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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2016)
4 Wednesday, March 23, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Students release steelhead fry into Whychus Creek By erin Borla Correspondent Students at Sisters Elementary School have been learning about river ecol- ogy through unique hands- on opportunities these past few months. Last Thursday steelhead fry, which were grown and hatched from eggs in the kindergarten class- rooms and Ms. Few’s second- grade class, were released by young students into Whychus Creek just blocks from the school. Working with the Upper Deschutes Watershed Council and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the kin- dergarten team consisting of three teachers developed cur- riculum for their young stu- dents. The Stream Stewards storyline consists of learning about nature, the life-cycle of fish and Whychus Creek, habitat, and soon, weather. It will all culminate with the kindergarteners’ field trip to the Metolius River and Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery in the spring. Through tanks in the class- rooms the 5- and 6-year-olds also watched as the fish eggs transformed into small fry right before their eyes. “The students formed a relationship with the eggs,” said Stephanie Burke, a kin- dergarten teacher at Sisters Elementary School. “Every day they would come in and immediately go to the tank to see what had happened. They wanted to know why some of the fish were living and some were dying. We talked about how water temperature and how things like pH levels can affect them. It’s hard to describe pH levels — espe- cially to a kindergartner.” This lesson led to many other classroom discus- sions and hands-on learning activities, all developed for some of Sisters’ youngest residents to understand. They learned about conservation and changes in the watershed as they relate to the creek. Teachers talked about how organizations came together to support the creek in vari- ous ways and why Whychus Creek is important to our community. The story contin- ued with the Deschutes Land Trust sending DVDs to the classrooms about the removal of the Whychus Creek Dam and the redirection of the creek. Creek conservation became a great topic through- out class discussions. Students and teachers talked about the difference between living and non-living things in the watershed and how each has an important role to play. “We talked about trash and how litter ends up in our watersheds,” said kinder- garten teacher Sara Elliott. “Shortly after that a student ran up to me on the play- ground with three pieces of garbage and he said ‘I don’t want these to end up in Whychus Creek, so I picked them up.’” Students created their own version of Whychus Creek in the kindergarten hallways with an artistic frieze. The storyline showcased a portion of the creek decorated by each class with boulders, plants, fish eggs, smolt, larger fish and other riparian features. I’ll be looking for my fish when it comes back up the creek. – Kindergarten student “The students have been to the creek 2-3 times as a part of class this school year, depending on their classroom teacher,” says Elliott. “We came out in November for a dry riparian planting of pine trees; then again a few weeks back to discuss habitat, and Thursday for the fish release.” Students created obser- vation journals where they could record their findings and use it as a writing lesson. After spring break the teach- er’s weather unit will tie into where Whychus Creek begins and how the snow-melt can affect the creek’s waterflow throughout the spring and summer. photo by erin borla Kindergartners release fish fry into Whychus Creek near their school. Last Thursday, close to 60 students stood on the banks of Whychus Creek and listened to Miss Elliott. When she asked them to crouch down like steelhead eggs, they did – they slowly hatched and became fry. She asked about where the fish go and what they need to survive. She asked questions about the creek as well. “Where does Whychus Creek begin?” Elliott asked. “In the mountains! At Broken Top,” all the students shouted back. The students agreed their favorite part of the project was releasing the fish into the creek. “The bond and relationship they developed (with the fish eggs), even after a few short weeks, was very strong,” Burke said. “Several students were sad they no longer had fish to take care of in the classroom — they’d lost their pets.” Elliott remembers one stu- dent saying, “I’ll be looking for my fish when it comes back up the creek.” Breakfast 6-11 | Soup 11-2 daily | Buy coffee at SistersCoffee.com 541-549-0527 • 273 W. Hood Ave. Hop on Over! Easter Brunch Sunday, March 27 Two Seatings — 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. — Prime Rib or Salmon Reservations Recommended Call 1.800.797.6331 www.lakecreeklodge.com “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” John 11:25 Holy Th ursday, March 24: Mass hf the Lhrd’s Supper, 7:00 p.m. Good Friday, March 25: Statihns hf the Crhss, 3:00 p.m. Celebratihn hf the Lhrd’s Passihn, 7:00 p.m. Holy Saturday, March 26: Easter Vigil, 8:30 p.m. Easter Sunday, March 27: Mass 10:00 a.m. Saint Edward the Martyr Roman Catholic Church 123 Trinity Way, Sisters | 541-549-9391 | www.stedwardsisters.hrg Crest the Cascades Bike Ride — Formerly the Ride for 2 Rivers — Tour the Old McKenzie Pass on a supported excursion that includes music and hot food at the end of your ride. There are three aid stations with food and snacks along the 57.6-mile long course and 26.8-mile summit course. Date: Saturday, June 18 Food: Taco Stand Music: Anvil Blasters Cost: $35 (register by May 15) $40 (after May 15) .com Website: CrestTheCascades.com 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd. • 541-549-2091 View activities & classes and register online! www.SistersRecreation.com SNO CAP MINI STORAGE Sisters Industrial Park 157 Sisters Park Dr. • 541-549-3575 www.SistersStorage.com • State-of-the-art Security Technology • Sizes from 5x5 to 12x40 • Individual Gate Codes • Long-term Discounts • On-site Manager
