One of the things I love most about being a teacher is that each day I get to see the direct impact of the work I do. Over the past six years, I have seen just how high the stakes are for my students. But every skill or life-lesson I teach them can open the door for opportunities and put them on the life path to becoming engaged global citizens in an ever-changing society. The world around us is filled with challenges and analyzing case studies related to watershed science will prepare my students to think about both the local and global impacts our actions have on our water supply and water quality.
John S. Martinez, which has a new magnet theme based on STEM topics related to the Sea, fits perfectly with the Watershed Science unit. Participating in the Watershed Science seminar greatly increased my own background knowledge about the subject matter. And I can now in turn impact my students understanding about the material.
The fifth grade Next Generation Science Standards include a performance expectation specifically related to this topic: 5-LS2-1: Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
John S. Martinez is located right along the Mill River, which enters into the Long Island Sound. Students will gain core knowledge about the chemistry of inland waters and use the lobster die-off as a case study to see the affect environmental factors have on organisms that live in the Long Island Sound.
