Town Ck. Education

“Town Creek Restoration” Education Page

AND other Watershed and Art Educational Activities

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2023 NEW YEAR UPDATE-

Pilot program is a success! Currently we have several more teachers interested in these modules and more art and stream projects. If you are in already in contact with Viviana Field (watershed ed artist) or Lourance Hall (Teacher/ERRP Liaison) about participating in art and stream projects, then your class in IN! Here is Viviana’s contact email if you are unsure : k12wet@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE:

We are pausing requests for kits and in-class instruction right now so that we may work with the current teachers who submitted forms or contacted us in 2022. HOWEVER, check out all the available resources here now, and also know there will be more How-To video classes for modules and projects added that educators can use with students in their classrooms independently.

PLAN FOR FEBRUARY TO MAY 2023: Watershed Artist, Viviana will be working with RVMS classes to make watershed models for Earth Day Week. One model will be a large 3D style wall topo-map. The other will be a diorama style model of an actual part of the creek where spawning and redd building might be likely. Also a few RVES classrooms will be creating sculptures and mini-watershed models. Going to be so fun!! Stay tuned!

If your classroom has a budget for bringing in art projects like these, fill out the Participation Form and let us know, and we can work with you to schedule you in next 2023/2024 semester!

2021 - 2022 ROUND UP -

Round Valley WET Project partnered with ERRP and DWR to offer watershed education and art lessons (virtually, with on-site option depending on Covid protocols). We had free module kits available, for up to 70 students each module in this Pilot Program, October 2021 through May 2023. (Spaces are now filled but please get on our WAIT LIST if this interests you!)

Interested in learning how to be involved in future stream projects and art workshops? Shoot an email to Lourance Hall (lourancehall@gmail.com)? To get on a WAIT LIST for art projects, please complete the PARTICIPATING TEACHER REQUEST FORM. Activities can be adjusted to any grade, k-12th and Watershed Educator and Artist/Educator, Viviana Field, will work directly with you to customize for your class. Check out the module descriptions, then fill out the “PARTICIPATING TEACHER REQUEST FORM” adding in any Module you are interested in. Most resources are available online.

MODULE 1 - BEGINNING A NATURE JOURNAL- LEARNING TO OBSERVE

Nature Journal Video

Kit #1 Available now.

Module 1 with Field Guide Add On

Observe your world through new eyes, the eyes of a scientist or naturalist. Use all your senses available (eyes, ears, nose, hands, taste..) while creating a beautiful keepsake journal. Journals help us understand what is happening all around us, and record important and interesting seasonal information.

This first Module Unit is all about learning the very basics of nature observation and creative journal keeping. In each Unit you will have options of downloads or to order ready-made materials:

PARTICIPATING TEACHER REQUEST FORM

LEARN TO OBSERVE, PROJECT DESCRIPTION

MATERIALS NEEDED

BASIC ART LESSONS

SELF ASSESSMENT QUIZ

STEP 1: Use the Request form to order Module 1 NATURE JOURNAL STARTER KIT , or on your own gather up the following materials: drawing journal, sketch pencil, eraser, color pencils, magnifying glass and small ruler. Ideally a flexible tape measure and camera is nice but not mandatory.

https://youtu.be/JkCoU7FWtQw

BASIC ART LESSON #1 - SHADING VIDEO

Art Lesson #1 - Shading Techniques

MODULE 1 ADD-ON : LOCAL FIELD GUIDES AND COLORBOOKS

(Will provide masters to Copy, or can order Booklets Upon Arrangement)

It is fun and useful to learn about the flora and fauna in our own environments. In order to truly understand and make connections, it is best if you can develop the habit of noticing your surroundings, daily. Since you are participating in the Town Creek Restoration project, our focus is on creek life, however, you can learn to observe ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE you go!!

Try it!

Step outside. Stop. Breathe. Smell anything? Listen. Hear anything? Look. Slowly move your head side to side and up and down while looking for clues to what sort of plants and animals (including insects) are living in that space.

Here is a fun mini-guide and color book to add to your Starter Kit! Two designs. 5th grade and under and 6th grade and up. I can send you Master Sheets you can copy on your own, or you can place an order for booklets IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN COPIES.

Order through PARTICIPATING TEACHER REQUEST Link

Be sure to tell us the number of students, grade level and mailing address. Thank you!!

