U P S T R E A M • S P R I N G 2 0 0 0
Education: Leaf Packs and beyond
By Jim McGonigle
As mentioned in previous issues of UpStream, a significant portion of the education initiatives at the Stroud Center is designed to connect students and teachers with research at the Center. This effort resulted in the Leaf Pack Experiment, a kit of materials and supplies that allows groups to investigate the biodiversity and food webs found in local streams. In collaboration with the LaMotte Company of Chestertown, Md., the kit was marketed to teachers across the nation. LaMotte has reported sales of over 1,000 units over the past three years.
The company was so pleased that it asked us to work on another interactive science resource kit. The goal is to develop a new addition to the already successful “Tour” series produced by LaMotte. The Tapwater Tour, Pondwater Tour and Topsoil Tour have provided teachers with many days of hands-on activities for investigating drinking water, pond biology and soil.
The Education staff is busy developing a new “Tour” that will allow students to investigate the nature of local watersheds, the biology of stream ecosystems, and how people help and harm rivers and streams. As with past activities, we want students to be excited about science and to understand how important stream ecosystems are in the landscape. By providing teachers and students with the right tools, science education can be fun and stimulating. Allowing student to focus on local environments has been shown to improve overall student performance and interest in school for many disciplines — not just for science. To help us get things right, we have recruited input from local and regional teachers in the development process. This cadre of education officials will be instrumental in developing activities that will interest students and be designed to work well in a classroom. After testing these new activities and materials in local classrooms this past winter, we will provide LaMotte with a finished product ready for unveiling to teachers across the country this spring.
To learn more about the Leaf Pack Experiment kit and other LaMotte products, visit the company’s website at www.lamotte.com or call 800-344-3100 for a catalog. You can learn more about Stroud Center education programs by visiting our website's Outreach page.
