and would enjoy the chance to play OUTSIDE.
Where is the problem with fitting this into curriculum? Biology (duh). Geology class could do it as well.
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