Field Studies in Fall River

Over 600 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Fall River students are using their new schoolyard as a field site for conducting hands-on, scientific investigations. In September 2009, UEI received funding to work with teachers at the Matthew J. Kuss Middle School in Fall River, MA, thanks to a grant from the Dominion Educational Partnership. Since then, field studies investigations have been thriving as teachers deliver UEI's innovative field studies curriculum modules and supporting lessons for the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes.

During the fall, 8th grade classes conducted studies in different areas of their field site to investigate the plants, animals, soil, light, and weather. Students were introduced to the different habitats present with a focus on the interactions of living and non-living factors of the ecosystem. They have also been conducting biodiversity studies of birds, insects, invasive plants, and trees along the established transects.

Soon, the 7th grade students will begin water quality studies of samples from the mouth of the Taunton River. Along the river, students will gather data about water temperature, salinity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen levels, specifically examining the effects of tides on salinity levels in the river. In addition, the classes will also be measuring nitrates, phosphates, and pH levels of water samples from the Taunton River, Mount Hope Bay, and other nearby water sources.

Fall River, a city with a population of just under 100,000, is a post-industrial town to the south of Boston, lying at the mouth of the Taunton River, which empties into Mount Hope Bay.