School-wide PBL: Water Conservation and Purification
Driving Question: How can we improve the water quality of the Chattahoochee River?
The Chattahoochee River originates in the southern Appalachian Mountains and flows southwest directly through Metro Atlanta. The most serious environmental threat to the river is caused by urban construction and land development. This development allows for storm water and waste water pollutants to enter into the river. We take action to improve the Chattahoochee River! Healthy watersheds are essential to providing clean drinking water, wildlife habitats, and recreational activities. When it comes to addressing water quality, here's how our work can help improve water quality in our community--
Water Quality Monitoring: Through partnering to collect pollutants and monitor storm drains, our students work to improve the quality of surface runoff water before it even gets to the river. Surface water is 1% of usable water freshwater in Georgia. Of that 1%, 63% of the water is used daily for drinking water alone!
Erosion Control: Erosion control is crucial to decrease the sediment and potential pollutants flowing directly into the Chattahoochee River. By focusing on increasing erosion control through natural plant growth and education, our students are protecting our watershed.
Conservation Efforts: Caring for the fish fosters a conservation ethic in the students, and the act of walking to a streambank and directly releasing the fingerlings into the water makes a concrete connection between caring for the fish and caring for the water.
Education and Awareness: Through raising of trout and working to improve the watershed in our local community, students are able to educate and raise awareness to others in the community. These experiences provide students with a deeper understanding of the importance of taking care of our watershed and the wildlife in it.
Our Students Taking Action
Kindergarten
Partnered with Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited, primary students experience the trout life cycle firsthand. Twice per year, we raise approximately 100 trout in our indoor aquarium. In the process, students learn about living and non-living things, animal basic needs, and human impact on the environment. The trout are released in the Chattahoochee River in December and April.
1st Grade
In order to improve water quality of the Chattahoochee, we must know what is going in our storm drains! Working with Trees Atlanta, students learned what grows best in our local community. 1st grade is working to revamp our Primary Campus courtyard in order to reduce runoff going into our school's storm drains.
2nd Grade
Throughout the year, students examine the Georgia habitats and the impact on the Chattahoochee River. Students worked with the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers to understand exactly what is going into the river and how to take action to clean up our creeks and river!
3rd Grade
What goes into our storm drains greatly impacts the Chattahoochee River. Through working with Atlanta Watershed Management , 3rd grade strives to educate the community and protect our storm drains! In our area, one of the major culprits is pet waste. Through creating PSAs, students strive to protect our storm drains to improve water quality of the Chattahoochee River!
4th Grade
After touring the Hemphill Water Treatment Plant, our 4th grade inspires to improve water quality in our area. Students create their own questions to research and investigate how they can take local action to improve our water quality. Partnering with Chastain Park Conservancy, students work to improve the water quality in the Nancy Creek.
5th Grade
Students work to improve the water quality of the Chattahoochee River by raising trout in our outdoor labitat. Through a partnership with Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited, 5th grade students are in charge of raising over 2,000 trout from eggs to juvenile. They monitor ammonia levels, exchange water, and connect locally to improve water quality of the Chattahoochee River. In addition, 5th grade focuses on improving the erosion and runoff issues at our school that impact the Chattahoochee River Watershed.
Interested in partnering with Trout Unlimited? They are looking to expand the program in Metro Atlanta! Reach out to Laura Dostie if you would like to learn more about what we do at Jackson Elementary--lmdostie@apsk12.org
Learn more about Trout in the Classroom: https://www.troutintheclassroom.org/