4th grade students at Coral Academy of Science were “unleashed” from their classrooms this past Thursday as they had the chance to perform water quality tests at the Sparks Marina! Rotating through three different testing stations, students measured dissolved oxygen levels, pH, and temperature of both the Marina water and previously collected buckets of Truckee River water. In spite of the group’s obvious excitement and about being outside—not to mention the intense winds that picked up shortly after their arrival—students were engaged in inquiry-based discussions regarding the pH scale, the effects of changes in pH, the importance of dissolved oxygen, and different factors that can effect dissolved oxygen levels. After testing water temperature, Sierra Nevada Journeys instructor, Kristen aka Sequoia, facilitated a hands-on food web activity to illustrate the interconnectivity between different organisms and their habitats.

As one of the Sierra Nevada Journeys’ instructors on this field-trip, it was hard to tell who was having more fun—the students, or the parents and teachers. The parent chaperones seemed equally engaged in learning about our water-testing kits along with the test results, as quite a few of their kids go swimming in the marina during the warmer seasons. One parent in particular chuckled when the group was gathered in a circle sharing results—apparently the marina was a little healthier than he expected! To finish off the morning, students had a chance to explore the marina, observe some of the impressive bird species, and record their observations in the form of a drawing or short paragraph. All in all, it was a great day, and another example of the value of place based learning.

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