Rowe Elementary School Tells a Trail Tale
First and second graders from Rowe Elementary School joined their friends, family, and community members for a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 30th. During the ceremony they celebrated their story walk, titled "Jenna's Not So Neat Camping Trip". The story walk was written and illustrated by Rowe students, and tells the story of Jenna and her family as they often accidentally pollute their waterways. Throughout the story, Jenna comes to the realization that their actions have created a polluted and unpleasant environment. This inspires her to change her ways and inform others of how they can also be better stewards.
Students began gathering information for their story by engaging in hands-on classroom lessons back in February. They learned about the importance of clean water in our everyday lives. Students observed how different pollutants can enter our waterways and impact the health of the environment.
Once the snow melted, students went outside to investigate water quality in Capisic Brook on their school campus. They observed the area around the stream where they found signs of pollution and observed stormdrains flowing directly to the stream. They also learned about aquatic macroinvertebrates which are small bugs that can tell us about the level of pollution in the water they live in.
Students used their knowledge and creativity to write the story that would become "Jenna's Not So Neat Camping Trip". Illustrations were done with the assitsance of local artist, Sarah Boyden, using collages of many students drawings.
Come visit this project along the Forest City Trail behind Casco Bay High School to learn more about keeping our waterways clean!
