K-5 students in Weston are exploring the bodies of water around Case 
Campus.
Here are two blogs from two different grade levels:
Grade 5: Case Campus Green Blog. Students in one 5th grade class undertook a project based learning approach in order to determine if the ecosystem is healthy or not.
Kindergarten: Weston Frog Blog: All eight kindergarten classes learned about wood frogs by visiting the vernal pool on the Case Campus.
During the winter months, students from Acton-Boxborough Regional High School and Concord-Carlisle Regional High School have been busy monitoring the ponds and vernal pools on the farm.
CCHS students at Drumlin to analyze the Boyce Pond Vernal Pool
Fairy Shrimp from the Vernal Pond at Drumlin Farm
AB Students Monitor the Ice Pond at Drumlin Farm
Students in Lowell have continued to study the rivers throughout the fall and winter months.
Lowell students snowshoeing along the Merrimack River, Winter 2015
Lowell students monitor the Concord River during the Fall of 2014
Happy Hollow School in Wayland, Massachusetts traveled to Weir Hill in June 2014 to study the diverse ecosystems at that local. Take a look at their pictures at this link.
Starting out in the fall, the fifth graders started studying systems and their favorite place in nature. This has a direct connection to the draft Massachusetts Science Standards on systems. Take a look at this link about this unit.
During our first meeting of the year on November 14th, we brainstormed some ideas that could be used to grow our network. Among these ideas are:
How to integrate being a River School into your curriculum:
Keep adding your ideas as comments below
Thanks to Sally Farrow for supplying these reports:
Here is an update for the river blog on some fall activity on the SUASCO watershed.
FRAMINGHAM – SUDBURY RIVER
In early October, students from the Dunning School in Framingham visited the Sudbury River. They found a variety of macroinvertebrates: leeches, snails, water striders, damsel fly nymph, a mayfly nymph, 2 large beetles, 2 frogs, a clam and 4 aquatic ticks. The air temperature was 63 F and the water temperature was 59 F. The students also determined that the pH was 7, DO= 2 ppm, phosphate=1 ppm and nitrate was 1 ppm. The students enjoyed their exploration of the trail and river. “The trail was beautiful”. “I liked how peaceful the river was.” The students enjoyed their river trip. They were bothered by the trash they saw in the river but they all said they would be better recyclers and could help the earth by picking up trash. We were all happy that that our river monitors found the Sudbury to be a much healthier river than we might have thought.
MAYNARD – ASSABET RIVER
On 10/29 the students from the Fowler MS in Maynard visited the Assabet River right above the Ben Smith Dam to monitor and enjoy the river. They also found a variety of macroinvertebrates including snails, isopods, amphipods, riffle beetles, dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, backswimmers mosquito larva, phantom midge. They also found a few fish. They noted some algae and duckweed in the river. They recorded an air temperature of 60 F and water temperature of 50 F. They found the DO=4 ppm, nitrate <5 ppm, phosphate of 4 ppm and a pH= 6.5. They students enjoyed the trip.
LOWELL-CONCORD RIVER
On 11/10 the students from the Lowell Leaders in Stewardship club at Lowell High School visited the Concord River Greenway in downtown Lowell.
They did not find any macroinvertebrates at this point in the river just below the Middlesex falls. However they did record an air temperature of 56 F and a water temperature of 47 F. The DO varied between 2-5 ppm depending on where we sampled. The pH was 7. The phosphate was 1.5 ppm and the nitrate was .5 ppm. It was a beautiful afternoon to enjoy the river.
A huge thanks to our river monitors who help take care of our rivers and inspire us to become better earth stewards.
Mill Pond School in Westborough is near the headwaters of the Assabet River. Stephanie Garrett, a 6th 
grade teacher at the school has long been an advocate of bringing her students outside. These pictures were from one of her visits during Spring 2014. We look forward to more about their visits during the upcoming year.
Some photos from the visit:
On April 8th, 2014, Hudson Mulready School First Graders presented information about their habitat studies at the School Committee meeting. On the link, go to the April 8th meeting, and then forward to the 12 minute mark to watch these scientists in action!
Meeting video
We are very fortunate to have Mass Audubon Society’s Drumlin Farms Educational Department as an integral part of our Network. These reports were submitted by Sally Farrow following different visits to different sites by different schools.
