Second-grade STEM Stars from Rochester Primary School recently traded the classroom for the outdoors! For the third year in a row, second-grade students were graciously invited to Kevin and Jo Dayton's beautiful property, adjacent to the Chehalis River and Prairie Creek, to observe, document, and analyze the riparian environment. 

This hands-on experience was part of a school wide "Birds of the Watershed" unit exploring habitats, parent and offspring behaviors, and bird identification. To bring these lessons to life and provide insight into scientific fieldwork, they were joined by several local experts:

• Kevin and Jo Dayton shared stories of the land, from eagles teaching their young to fish to beaver signs and high water marks. 

• Marla Koberstein from the Department of Ecology shared her expertise in bird conservation and taught students fun ways to remember bird calls—like the Black-Capped Chickadee's "cheeseburger" and the Goldfinch's "potato chip."

• Welles Bretherton, also from the Department of Ecology, led our young scientists in water quality sampling, testing for both turbidity and temperature as well as identifying macro-invertebrates and small fish.

• Chris St. Charles, an airplane pilot, assisted in collecting water samples and netting macro-invertebrates and small fish using a kick-net.

  

This opportunity provided our students with invaluable first-hand experience in scientific fieldwork. A huge thank you to the Daytons, our guest speakers, our wonderful chaperones, and flexible second grade teachers!