WHAT IS INSIDE GUIDES: Nature Scavenger Hunts, Basic plant parts, a few local animals and plants, “how to start a nature journal” suggestions. Also there is a map of the Middle Fork of the Eel River (also available separately)

MODULE 2 - SELF GUIDED OR CLASSROOM VIRTUAL TOUR OF TOWN CREEK

Read this paper for more information about aquatic life in Town Creek, watershed conditions, and ideas for restoration.

Take a little field trip with your class, your family or friends and keep your senses open to see what you can discover. Optional: learn the names of the trees and plants growing there. Do you see birds, insects? How much water is there?

Record your findings in your journal and write the date so you can compare later in the year.

TEACHER REQUEST FORM

Come on a journey from the headwaters of Town Creek, to the confluences where Grist Creek, Mill Creek, Middle Fork Eel merge, and onto the Main Stem of the Eel River!! Follow to its mouth near Fortuna where it goes out to sea:

TOWN CREEK MAP SUMMARY .pdf

Follow Main Stem Eel River to the Ocean**

The Eel River is a major river, about 196 miles long, of northwestern California. The river and its tributaries form the third largest watershed entirely in California, draining a rugged area of 3,684 square miles in five counties. The river flows generally northward through the Coast Ranges west of the Sacramento Valley, emptying into the Pacific Ocean about 10 miles downstream from Fortuna and just south of Humboldt Bay. The river provides groundwater recharge, recreation, and industrial, agricultural and municipal water supply.

Basin area: 3,684 sq miles
Length: 196 miles

TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP ACTIVITY Downloads:

TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP LAB USING PLAYDOUGH

RAINBOW TOPOGRAPHICAL WORKSHEET AND ANSWER KEY

STREAM STUDY Downloads and Links:

CREEK STUDY & EVALUATION PDF (includes suggestions for a creek field trip. Also fun hands-on activities: how to make a turbidity testing tube, how to use purple cabbage as a pH indicator.)

Intro to Macro-Invertebrates pdf

WATER FILTRATION CHALLENGE AC TIVITY.pdf

PURPLE CABBAGE pH CLASSROOM ACTIVITY (1)

PURPLE CABBAGE ACTIVITY (2)

NATIVE FISH SPECIES

OTHER AQUATIC LIFE

NON-NATIVE AQUATIC SPECIES

LOCAL FAUNA GUIDE

Game: Macro-Invertebrate Identification - Alice Ferguson Foundation

Module 3- SALMONID ANATOMY STUDY -

MAKE A SCULPTURE OF STEELHEAD OR SALMON

LEAD TIME NEEDED: Please order 3 weeks before needed, if ordering a kit. Kits are put together “on demand”.

ORDER KIT THRU: PARTICIPATING TEACHER REQUEST FORM

We will be using "paper clay" for you to make a sculpture of the profile of a Salmonid - Steelhead or Salmon. In the Old Times the creek was full and many steelhead and salmon made it up all the way to Round Valley.

SALMON EXTERNAL ANATOMY PAPERCLAY ART PROJECT:

SALMON ART MATERIAL LIST

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

https://youtu.be/WMB8GgWlpMk ART Salmon Study Part 1

https://youtu.be/goFMT40Xel4 ART Salmon Study Part 2

https://youtu.be/qmSxUalYIVI ART Salmon Study Part 3

DID YOU KNOW YOUR ERASER IS A GREAT ART TOOL WHILE SKETCHING? Check out “Salmon” video below!

YouTube is a GREAT resource to learn how to draw!

“HOW TO DRAW A SALMON / AND TRIBAL DESIGN SALMON” : https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=S2yc97Y1B9Q

“HOW TO DRAW A RAINBOW TROUT”: https://youtu.be/0hXNSpoAzQU

ALSO, FUN GAME FROM CAEP!! RETURN TO THE REDD

INDIVIDUAL WORKSHEETS AND INFORMATION: Pacific Salmon Anatomy (stillaguamish.com)

https://patternuniverse.com/download/salmon-pattern/

1) STUDENT WORKSHEET: Salmon-Anatomy-Worksheet.pdf (stillaguamish.com)

2) Salmon Anatomy Worksheet - Answer sheet

3) Another version of Salmon Anatomy - Student & Answers

4) BONUS: Living among the Fish: A Guide to Conservation of Fish Habitat in the Developed Landscape A great resource for learning about fish habitat and stream dynamics. Many photos and illustrations. Developed by UC Davis. 25 pages.

