“Digging for Dinner” EnviroEd

Fourth and fifth graders from Rocky Hill School embark on their annual two-day outdoor environmental education program Thursday, May 27 and Friday, May 28. This two-day EnviroEd program highlights science investigations, a canoe trip up the Greene River, a Grade 5 sleepover, and work with the scientists from Biomes Marine Biology Center. The program, based on the Rocky Hill campus, is designed by Rocky Hill Lower School faculty to use the campus as a learning laboratory. This program is unique because of the faculty’s ability to utilize the waterfront campus as a classroom.

On Thursday, May 27, beginning at 8:30 a.m., the fourth and fifth grade students, several parents and faculty members will make their way down to Marsh Point armed with rakes and shovels. The goal is to gather a plentiful catch of quahogs and steamers for the evening’s dinner. Following this, students, parents and faculty will participate in a day-long canoe-trip up the Greene/Potowomut River. The first stop will feature a speaker from Save the Bay to talk about the health of the Bay. Paddlers will pull up along the shore of the Gammell residence, 790 Ives Road, East Greenwich, at approximately 11:00 a.m. Next on their journey, students dissect fish with the help of Biomes Marine Biology Center professionals on the shore of the Choquette residence, 57 Forge Road, East Greenwich.

On Friday, May 28 from 8:30 – 11:45 a.m. students will prepare Gyotaku, the Japanese art form of fish rubbing that captures finely detailed imprints of a fish. Japanese fisherman used Gyotaku to record prints of exceptional catches and scientists still use it today to capture details that a camera might miss. A problem solving ropes course will test our students teamwork and leadership abilities. Both the problem solving activities and Gyotaku will take place on the Hopelands Building front lawn of Rocky Hill School.

(THE ENVIRO ED PROGRAM ENDS WITH A CLASS TRIP TO BIOMES WHERE STUDENTS WILL FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE MARINE LIFE ENVIRONMENT OF NARRAGANSETT BAY).