Fifth-grade science students have been diving into the study of Earth’s Systems: the Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere. To connect these systems to real-world examples, they took a trip to Washington State to learn about the Elwha Watershed Region.
This engaging learning experience allowed students to investigate how the Elwha Dam affected the environment and living organisms. They also discovered how limited Earth’s freshwater resources are.
Students participated in both small- and large-group discussions, built models, read articles, analyzed data, and developed their own solutions to address freshwater challenges.
Bringing their learning closer to home, students visited the local Carroll Solid Waste Management facility. Abbey Conrad, Education Coordinator, provided a presentation about the facility’s purpose and the importance of properly constructing landfills to reduce environmental harm. The learning objective was: “How can proper construction of a landfill help reduce negative impacts on our environment?”
After Ms. Conrad’s presentation, students engaged in a hands-on STEM activity where they constructed miniature landfill models and tested for leachate (contaminated liquid) leakage into groundwater.
The kids did an excellent job throughout the unit, thinking like scientists, sharing their thoughts and ideas, and collaborating with one another.