Maple Street Magnet School students conduct yearlong study of Cocheco River

Students collect water samples from the Cocheco River as part of their yearlong project studying the life and health of the river. (Courtesy Rochester School District)

ROCHESTER - Maple Street Magnet School fourth- and fifth-graders are finishing up a yearlong study of the life and health of the Cocheco River as a hands on way to apply the lessons that they learn in class.

Under the guidance of teachers Ginny Farkas, Danielle Devoid and art teacher Sue Abbiati, students worked with University of New Hampshire professors, volunteers from the UNH Cooperative Extension and the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment Program to study macroinvertebrates that live in the river. Students also looked at the river's velocity and chemistry, and how they affect the organisms that live in the river.

Students collected samples from the river in the fall, late winter and spring, so that they could compare the life in the river during different seasons. They then documented their findings using charts and graphs, applying both art and math skills to the project.

"This project made students take the skills that they have learned in class and apply them to a real life situation," said Principal Erin Mahoney. "This aligns with our school's mission to foster a culture in which students, teachers, parents and community work in partnership to challenge and empower a generation that will persevere, innovate, collaborate and lead for the betterment of our community."