Year 4 Stormwater Detectives

 Today Year 4  conducted our anual water testing to check the health of our estuary.  We learnt about how human actions threaten our water ways such as oil from cars, plastic litter, concrete run off and detergent.  

We can help by making sure only rain goes down the outside drain because they lead straight to the sea.

Kathryn from Watercare brought water from our local stormwater outflow.  We used special equipment to measure turbidity (how clear it is), PH (how acidic, nuetral or alkaline it is), nitrate (chemicals from things like fertilisers), & oxygen. 

Next we observed carefully to see if the water contained any macro invertebrates.

We discovered that the water was clear & nuetral.

The nitrate test showed a small amount of pollution.

There were some bugs, but none that can't survive with trace pollution.

Sadly there was lots of litter.

Next year we are going to think about what actions we can take to protect our local wai.

Eco Leaders - Citizen Science - Stormwater Sleuth Study

 Today the Eco Leaders discovered FOUR KGS of waste in our drain litter trap.  OH MY GOODNESS! What was all this waste destined for the Tamaki Estuary????

4 tiny pieces of soft plastic

6 tiny peices of hard plastic 

1 bottle top

1 piece of styrofoam

AND 4 KGS OF CLAY AND LEAVES

We think this came from the recent gardening work.  The left over dirt and leaves must have washed into the drain.

Unfortunately the reason our estuary is so muddy and murky and full of mangroves is from this type of thing washing down the outside drains.

What can we do??

Monique "sweep it onto a lawn instead"
Matthew "put waste in landfill not down the drain"

Room Toru Stormwater Slueths

 

Room 3 became citizen scientists last week when they took part in the Stormwater Slueth Project.  Follow this link to read their recounts of their mahi:

Room 3 Storm Water Slueth Recounts

K1 Break Into Climate Change & Stormwater

 K1 had a busy Sustainability session with Mrs Daniel today.  We began by starting our enquiry into climate change.  

We discussed what we already knew and how it makes us feel:

Ashton: the climate is changing and the ice is melting and it makes me sad.  Joe Biden and the Willow Project are bad.

Edward: the air is getting hotter and there's going to be more floods.   Animals can't adapt to the climate.

We clarified that the ozone layer hole isn't to do with climate change but it does go to show that humans can change their habits and reverse the negative effects they have caused.

Next we did a Climate Change breakout provided by Live Lightly at the Eye on Nature Event.  We timed ourselves and are going to compete against the other Year 6 classes for the grand prize.

K1 thought the break out was exciting and difficult.  We used our brain power.  We learnt to work together, how we can live more sustainably, and to yell out answers so everyone knows. We wonder if we'll be the quickest ...

The times:

K3 - 16m 36s

K2 - 9m15s WINNERS

K1 - 15m 15s

We continued making meaning and connections about climate til morning tea.

Next we had a surprise special guest; Monique from the Stormwater Sleuths for a citizen science project looking at pollution in our drains.

Meet our trap:

We emptied the trap and audited the waste. 

We'll monitor and log the waste each month.