River Water Quality Study and Environmental Quality Assessment for Schools in North America

In cooperation between the Dayton Museum of Natural History (now the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery) and a school district in Ohio, surface water flow in a stream and other environmental quality parameters were determined. These are relatively easy to measure for children 14 years and older, and are sophisticated enough even for college level extension or environmental management courses in a university. This program, consisting of museum scientists working in concert with classroom teachers and their students, assessed the quality of the Stillwater River. Prior to the field trip, students discussed the field work, came to a consensus of how to determine the key parameters of the project, and then rehearsed the activities needed to get the data. During the trip, the museum's scientists provided supervision and safety. After the trip, the whole group was assigned the task of making sense of the data collected by all and arriving at an assessment of quality of their backyard river. The modus operandi was cooperative groups of 3-4 students with each group in charge of determining one of the parameters. The teacher asked questions on the topic and provided guidance. The program gave teachers the opportunity to step back and observe the performance of students as organizers, doers and critical thinkers.