Objective 2: Student-driven Best Management Practices
1) Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Cherry Creek Water Quality Monitoring
2010-2011 School Year: Photos below
2013-2014 School Year
Mrs. Gilbert applied for and received a Schoolshed Mini-Grant of $1500 through Maryland State Department of Education and Chesapeake Bay Trust. With Alan Klotz, DNR Regional Fisheries Manager, 6th-8th grade students are conducting a Stream Assessment on nearby Cherry Creek on October 9, 2013 and April 11, 2014. They are also taking a field trip to Northern High School on April 8 to help them with their Stream Assessment of Cove Run. The grant application and project outline are attached. Swan Meadow School's restoration project, funded by the grant, will be the planting of an apple orchard parallel to nearby Cherry Creek. It will provide a buffer between the school's runoff and the creek on the other side of the school's fence.
Mrs. Gilbert applied for and received a Schoolshed Mini-Grant of $1500 through Maryland State Department of Education and Chesapeake Bay Trust. With Alan Klotz, DNR Regional Fisheries Manager, 6th-8th grade students are conducting a Stream Assessment on nearby Cherry Creek on October 9, 2013 and April 11, 2014. They are also taking a field trip to Northern High School on April 8 to help them with their Stream Assessment of Cove Run. The grant application and project outline are attached. Swan Meadow School's restoration project, funded by the grant, will be the planting of an apple orchard parallel to nearby Cherry Creek. It will provide a buffer between the school's runoff and the creek on the other side of the school's fence.
PIERS Run-off Investigation
Students in Mrs. Foley's 3rd-5th grades (15 students) learned about the effects of Run-off through a PIERS "Raindrop to Run-off to Ocean" Unit completed April 2013. During the experiment shown below, students investigated the speed with which water was absorbed by various surfaces (soil, wood chips, gravel, asphalt) and drew conclusions regarding the best types of surfaces to minimize the effects of run-off.
Erosion & Weathering Investigation
In February 2011, students in 3rd-8th grades learned about erosion and weathering supported by lessons and activities Mrs. Foley and Mrs. Gilbert received as part of the Science Rocks Summer Academy. Project Coordinator, Katie James, helped the students model the effects of erosion and weathering with a Stream Table investigation. Students used principles learned throughout their lessons to create model landscapes that would reduce the negative impact of erosion and weathering on an agricultural area.