An initiative of Jasper County Schools
When the connection goes through, our Zoom conference window opens to the image of 6th grader Nora Street, palms flat on a conference table as if preparing to lambast international composting regulations at the United Nations. An infographic board stands tall behind her, outlining the processes associated with composting and the cycle it creates within our ecosystem. Two mysterious green samples round out this display. The samples tell the story: compost helps growth, and those without it cannot do nearly as well as those with.
Nora
Street
A Lens on Learning
and on
Making a
Difference
Nora's conservation project aims to illustrate the different steps in composting and explain how it helps plants grow. She describes her project's details, distinguishing between "green" and "brown" materials for compost. "Brown materials are leaves, wood chips, straw, sawdust, shredded papers, and for the green, it's fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, tea bags, and chicken feed," she says, "The brown items are most likely things from outside. The green items are things we use."
Students develop their own interests, but it takes a teacher or important adult to validate those interests and inspire a child to keep at it. "Science is the building block of our lives," Mrs. James says, not unexpectedly, "Whenever you talk about the world around you, science is always right there.
Nora's been interested in science since she could first remember. She enjoys tending her garden at home and reading books to discover more efficient ideas for her conservation efforts. It was through her independent research that she came across the wonders of composting in the first place. The project is one of many currently featured in science teacher Mrs. James's room, where students explore the ins and outs of bird feeders, beekeeping, and landfill gasses. Nora tries to accentuate with her project that compost is a positive factor for the environment while promoting better agricultural practices.
Mrs. James provides further background on student efforts in conservation at Jasper: "For many years, our sixth graders have gone out to Sam Parr State Park where we participate in conservation day. It's put on by the University of Illinois Extension, Jasper County Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom Program, and the Jasper County Soil & Water Conservation District, out of the classroom." The students begin the conservation day celebration by exploring the information displays set up at the park and then enjoy a picnic lunch in a serene natural setting before starting in on afternoon activities. One of the event's requirements is for every student to brainstorm a conversation project of their choosing. Using her field trip as motivation, Nora considered topics on human impact on the environment, including renewable and non-renewable resources, before settling on composting. Assembling the infographic board often becomes a family event, which Mrs. James prides as a secret motive to the whole thing, saying, "They're making these at home, so you're getting mom and dad, brothers and sisters to work with them in coming up with ideas. I really like to see that family piece."
Nora's conservation efforts extend beyond a simple classroom project. If given the opportunity to use a magic wand, she'd use it diligently to develop fertilizer and chemical products that were less toxic to plants and animals. As we indicated earlier, we can really see the dedicated palms smacking the surface of a UN podium, demanding action on groundwater toxin abatement.
Students develop their own interests, but it takes a teacher or important adult to validate those interests and inspire a child to keep at it. "Science is the building block of our lives," Mrs. James says, not unexpectedly, "Whenever you talk about the world around you, science is always right there. So I think it's really important to get them interested now because these are future engineers." We might add, future doctors, future nurses, future researchers, and more.
Exploratory projects like the conservation assignment place ideas in real-world situations, and it's no wonder Nora threw herself into it with so much enthusiasm. When you can use results to produce scientific results in real time, then you're as close to exploring the mysteries of life as possible. For Nora, one of those mysteries is compost's versatility and exceptional charm. Keep working on that formula, Nora, your hard work and intelligent focus makes us all Jasper County proud.