A watershed education project located in the Pedlar River watershed of western Amherst County, VA.
Designed and hosted by One Source Graphics LLC
March 2006
“Why do we need soil?”
“Why do we need soil?”
The third graders considered this question as they collected and studied soil samples from their adopted tree’s area in the Forest Study Site. They examined the soil to see what it contains—rock, clay, silt, sand, and humus. They also found out that soil provides food for plants, habitat for organisms that make food for plants, structure to hold plants up, and places where water can soak in to replenish groundwater. They learned that we need to conserve soil because of all it does for us, and because it takes so long for a small amount of topsoil or humus to be created. The Forest
The class of 2008 measured new growth on a sampling of branches on their adopted trees, in order to
add to data collected by last year’s 4th graders, continuing to chart and compare the growth of different
species. They showed great teamwork in order to get accurate measurements.
add to data collected by last year’s 4th graders, continuing to chart and compare the growth of different
species. They showed great teamwork in order to get accurate measurements.
Teamwork for Good Data
“Spinymussel Blues: one endangered mussel’s story”
4th and 5th graders learned about a special creature who lives in the Pedlar River, the federally endangered James Spinymussel. By singing a song and studying the Freshwater Mussel Fact Sheet, they discovered why sediment produced by erosion is harmful to aquatic creatures. They also found out that the James Spinymussel is dependent on the presence of certain kinds of fish in its neighborhood in order to be able to reproduce. Basically, juvenile Spinymussels need the “right fish to ride” to develop into free-living adults.
Like other freshwater mussels, the James Spinymussel lives on the bottom of streams or rivers. It moves up and down in the gravel, sand or sediment. Freshwater mussels are a living filter. They are called suspension feeders because they eat algae and other particles, such as leaf debris, that are suspended in the water. Since mussels help remove these particles, they help keep the water clear.
Students also investigated the Forest Study Site to answer the question, “How do forests help protect water quality?” Here are some of the answers to that question: Forests hold soil (prevent erosion “sediment load”); they contribute organic debris for food; they shade water to reduce temperature and thereby increase oxygen; they absorb and filter pollution out of the rainwater runoff from the land, helping to keep that pollution out of the water; and they help absorb rainwater to maintain our groundwater resources.
Students also investigated the Forest Study Site to answer the question, “How do forests help protect water quality?” Here are some of the answers to that question: Forests hold soil (prevent erosion “sediment load”); they contribute organic debris for food; they shade water to reduce temperature and thereby increase oxygen; they absorb and filter pollution out of the rainwater runoff from the land, helping to keep that pollution out of the water; and they help absorb rainwater to maintain our groundwater resources.
Class of 2008
“Spinymussel Blues: one endangered mussel’s story”
“Spinymussel Blues: one endangered mussel’s story”
Click Here For James Spinymussel Fifth Grade Fact Sheet
Click Here For More Information on James Spinymussel