Educators TOOLBOX
Art & Ecology


Art & Ecology:

Curriculum Integration



Pickerington Elementary School

Wandering Through Wetlands

In preparation for the 1992-1993 school year, our staff met in April1992 to discuss our interest in providing a relevant, experiential approachto existing curriculum at the elementary level. We generated ideas thatwould encourage research about issues that have a direct effect on ourcommunity.

The city of Pickerington is located just outside of Columbus, Ohio andwas faced with tremendous growth over a short period of time. The land thatbecame Pickerington was originally wetland, dotted with small ponds (kettlelakes) and marshes created at the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier. Theland and water of this area supports a great variety of habitats which areideal for many bird species and other wild creatures.

About a mile from Pickerington Elementary, in an area historically knownto community residents as "the place where people watch the birds,"Metro Parks of Columbus and Franklin County has recently purchased a largeparcel of land with the intention of restoring it to its original condition.Through its history, the main pond, Ellis Pond, had been tiled and drainedfor agricultural purposes, mined for peat, and used for watering dairy cattleat its springs. During the early 1950's an underground fire occurred,destroying much of the drain tile system and returning water to the glacier kettles.Metro Parks plan included the removal of a road cutting through the pondthat was choking out 17 acres of wetlands, and expansion of that habitatto its believed original condition. With the removal of the road, the sitecould, and did, become an ideal location for bird watchers to observe thewildlife.

The area, known as Pickerington Ponds, has become a successful rookeryfor Great Blue Heron. Measured by the spotting of over 45 working nestsduring the summer of 1996, value of this community treasure isimmeasurable.

 

Naturalist Leslie Rawling

Our staff made arrangements with Metro Parks for ourstudents and staff to wander through the wetlands at Pickerington Ponds on field trips scheduled for September 1992, with the support and guidance of the Metro Parks staff.
 Ron Hirschi, an environmentalist andchildren's author from Montana, was contracted to act as a guide for both staff and students in learning techniques that stimulate observing, predicting, recording and drawingconclusions about wetland environments.

Ron with Students

Our focus was on providing experiences for our students and our staffthat would increase their awareness of the implications of preserving awetland environment--including wildlife benefits, water purification, floodcontrol, ground water recharging, soil erosion control, and food productionfor both animals and humans. All participants were encouraged to document,through writing and drawing, their response to the wonders observed as wesaw, felt, heard, smelled, and experienced what was just outside our backdoor.





More About the Pickerington Project

 Student Stories

 How To Hear the Grass Sing

 Michael

Wandering ThroughWetlands

Marc

Inspired Reflection

Danielle

Issues:Community andGlobal

Danny

Partnerships







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