Salish Sea Heroes: Sherman Elementary 5th Grade

Sherman Elementary School already does things a little differently. They learn through real world projects that matter. Each spring their 5th grade classes help improve the health of the Salish Sea in Tacoma, WA. They happen to learn science, technology, engineering, arts, math, and more along the way, all while helping their community (human and wild). What is this year’s project?

The sea near Tacoma has been recovering from a lot of pollution put into it over the last 200 years. Luckily, many Salish Sea Heroes have been working together there to clean it up, including city, state, and tribal governments, environmental organizations, citizen scientists, and, you guessed it, local school kids.

Commencement Bay in the southern Salish Sea. Photo by Homini

This year three superteachers partnered with Julia Berg, Aarin Wilde, and Education Coordinator, Leslie Cashon, at Foss Waterway Seaport, a maritime education center, to learn about keeping water clean for salmon and other wildlife. They had planned a big field trip to release salmon fry into a local stream and to measure the water quality out in the bay on a boat trip. Then the COVID-19 pandemic changed life as we know it. Kids could no longer go to school or field trips…or could they?

Sherman students receiving hand-delivered

Explore the Salish Sea books from their teachers. Photos by Jules Boyd.

Did Sherman teachers give up? No way. They just put on their superteacher capes and saved the day! And Foss Waterway Seaport pitched right in. First, kids needed to learn about the Salish Sea in their own backyard, but their Explore the Salish Sea books were at school. The teachers, Mrs. Jules Boyd, Mrs. Caroline Bleckert, and Mr. Jonathyn Kraig, stormed the quiet hallways of their school (with principal permission) and picked up the books. They then delivered a book to every one of their 75 student’s homes in person. Mrs. Boyd even did her deliveries with crutches due to a broken leg!

A grade 5 students in Mrs. Boyd’s class joins the virtual field trip with Foss Waterway Seaport. Photo by parent.

Next, they needed to rethink their plan to visit the bay. Virtual field trip! After six weeks of only hearing, not seeing their classmates, they met with video for the first time today. And went to the bay! Foss Waterway Seaport’s amazing educators, Leslie Cashon, Julia Berg, and Aarin Wilde, took to the seaside and docks and took the kids on a virtual exploration of their waterfront. It’s not a boat trip, but 50 of 75 kids were able to join.

What about solving their water quality questions? They thought of that too.

The school purchased a thermometer for every student and Foss Waterway Seaport purchased and mailed each one a water quality test strip, like those used to check aquarium water. They will take their thermometers and test strips to nearby streams to make sure they are cool, clear, and clean for migrating salmon.

Exploring Explore the Salish Sea A Nature Guide for Kids Photo by parent

Also, they know this water empties into the bay and any pollution that comes with it affects sea life, from baby crabs to killer whales. Though the kids couldn’t do their Nature Detective work together as a class, they are actually able to cover more ground by doing individual investigations. Way to improvise, Sherman students!

The Sherman Elementary student scientists were going to present their investigation at a large, community event at Foss Waterway Seaport. They are already adjusting the event to be online, where probably even more people will hear about their heroic work to help heal the waters of the Salish Sea.

For now, they are getting ready for their research by getting to know their wild neighbors and their ecosystems with their Explore the Salish Sea books at home. But what about those salmon fry? Keep your eyes on Foss Waterway Seaport’s website for the release date announcement. Not only Sherman 5th graders, but anyone is welcome to join in the virtual release.

Sherman Elementary 5th graders and teachers, you are each true Salish Sea Heroes!