The study
of wetlands continues at various local sites of team members. Homewood,
Illinois affords ample opportunity to study
wetlands as biofilters,
The community is fortunate to have a 16 acre site that has a 9 acre
bio-filtration pond, and a 7 acre native prairie. Since less than one tenth
of one percent of
Illinois native prairies remain, we are indeed fortunate to have such
a rich area that is protected and accessible to a suburban school environment.
This prairie lakes site is unique in it's location as it edges on the 10,000
year old beaches of Lake
Michigan, and is adjacent to the Isaak
Walton nature preserve. This affords ample opportunity for student
investigation of geology,
fossil remains,
plant
and wildlife study, bio-diversity,
wetland restoration, and water quality control.
Inquiry leads to further investigation
of the native prairies. Students conduct quadrat
studies for bio-diversity,
and make connections with other taxonomies.
The prairies are studied further as students compare their ecosystem
over the seasons
with other biomes
through a virtual tour on the internet.
Natural connections into the social
studies are made as students study the history of Illinois
and the various impacts that science and technology have had on the environment
and culture.