So much to learn

Submitted by Eric Rude on Tue, 2017-06-06 00:00

There is so much to learn from and about the Portneuf River! Whether it's looking at the aquatic invertebrates or the variety of fish or the turbidity of the water, we can learn something new. Why was the water so clear last year and so cloudy this year? How important are the sculpins, dace, and shiners to the overall health of the river? How does diverting the river for irrigation affect what happens downstream? How do we get our students as excited about the Portneuf as we are? How do we study the river when our classes are in the middle of winter?

Comments

Kris Ferrin's picture

I agree.  I live in Idaho Falls and was born in Pocatello.  I lived there for 10 years and never explored the river.  The Miles Projects videos were very educational.  Marsh Creek I have never been there, but the water was a Muddy Mystery until the project began investigating it.  It seems like the Miles Projects are trying to help Idaho and find ways to preserve our natural water purification process so we do not loose water as an Ecosystem Resource.

Maria Wilson's picture

 Why is the water cloudy?   

Why did the float time change?

 I believe some of the best lessons occur when I ask questions and let my students teach each other.  

 I love the types of questions this adventure learning creates.

 

Maria Wilson's picture

Exploring the Portneuf river at sunset. 

Maria Wilson's picture

Eric I believe your interest is a huge plus for your students. 

Jocelyn Hayes's picture

Teachers that are asking questions make awesome teachers.  For anyone that thinks teachers don't work in the summer has yet to meet a teacher who is excited about returning in the fall to engage students about what they learned through the summer.  Just this last four days has inspired me to develop a 10 day portion of my curriculum map in Life Science to learning and talking about the rivers and water sources in our valley.