A Day at The River With MRGS

by Audrey Kepler

Background information about the river trip

Every year for Mrs. Bates's class, the juniors have a trip to two different rivers to collect data on the condition of each. This is to see whether or not the location of the river varies the health condition. During the trip, the juniors will also catch macroinvertebrates at the river. Before being able to catch the macroinvertebrates, there was a lecture about the species and how each one is placed into a class. In class 1 the macroinvertebrates are very sensitive to pollution; in class 2 they are a little more pollution tolerant; and in class 3 they can handle high pollution. 

Identifying and calculating the amount of macro-invertebrates

Students at MRGS catching macroinvertebrates with a.net.

A big part of our research from the river was catching macroinvertebrates and identifying them. Conducting this experiment was important to understand the quality of the Covered Bridge river from how many different species were caught. The way the quality from the river was connected to the macroinvertebrates is because certain species are very sensitive to the water quality. So if the water quality is low then there will be a vast difference in the numbers of sensitive macroinvertebrates. 

Students at MRGS observing the macroinvertebrates they caught.

Testing the water quality 

Students at MRGS collecting around Mrs. Bates for instructions.

Another important part of our trip to the river was to take water samples and do different tests on them. We had a variety of different tests, which included the pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate levels, phosphate levels, the total alkalinity, and ammonia levels. In order to complete the tests, we used Lamotte field kits which were provided by Mrs. Bates. In the kits, they had direct instructions on how to perform the tests. But we also practiced each one with guided help before visiting the river. These tests not only confirmed the results of the calculations of macroinvertebrates, but also introduced more important data about the river quality. 

How the visit to the river played a role in each classroom.

At MRGS the teachers make sure that almost everything we do is connected to each other. In most of our home schools, each class only lectures and assigns papers to write without showing us how the certain curricula can be used outside of school. But here at MRGS it’s taught how each and every unit that's talked about can be used just outside the classroom.

For example, once all of the data from the river trip was plotted onto one google sheet. That singular file was used for all four classes at MRGS.  In English, the data was used to form a narrative essay. In Environmental Science and Statistics, the data was transferred into a Story Map. This formed a story about how the river changed over the years by also using past river data from formal students. For the last class, Ecology and Environ Management. the assignment was to calculate the biometrics from using the exact same table of data that each of the other classes used. It’s important to understand that what you learn in each class can correspond with your daily life or other classes that you enjoy. Without any correlation to each other, it’s hard to enjoy certain classes if all you're thinking is “How will this help me in the future?” If you understand that the class is important for your future. Learning the subject will help you engage more into your studies and overall will encourage you to appreciate it more.