SCHOOL NEWS SECTION: HAPPY NEWS!!

MAY NEWS: SUMMER YOUTH ART SHOW - COMING TO ROUND VALLEY (COVELO) JULY 2022!

MAY 27TH - WATERSHED RIVER MODEL ACTIVITY IN RVHS. A fun success. Talked about Town Creek and where it begins and where it merges with Grist Creek, which merges with Mill Creek. Mill Creek joins Middle Fork Eel (referred to as “The Outlet”) which joins the Main Stem Eel. The mouth where goes out to sea near Fortuna. We spoke of fish needs (cool, clean moving water, clean gravel, minimal silt, shade from trees, safe spaces formed by tree roots, boulders, a healthy landscape above creek) ….. Students designed a portion of the river where a salmon might have a Redd. Photos on Facebook watershed art page and will also add photo link here, projects and maps .

May 5th, 2022: PAPERCLAY SCULPTURE ART PROJECT. I (Viviana Field) went on-site to work with High School students as we had the Module 3 Paperclay Salmon Sculpture Project planned. Due to the exciting notice that there was a youth art show opening this summer, we discussed this in class and the classroom project expanded into encouraging the students to chose any North American Fauna to sculpt. So in addition to Salmon, there were: bears, wolves, foxes, eagle, an otter and a western pond turtle sculptures. The project was a great success with students and hopefully the art show received several more entries! Please consider joining my Facebook Watershed Art Project Page to see all the great photos of projects! Watershed Art Projects k-12 by Viviana Field | Facebook

MAY 1ST: 2022 CLASSROOM AQUARIUM AND RELEASE UPDATES

Kelda Britton’s classes signed up and participated in the Classroom Aquarium Program March through end of April. They successfully raised 50 steelhead fry. The Fish release was during Spring Break and they released 50 healthy steelhead trout fry back into the Russian River Watershed, at Orr Creek. Find photos on the K12Watershed Art Page: Watershed Art Projects k-12 by Viviana Field | Facebook

High School students in Mrs. Britton’s classes have been benefitting by getting out of the classroom and studying Town Creek. They have been using their journals and tools they ordered through us to jot down field notes and make sketches.

FISH RELEASE UPDATE : Fish release. was during Spring Break. They released 50 steelhead trout back into the Russian River Watershed. Find photos on the K12Watershed Art Page: Watershed Art Projects k-12 by Viviana Field | Facebook

Module 4- - MAKING A CLAY MODEL OF OUR WATERSHED

MODULE 4 - LEAD TIME : 3 weeks notice lead time when possible, if ordering kits. Kits are replenished and made to order)

Collect your own materials or order a Model Kit. (Materials and Instructions will be Available below by 3/31/22) There will be a recorded VIRTUAL LESSON BY Viviana added for teachers and students to watch and follow along with. There is an option of a LIVE class over the internet or a How-To Video Class to follow. This is perfect for teachers who ideally have at least one classroom helper to circulate around the classroom (in K-5th Grade Levels) to make sure students are keeping up, or to let me know something needs to be repeated or shown again. This is an “at your own pace” project which can usually be done in one hour. Younger grades have taken up to 2 days (2 hours) to complete their models.

NOTE: ALL projects are designed to fit into 45 minute class period slot, plus 15 minutes before and after for prep and clean up. Longer projects can be done in two periods, on two days. As the Pandemic settles down, on-site classroom options will become available by request as well.

MATERIALS LIST

HOMEMADE CLAY DOUGH RECIPES

Order Kit Link here (participating teacher request link here)

STUDENT DIRECTIONS - CLASSROOM ACTIVITY - BUILD A RIVER MODEL/SALMON REDD

NOTE: Page 1 has TWO sets of instructions. Print out 1 page per every 4 students. (Two students share)

STUDENT DIRECTIONS - METHOD 2 AERIAL VIEW RIVER MODEL INSTRUCTIONS

HERE IS A NON-CLAY, SIMPLE PROJECT TO HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT A WATERSHED IS, HOW IT WORKS: WATERSHED MODEL

INTERESTED IN BUILDING AN INTERACTIVE WATERSHED MODEL? CHECK THIS OUT!! THEY LISTED JUST OVER $100 FOR MATERIALS!! The Project The Process/Plan