Students put lessons to the test

The facts came as a shock to the students: The Spokane River is in danger, they learned at school. It’s full of sewage, PCB contamination, lead, arsenic and other material harmful to animals and humans. It’s also the sixth most endangered river in the entire United States.

“What can we do?” asked the fifth- and sixth-graders at Summit School in the Central Valley School District. “How can we help? What must be done to protect our river?”

What started out as a routine science lesson on the molecular properties of water quickly evolved into a personal cause for these 11- and 12-year-olds, who have devoted countless hours at school learning about pollution and the Spokane River. They’ve explored ways to save water, protect natural resources and reduce their impact on the planet. They’ve learned about the effects of mining and dams, as well as the fragile state of the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. Now, these kids hope to make a difference by spreading the word.

“If people knew what I’ve learned, they would take care of the river, too,” said Devan Morgan, age 12.

On Saturday, 31 Summit School students spent the morning at Mirabeau Park handing out bottled water along with pamphlets and pieces of paper with tips on how to save water and protect the Spokane River.

They came as part of the American Lung Association’s Asthma Walk, which drew about 400 participants who raised more than $37,000. As joggers and walkers reached the end of the five-kilometer course, they were greeted with cheers and high-fives from the kids, who then proceeded to hand out water and informational pamphlets that they had designed at school.

“The Spokane River! Use it, don’t abuse it!” stated one of the brochures that featured a black-and-white photograph of a waterfall. Inside, the pamphlet included information on the students’ project, ways to conserve water and suggestions on how to stop pollution.

“I was shocked,” said 12-year-old Katie Mullin, describing her reaction to the lessons they’ve learned in class. “We’re such a small town. How can we make our river so polluted? … Now, we’re trying to educate other people about it.”

Students said they were especially surprised at how harmful the phosphates in many household soaps and detergents can be to fish habitat. They also didn’t realize how much water people waste on an everyday basis.

“They’ve worked really hard because they wanted to bring awareness to the community,” said Jackie Bos, one of the four teachers who work with Summit’s fifth- and sixth-graders.

Instead of simply reading textbooks and watching videos, the students have been involved in shaping the curriculum by asking themselves: “How can we positively interact with the Spokane River?” So for the last two months, they’ve taken field trips, listened to guest speakers and looked to each other for ideas.

The ecology theme has been part of all their subjects, not just science, said Bos. As they worked on persuasive writing, for instance, students have written letters to the editor and other pieces that promote the need to protect the environment. They also included a service-learning component by handing out water at the ALA’s Asthma Walk on Saturday.

“Kids learn best when they learn from and with each other,” said Bos, describing the philosophy at Summit School.

As a result of their lessons and experiences, students have persuaded their parents and families to make changes at home in order to conserve water and reduce their impact on the river. They’ve been checking their toilets for leaks and looking out for phosphates in the list of ingredients found in soaps and dishwashing detergents. Some have asked their moms and dads to change the way they irrigate their lawns so that the sprinklers water only grass and not the pavement. Others have convinced their parents to install low-flow showerheads. A few have even taken up composting.

“We just want to do our part to help,” said 11-year-old Madison Laws. “We need to take care of the river.”