Aquatic Chemistry: Bull Run

Many elements of Protocol 9 were followed to analyze the water quality of Bull Run, and to evaluate the facility of conducting similar monitoring with middle school students. Click on picture below for a presentation of this effort.

Watershed Wiki for Students

In my previous teaching job as a 7th grade science teacher, I engaged my students in creating wiki pages on genetics vocabulary through BlackBoard. This year, I plan for my 6th graders to create wiki pages on a unit we will cover in the spring - watersheds. This approach has several advantages. It is highly engaging for students, allows them to make connections (links) between concepts, and provides a means for providing - and receiving - feedback on their work. Challenges involved in using this approach can include limited computer availability in schools, and deciding how to assess student work.    My students' grades will be base on a simple rubric that requires them to include a clear, detailed description of their assigned term; to include a visual element; to create at least one hyperlink; and to comment on other students' wiki pages. CLICK on the BLUE area below to open the presentation.

WV Stream Monitoring and Advocacy

During the six wonderful years I lived in West Virginia, I occasionally accompanied citizen groups on stream monitoring "expeditions." That was quite a few years ago, and I wondered about current monitoring and advocacy efforts, so this is the focus of my presentation.

Most Endangered Rivers

American Rivers, an advocacy group working to protect and restore U.S. Rivers, ranks the Potomac River number 1 on this list.

Four Mile Run Watershed: Class Presentation

This presentation contains a couple of links to rich sources of information about the Four Mile Run Watershed. My focus in this presentation is to 1) share these information sources with others interested in learning more about this local watershed and 2) define my goal as a teacher to use this information to enhance my lessons.

Turbidity Measurement Presentation

Finally Finding Asiatic Clams!

On our first class field trip - to Turkey Run - we learned from Jim Egenrieder that the Asiatic clam (Corbicula fluminea) is an invasive species that has become common in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Since then, my daughters have wanted to investigate the filtering capacity of these small mollusks for a science project, and finding them has become a family preoccupation. We are now happily in possession of several dozen clams. Huge thank you's to Jim for finding and delivering clams to us - and to Aaron, Morlai, and Luz for recommending Bull Run as a collection place.

Julie finds a clam!

Clams were abundant in the gravelly, pebbly stream bed.

Bull Run near Rt. 28 (Centerville Rd) overpass.