Live Science at the Elwha
December 18, 2006
Roosevelt Middle School eighth graders have been taking a closer look at the future removal of the Elwha dams. Thirty-six students traveled to the Elwha River watershed this fall to test the conditions of the river, study the history and learn more about the causes of conflict with the building and future removal of the dams.
The Olympic Park Institute (OPI) coordinated the cooperative project with a grant funded by the Russell Family Foundation.
“The purpose was to get kids to do real scientific investigations and to educate the community on the conditions and history of the Elwha River,” says Holly Clark, eighth grade science teacher at Roosevelt. “The Elwha project has allowed students an opportunity to become immersed in inquiry and ecological concepts as well as become a part of the nation's attempt to design solutions to save our salmon and preserve the watershed for future recreation.”
Other teachers at Roosevelt have supported the students in their work and have teamed up to include the project in their programs. “Brooke Hendry, our social science teacher, has focused on the removal of the Elwha Dam. Mimi Tiderman, our seminar teacher, has allowed students to use this experience as one of their ‘passion’ projects; and John Kilzer, our computer technology teacher, helped support the technology part of students' work,” Clark explains.
As the district continues to respond to federal No Child Left Behind requirements and the rigorous science expectations of Washington State and local entities for our students, our science teachers and leaders have made significant progress in the alignment and implementation of our science curriculum and instruction across all of our schools.
It is important to note that the class of 2010 will be the first class required to pass the science WASL for graduation.
For more information on WASL and science, visit the OSPI website: www.k12.wa.us/assessment/WASL/Science/default.aspx.