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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eighth-Graders Test Water From Around The Country

Patti Adams’ eighth-grade science classroom looked like a bowl of Lucky Charms, a rainbow of colors - blue, green, pink and purple - floating in ziplocked baggies.

Taste testing additions to the Deer Park Junior High menu? No, the latest trend in public schools.

As part of a multi-discipline, 15-week unit on the Columbia River, Adams’ class was testing water for acidity, copper, iron, hardness and chlorine. Mark Napier’s water test, sent from Converse, Texas, by his aunt, turned purple - an acidic level of vinegar.

Midway through the unit, the eighth grade class at the school has learned about the Columbia River from three different perspectives - the language arts, history and science.

That approach - “integrated curriculum” - is the latest trend in teaching.

Adams and language arts teacher Roberta Cossey worked with Washington Water Power officials during the summer to expand last year’s nine-week Columbia River course to a full 15 weeks. Working together, the two tailored their lessons to be as compatable as possible.

For example, science lessons on the formation of rivers tie in with history lessons about Pacific Northwest Indian tribes and their dependence on the Columbia River.

“A students goes from class to class and the subjects are the same,” said Adams. “You put it all together and hope it sinks in for them.”

A month ago, Cossey assigned students to write letters to friends and relatives in different parts of the country and ask them to send water samples. Before testing last Thursday, a smorgasbord of water samples - from Oklahoma to New York - sat on a desk in Adams’ room.

Zepher White, 13, said learning about the same subject in different classes “was great.”

A period before, in his history class, he learned about the role water played in the religion of Pacific Northwest Indians. That was OK, but White said he prefers science to the humanities. “I kinda bombed the first half of the quarter (in history).

“(In science class) it is really interesting to see how lava moved the river and how it shaped where the river flows,” said White, talking as he tested the Deer Park city water.

Tests showed minimal levels of acidity and moderate levels of copper.

The lesson is fun for the students for another reason - field trips. Eighth graders have already toured the Dry Lake Dam, and will see the Grand Coulee Dam in a month.

“We get to go on a field trip, so it’s cool,” said Colby Parkins, 14, as he found his water sample, from Michigan, had the acidity of orange juice. “Hey, we get to get away from school for a while.”

Shaw students will march

To set an example for students at Bemiss Elementary and Regal Elementary, 250 Shaw Middle School students involved with the anti-drug and alcohol program High Five will walk around the Hillyard neighborhood Oct. 20 beginning at 1:35 p.m.

The Shaw students, who will all take the High Five pledge, will be escorted by police officers and Shaw staff as they walk past the two Hillyard elementary schools.

Some Shaw students are soliciting pledges to pay for club T-shirts. For more information, contact Shaw High Five coordinator Nancy Shepard at 353-4505.

Rogers yearbook wins awards

The Rogers High School yearbook got a couple up on its rival at Shadle Park High School by garnering several prestigious awards for the 1995 edition of The Treasure Chest.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association gave the yearbook, edited by Sarah Houk, top marks for concept (142 out of 150 points), coverage (141 out of 150) and design (249 out 250).

The National Scholastic Press Association gave the yearbook a ranking of “first class with two marks of distinction.”

The yearbook was also named in “Ideas that Fly,” a collection of the best junior high, high school and college yearbooks published by Herff Jones, the second-largest yearbook publisher in the country.

Current editor Mike McLaughlin was on staff last year.

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