by Marian Miller, Watershed Educator
Recently, I worked with 4th Grade students at the George Keverian School in Everett. Their attention was focused on learning about stormwater pollution in the Mystic River watershed.
First, we found storm drains located on the school grounds, and took a close look. Then they learned about the kinds of pollutants that entered storm drains and where the stormwater emptied (in the closest waterbody!!!! Yikes, who knew?).
Jose’s diagram of a storm drain (catch basin)
Then they engaged in an engineering design project, thinking creatively about catch basin (storm drain) models that could reduce stormwater pollution. They brainstormed ideas about how pollution entering storm drains could be reduced. Some of their ideas:
“We could make a machine to remove leaves.”
“We could make a storm drain with really tiny holes”
“We could make a storm drain that opens and closes.”
“Someone could make a robot to clean up all the trash around the storm drain.”
“Make a sign to tell people about where storm drains empty.”
They thought about their ideas, and then drew diagrams of how they might build a better storm drain.
In groups, students discussed how to build models, and then built 3-D models.
And they shared their learnings with others by creating Public Service Messages about stormwater pollution and inviting others to see their inventions.
This was an amazing project! Thanks to 4th Grade teacher Jada Simmons Ononeme for collaborating with us and Keverian School Principal Alex Naumann for supporting this program.
Want to bring the wonder of the watershed to your classroom? Reach out to Marian at Marian.Miller@mysticriver.org!
