Valleywood Middle School
Project Description:
The driving question for this project was, “How does human activity impact water sustainability?” Students in an English Language Arts class generated their own questions from this driving question and then completed a research paper. Students in Science studied the water cycle and the Kentwood Water Quality report, and then field-tested water quality in school, at home, and from the creek outside. In math, students graphed their findings. Social Studies teachers built knowledge of water sustainability through a reading of A Long Walk to Water. Finally, groups worked together to create two deliverables: a tri-fold board displaying their research question and findings as well as a Public Service Announcement. This announcement was shared with the student body during morning “Channel One” time. The project culminated the project with a fieldtrip to the Grand Rapids Museum, where students interacted with an exhibit that follows the path of a water droplet.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Students now see how the interconnectedness of water and human systems.
Partners:
City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming
Teachers:
4
Students:
170
Funder:
GVSU College of Education
Project Description:
We expanded the social justice and environmental sustainability focus of the Groundswell Light project, “Water Is Life”, we completed in 2017-2018. We have a long-range, 5-year plan for a project-based learning experience for our 185 students in which they will design and build an Outdoor Learning Lab (outdoor classroom). The project will draw on skills learned in ELA, Science, Social Studies, Math, EL (English Learning), and Technology.
This year we began by creating winter-sown greenhouses for native seeds we harvested. We will track the cold-germination in soil from our property near Buck Creek, potting soil, and sand. We will track the data of both native and purchased seeds. Students planted seeds that survived in a native pollinator garden on a plot.
Next, we had students build a water robot. We took students to Buck Creek to test the water in the creek near the school. Students tracked the data from the robot’s water samples. Data will be used to determine which native plants to place next year.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Students studied the local watershed around Buck Creek which runs through Valleywood’s school property. Through cultivation and planting of native pollinators, students learned about the importance of native species in preserving and protecting local water sources. We hope to expand this study to include a field trip to the Grand River and Lake Michigan in years to come.
Partners:
Friends of Buck Creek, City of Kentwood, St. Mary Magdalen
Teachers:
6
Students:
185
Funder:
Baldwin Foundation
Showcase Video:
https://youtu.be/NE9PCnK5Wo8
Project Description:
This year, Valleywood Middle saw two projects collaborate on campus.
Zoerhof's students planted native restoration plants on the banks of Buck Creek in an effort to slow the sentimental process down to decrease sediment in Buck Creek. [They planted] multiple native plants with a native plant consultant.
Van Hof's students raised salmon from orange/black eyed eggs to fingerlings that were released in the Grand River in April. Eggs were received through Wolf Lake Fishery. Students created graphs and kept track of water quality of the fish tank to keep as many fish alive and well throughout the 8 month raising process.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Zorhof observed that students were very engaged about taking action in their school yard. They were able to create maps of the creek with the plants they planted with enthusiasm. Students were able to inform other students about the new plants in their school yard.
Van Hof observed that the best part of the students’ day [was] going to the fish tank and monitoring the fish and completing their research findings in the salmon books. They were very excited to see the growth difference in the fish and beyond excited to release them in the river.
Partners:
Revery LLC, Trout Unlimited
Teachers:
Bobbijo Zorhof, 7th Grade, Social Studies; Jane Van Hof, 7th Grade, English Language Arts
Students:
55
Funder:
MiSTEM, Great Lakes Fishery Trust
Showcase Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55-lX8YbhRI&list=PLV2DqaYFEsPwEUUHkVf4EWeARMMgZa9NL&index=24
Project Description:
We continued to build our native plant garden in our Outdoor Learning Lab space on school grounds (Valleywood) from previous Groundswell funds. We continue to plant native plants in this area to slow the run-off process from our school parking lots.
This year, added to this Outdoor Learning Lab area by edging and lining the area with student-made garden stones that reflect sustainability practices on the stones for community awareness on how to be environmentally conscious of runoff water and/or how to do your part in keeping our watershed free of chemicals/trash and other substances.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Students had a new attitude about their own stewardship in taking care of our school creek, Buck Creek. Being out in the creek, students take water quality tests to make a plan to address run-off issues from our school parking lot. Students were very willing to help the native plants and create artwork reflecting how we are taking care of the creek.
Partners:
Revery Landscape Architecture Studio
Teachers:
Bobbijo Zoerhof, 7th & 8th Grade, Social Studies; Jane Van Hof, 7th Grade, English Language Arts
Students:
138
Funder:
The Baldwin Foundation, Teach Bosch Grant
Showcase Video: (Found on YouTube page)