Animal and Plant Cells

Making Gas

Matter Experiments

The Trout Eggs Arrive

The trout eggs arrived today right after lunch from UPS from Bellefonte, PA.

They were shipped in a white styrofoam cooler to keep the eggs and trout food cold. 

First, we put the bag of trout eggs in a green bucket.

Then we cut open the bag and poured the eggs into clear plastic cups.

It took hours, but eventually we separated all of the live eggs from the dead ones.

We tied a basket in the tank about 1/3 the depth of the water.

We placed about 1/4 of the eggs in the basket and the rest we put on the bottom of the tank.

Ecosystems

Creek Connections in the Parking Lot

Due to a recent torrential downpours, the Little Shenango River was too high and choppy to take students for macroinvertebrate study and water quality testing. Luckily, our brave Allegheny College students from Creek Connections braved the elements and got water samples for us. The also brought a variety of macroinvertebrates from French Creek that students have never seen before, because they are not found in our little river.

LOOKING FOR MACROINVERTEBRATES

WATER QUALITY TESTING

Ready for Trout

A STEM Challenge

Science at Riverside Park

Creek Connections is a program we participate in that is run by Allegheny College. Once a month when weather allows, we go to the local park and participate in a variety of environmental activities including water quality testing and macroinvertebrate study through kicknetting. When we are unable to walk to the creek which is about a mile from the school, the college students bring water samples to the school. Below are two videos created using two different online video creation programs. After watching them, please participate in our poll and tell us which video program you like best.





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Pymatuning Ecology Trip

The Pymatuning Ecology Trip is a science learning experience created through a cooperative between East Elementary, University of Pitt, and Allegheny College. Students are given amazing opportunities to learn hands on science concepts from real scientists. This year, we had six stations.

One station included a trip out onto the lake on pontoon boats. Students are instructed on how to do several water quality tests and are given the opportunity to use equipment such as a Secchi disk to measure water clarity.

Another station included using microscopes to view plankton and other microscopic critters from the lake.

The third station, a class favorite, included donning muck boots and venturing into the lake in search of macroinvertebrates. This is their first experience with this type of water quality testing that will become a staple in our Creek Connections program when we go to Riverside Park to check water quality of our local creek.

After exploring the three stations above, students were transported to the fish hatchery to explore three more stations. One station was run by a bird specialist who taught the students about the adventures and dangers of bird migration through a really fun game. Another station was run by someone from the PA Fish and Game Commission. Students were given the opportunity to explore the various levels fish dwell. By examining a tube in the building, students could see what fish were bottom dwellers, who swam in the middle and what fish swam near the top.

The last station was an exciting opportunity for students to explore underwater robots. The premise and purpose was explained to the students, and underwater robots created by students were given to the students to explore the underwater world of Pymatuning Lake.

Below is a video slideshow of the day:


Allegheny College Creek Connections Program: http://sites.allegheny.edu/creekconnections/

Pymatuning Lab of Ecology: http://www.biology.pitt.edu/facilities/pymatuning