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| Many thanks to everyone who supported the "Green Generation" campaign to clean up the campus lake and develop and an experiential outdoor education center. |
Wild Duck Lake, the body of water mirroring WAB's High School building, is thriving again, thanks to the generous contributions of the WAB community and Bayer China through WAB's "Green Generation" campaign. While further developments on the lake continue, including the forthcoming installation of a bridge, the wetlands area is already being utilized as an educational center by WAB classes, Roots & Shoots and other community groups. In addition, members of the local community are enjoying the park-like atmosphere of the terraces, brightened by Canna lilies, Japanese iris and other plant species.
Eager to take advantage of the rich educational opportunities provided by the lake, two Grade 12 Biology classes began the new school year by taking water samples as part of an ecosystem study that will be conducted again by other classes later in the term. In the coming weeks, some Grade 5 classes will be exploring the lake as part of their first unit of inquiry, as well.
Earlier this summer, before the Olympics, Roots & Shoots collaborated with a group of learners from the Washington International School (WIS) on testing a wetlands/water quality curriculum. Erika Helms, Executive Director, the Jane Goodall Institute China, reported, "We now have a draft activity curriculum ready that would take upper-middle/high school age kids through a half-day of hands-on learning about wetlands and water quality, including water testing and analysis as well as mapping and drawing plant species."
WAB science teachers have been collaborating with Roots & Shoots on the development of educational programming. This term, the groups plan to collaborate on designing permanent plant identifcation signs, in both English and Chinese. WAB's Roots & Shoots students will also be recording evidence of animal life and preparing learning materials about each animal and its role in wetlands ecology. Other plans involve implementing an outreach program with Roots & Shoots groups from local Chinese schools
Lianxi looks forward to reporting more on the educational programming taking place around the wetlands of Wild Duck Lake.