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Project Goal

Increase the availability of resources for students to participate in a collaborative investigation of the health of the Hillsborough River through conducting water testing of abiotic factors during their River Exploration (Boating) activity. 

 

How Project Benefits Students

Students are immersed in the habitat of the Hillsborough River through experiencing it first hand. The overriding questions being answered by the students is whether the river is healthy and why the health of the river is important to our community and the animal and plant life within it.

The River Exploration activity is one of six that all 6th grade HCPS students participate in and, by far, one of the most unique opportunities to directly use science skills to determine the health of the river.

While boating, students will learn about abiotic factors that impact animal and plant life. They then investigate the water through collection of data from various parameters: oxygen level, pH, nitrates, phosphates, temperature, visibility. They will then discuss the effects of changes in these factors to come to their own conclusions of the habitat's health and impact on the plant and animal life. Additionally, a survey of wildlife evidenced during their journey is used as additional data to come to a conclusion.

Challenge 1: Generally, 60 - 65 students are taken onto the river using 5 of 6 boats that are currently operational. The fleet of 5 boats will carry 12+ students in each. This creates a more laden boat that sits lower in the water. During dry season, each year, the boats are unable to float high enough in the water and the activity has to be cancelled (generally February - April).
Solution: Decrease the number of students in each boat by preparing the 6th boat with the needed equipment to extend the time period of the activity.

Challenge 2: If one of the current motors malfunctions, we are not able to provide the activity for all students during the session.
Solution: prepare the 6th boat with the needed equipment to use in the event of a breakdown.

Challenge 3: Only 8 of the 12+ passengers in any given boat are able to directly engage and interact with the water to conduct the investigative tests (1/3 of the students are not directly able to participate in the data collection).
Solution: Decrease the number of students in each boat by outrigging the 6th boat with the needed equipment resulting in more students directly participating in the data collection.

 

 

Expected Outcome(s)

Students will each have equal opportunity to collect and analyze data from a collaborative investigation of water quality parameters during the "floating lab" experience (River Exploration Activity).

Increase the percentage of students' direct engagement in water testing investigation.

Decrease number of days the River Exploration is unable to be held during the course of the year. 

 

Detailed Cost Summary

The items listed will provide the necessary equipment to set up our 6th boat for the River Exploration which could ultimately impact 3000+ students annually. 

 

Items