On May 9th, the teacher Nicole Degowske and her students from the fifth primary school of the fifth grade took part in the annual Bioblitz event in the school's outdoor classroom.
“The annual bioblitz is an exploration of our schoolyard ecosystem outdoors,” said Degowske. “The students identify insects, plants, birds, mammals with an app called incorrectist, observations and adult aid. They become dirty and rolling protocols, look at our trail and outdoor classroom in and below things.
In addition to the organic blitz, the day also showed a pond study under the direction of Melissa Kivel from the friends of St. Clair River, a schnitzel hunt, a fun snack and a game center.
“New this year I got together with a local first nation group to bring the American indigenous people into our classroom outdoors,” said Degowske. “Here the students were able to try to fry bread and wild rice, and also learn the advantages of wild rice and much more about their culture. My students loved this center as well as the adventures and became dirty. They did not stop talking about it.”
She said that this year's event has “perfect weather”.
“About 80 fifth graders, 22 high school, parents and teachers were adventurers, scientists and administrators of our environment,” she said. “It was an epic learning day.”
Degowske said every year she hopes that the students would go with respect and understanding their environment.
“We are currently investigating the human effects on the environment,” she said. “The students studied microplastics around the day of the earth and drawn attention to the plastic problem with an Earth Day exhibition and microplastic diashows. We carried out this study on the human effects outdoors last week that identified invasive species that take up garbage and water quality.”
The art exhibition of the Earth Day took place on April 25th and was exhibited in the hall of the school. The slide shows showed their research on the environment in various ecosystems, especially in local water sheath.
Degowske and her students started their environmental cruise to improve the Algonquin primary school outdoors outdoors and in the classroom in 2023, and a great reopening took place in May last year. The classroom and the paths of the school are on site with three trailheads near the baseball fields and the pond on the Marsh Road. The path is 880 feet long, with seating for up to 40 students and a podium for the teacher.
“The development of the outdoor trail and the classroom was a love of love that I know the community was loved,” said Degowske. “My students benefit and I see so many seniors who are going on the way. I am to everyone who helped me to look over to reality. We are still looking for support. I would like to get some permanent benches near ponds near ponds so that children can be easier or more easier or community members and enjoy nature.