Water Monitoring at Axe Factory Run VideoApril 4, 2011 - Just a couple of hundred yards behind Volney Rogers Middle School in Youngstown sits Axe Factory Run, and that creek has become an outdoor classroom for students.
\'We were out here, doing tests on the water to see the oxygen level, how much acid is in it,\' said student Anthony Rossi. \'We were also out here looking for animals.\' Fifty-one seventh and eighth graders got a chance to study wildlife and water in the creek. They then shared their findings with environmental engineers from General Motors. \'It\'s a partnership between GM, YSU, and Earthforce Green. We do it annually,\' said Michael O\'Hara, a GM environmental engineer. \'They come out and do water testing, water quality. They search through the water, they get micro-invertibrates. Pretty much see the quality of the water. Get them some background and some science.\' The kids said the experience has helped them get excited about science. \'\"Probably going through the water and the rocks, and taking the samples of the water,\\\" said student Taylor Labus. \'Finding out what was in the water. That was probably the most interesting thing, because I like finding things.\' Teachers said the outdoor science lesson was a great way to link textbook with real life. \'We want to take the indicators, the standards that we\'re supposed to be learning, and we take them out here,\' said Norma McDevitt, the students instructor. \'Because they don\\\'t understand as well by reading about science. They have to do it. So they did nitrate testing, and phosphates, the PH of the water.\' Their experiments found the water to be good, but not drinkable. (Reprinted from \\\'Students Get Hands-On Science Lesson\\\' from WKBN.com) |