The following is data from three different points on the Assabet, Sudbury and Concord Rivers with three different schools:
The data collected with the Forest Ave and Mulready Schools is part of the River Schools program. We explored the forest and riparian zone along the river as well as investigating the macroinvertebrates and water chemistry of the Assabet River
Assabet River, Mulready School 1st grade, Wood Park, Hudson MA 4/15/2014
Weather: cloudy with some drizzle
Water Measurements: temperature was 65 F, pH= 7 and Dissolved oxygen was 4.5 ppm
Animal Life: Macroinvertebrates and other aquatic species discovered by the students: bullfrog tadpole, scud, isopod, damselfly nymph, mosquito larva, diving beetle, and painted turtles. The data indicates that the Assabet is a healthy river.
Along the wooded trail the students observed at least 13 species of plants, evidence of beaver, 27 bird species, grey squirrels and moths indicating wonderful biodiversity in this riparian habitat.
Assabet River, Forest Avenue School 4th graders , Hudson, 5/2/2014: Later in the spring 5/2/2014 and upriver from Wood Park on the Assabet, the 4th graders from the Forest Ave School explored the Assabet and its related habitat:
Weather: sunny
Water Measurements: temperature: 50 F, pH = 6.5, Dissolved oxygen was 4.5 ppm. The water was clear.
Animal Life: Macroinvertebrates: mayfly, water strider, midge, predacious diving beetle, caddis fly, damsel fly, amphipod, springtail, fishing spider. Again the biodiversity indicates a healthy river
Along the river in the riparian zone which was mostly forested, the students observed grey squirrels and a mole and evidence of beaver and raccoon. They also saw at least 29 species of plants , 17 species of birds and 5 different insects. Again everyone had a wonderful time discovering the amazing richness of the Assabet River watershed.
Thank you to Jonathon Bensen who helped compile this data
Sudbury River, Cameron Middle School 7th Graders, Framingham
On 5/27/2-5/29/2014 the students of the Cameran Middle School 7th graders in Framingham explored the Sudbury River and the surrounding habitat.
Weather: We had 2 sunny days and one very rainy day.
The students explored watersheds, oxbows, flood plains, energy flows through a riverine ecosystem, human impacts on watersheds and water quality. We learned how to assess the health of a river through water testing, macroinvertebrate studies, and observation of indicator species
Water Measurements: The pH of the water was measured at 6.5
Animal Life: Macroinvertebrates and other aquatic species observed: scud, damselfly nymph, backswimmer, snail, leech, whirligig beetle, dragonfly. Also observed, pickerel, leopard frog and painted turtles and a northern water snake
We also observed at least 12 different species of birds and plants.
Thank you to Kathleen Regan who compiled this data
Concord River, Summer Compass Program, Lowell High School, Lowell MA, 7/17/2014
Concord River at the Concord River Greenway (CRG) in downtown Lowell MA. The students of the Summer Compass Program at Lowell High School visited the Concord River on 7/17/2014 and gathered this data.
Weather: partly sunny air temperature: 23 C water temperature: 25 C
Water Measurements: pH = 7.5-8, dissolved oxygen 5-6 ppm, phosphates 1-1.5 ppm, nitrate 0 ppm, jtu = 0
Animal Diversity: macroinvertebrates: scuds, planaria, beetle larva,, black fly larva, mussel, water striders, stonefly larva, fingernail clam, adult caddis fly, fishing spider, damselfly larva. We also observed a turtle (probably a painted turtle although a wood turtle was spotted in one of the canals!)
The students also saw a great blue heron, kingfisher and kingbird. River birch, silver maples, and red maples were also noted.
The students enjoyed the cool breeze the river provided in downtown Lowell and we were all thrilled to see the biodiversity of the river and the good river chemistry.
Concord River, Spindle City Core Students, 8/8/2014
On 8/8/2014 the SCC students (Spindle City Core) visited the CRG at Lawrence St.
Weather: sunny Air temperature: 22.5 C Water Temperature 23.5 C
Water Measurements: pH = 7.5, DO = 8 ppm, phosphate = 0 ppm, nitrate = 0 ppm
Animal Life: Macroinvertebrates: scud, fingernail clam, snails, leech, water striders, caddis fly larva, beetle larva, planaria. A small green frog
Our SCC students had a great time at the river exploring all it has to offer. They also did some eel monitoring while they were there. They were pleased to note the good health of the river just prior to the confluence with the Merrimack.
Thanks to all these students for their fantastic observations of our watershed!
SuAsCo River School Network 