Art Week 4

             The majestic view of the mountain over the river.                Karen is explaining what are the
                                                                                                                 expectations of this activity.

Art at Tumalo Creek


During art day out at Tumalo Creek, we focused on painting with watercolors. For example, we found a stick or leaf that we thought was a good thing to paint. We had about 20 minutes to get the painting done. What I chose to paint is the river with some rocks sticking out of the water and some currents.  The reason why we did this is so we can understand and connect with the area better.

Opening Circle week#3

Realms students paying attention to a reading.

Today we got into a standing circle in a whole new place. We were surrounded by many big trees. Our main concentration was to see how many different human impacts we could find. Like pipes sitting on the side of the road and constriction happening right in front of our eyes. Mr. Beck read a story written by Martha Campbell. Here’s a quote from the reading. "Other dangers lie not in the stream itself, but in the pipeline that runs from the intake to town.” Now we were ready to start focusing on the social science.

Data Collection Week 3

Tumalo Week 3 Data Collection

While collecting data on the third week we were entrusted with responsibility to collect reliable and accurate data. The tools that we used are called vernier probes. Vernier probes are a small computer like hand held object that has certain attatchments for different water quality factors.  Some of the things we calculated are the water temperature, air temperature, the pH balance, turbidity, and conductivity. I personally like how we were trusted to use really expensive tools, it brought about the feeling of responsibility and maturity to me which really made my day.I think that the main purpose for collecting this data is so we could compare this data with the past classes and the future classes can to. After a rough fire that destroyed the tumalo habitat central oregon joined hand in hand to restore this habitat to all that it could be.The main challenge we had was getting the most acurate reading that we could. The weather was cold and it was hard to stand so close to other people on a small bank of rocks. However we pulled through and collected the most accurate readings we could forgetting our lives back home, focused on the science.

Conner and Trevor waiting for the water quality results.

Week 3 Social Science

Page 1 (above) Page 2 (below)

Hanna's social science form where she captures what is most important
in terms of human interactions with Tumalo.

Social science is a realm all of it’s own, mainly, it is all about human interactions with nature. We where striving to understand why people did what they did pertaining to Tumalo creek, like the intake. We read articles by past 8^th graders and also articles by the Source, and the Bulletin about the history of Tumalo Irrigation district and the Surface Water Improvement Project project as well as the history of water rights. Then we determined importance and shared in our Ethnographer groups, and then, in the group we shared with the class. To help clarify the geographical side of the problem Mr. Beck drew a splendid map in the sand. In the end everybody left knowing the motives of  people and their actions toward Tumalo creek, that way we could better understand why people did what they did and helped us see their perspective.

Pipe laying along the road for surface water pipeline improvment project.




  

Bend Bulletin article about the controversial
pipeline improvement to bring drinking water to bend

Art Week 3

Tumalo week 3 Art

We were in groups of 4 and we painted water color

pictures short and long distance. At the end we will make water colors of Tumalo creek. This helps us understand the area better.

This is a few students working on some pieces of art

Week 3 Reflection

WEEK 3: REFLECTION
This week at Tumalo Creek we weren’t at our regular study site. After we went over our writing prompt and choosing a backdrop of the riprarian zone,the bridge creek fire and how the valley is important to bend, we split up. Not able to see each other, we wrote about how we felt about the new spot. Personally, I got distracted by the river calmly rushing by, like it had somewhere to be and
it was late. Finally, all was quiet and we could write. The only sounds were the river and the birds chirping noisily in the nearest trees. After a long period of time, Mr.Beck called us back for our closing circle.

Reflection

Week Three

“. This cold, bubbling stream spitting up water at every rock and turn that is left over from my so easily accessible water” ~ Mariah Brito
“As you walk away from one side of the river it is a grassy field with little burnt stumps rarely peeking out of the grass.” ~ Delaney Pogue
“Right now I have some kind of bird sitting on a log next to me, singing me a song.”~ Amelia Carlson
“There's a meadow here with tall bushes and many trees.”~ Bente shares ways this is different with are study site.

Cole deep in his thoughts about Tumalo

Stacia writing while she sat alone working on her reflection.

Closing Circle Week 3

Closing Circle Week 3

Today we regrouped at REALMS. Tired after a long day at our temporary study site, just down the river from our normal site in Tumalo Valley, it was nice to just sit back and relax as people shared about their personal experiences at this new place. Some people, like Conner shared their art, while others, such as Mariah and Cassidy, shared some or even all of their reflection pieces.   

Mariah sharing a short excerpt from her reflection

Our week three closing circle in our very own REALMS backyard

Week 2 Opening Circle

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Week 2

Opening Circle

REALMS students waiting patiently in an Opening Circle while Mr. Beck
reads an inspiring piece by Janet about a history of Tumalo

In this weeks opening circle we were getting prepared for a fantastic math day. To start it off the teachers told us a brief explanation of the exciting schedule they had prepared, like math and science, this week we got to cross the river! We were all super excited. So after we learned the schedule which included crossing the river and then setting up the collection plot. Mr. Beck started to read an article by Janet Lansburgh, Social Scientist. My favorite line in the article was "Our glorious study site is located in the ever-beating heart of Tumalo Valley." After he read we were so pumped to start the best day ever.

Week 2 Crossing the River

Week Two; Crossing The River

On this trip we needed to cross the river so we could get to the study site. Our Study sight is where we collected our tree carbon data that we are going to take back to our math class and calculate how much carbon is in one hector. I know I was a little nervous and I think a few others were, too. There were plenty of rules (probably so our teachers didn’t have to listen to us complaining.) like keep two ‘legs’ on the ground at all times. We had to use a weird stick for extra precaution and only three of us were allowed to cross at a time, to be careful. My group was one of the first to cross because we had to take video of the crossing. Once we were across we were all super happy. It had been really fun to cross, even though we were nervous. When we were done taking data we had to cross back. This time I was ready and excited.

Rules and Protocols For Crossing The River

·     Always be aware of your surroundings.

·     When crossing the river keep one foot to the side and in front of the other foot. Meaning, don’t cross your feet when walking.

·     Always face upstream.

·     Make sure that you have two feet on the ground at all times. (we were using sticks to help walk across.)

·     If you fall put one knee down and hold onto the stick until you can pull your self back up.

·     When you put the waiters on tighten the straps as tight as they can go.

·     Once you get across quickly take off your waiters and put on your shoes so you are ready to start measuring. Also so the people without waiters can get across dry and happy. 

Mariah makes here trek across the river

Setting up the Plot Week 2

Setting up the Plot 

Soulen is helping set up the plot

Week 2

When setting up the plot we took 3-4-5 right triangles (three of them to be exact) and used the pythagorean theorom then  combined them to make a large square plot. Three students were in charge of each triangle (made of 12 knotted ropes) used to make the vertices of the square. We then used measuring tapes to measure 82 meters then made the next triangle.
     The plot was used as a sample of the forest (we didn't have enough time to measure the entire forest.) for carbon storage data. It was very interesting and exciteing to adventure  through the forest for the first time at tumalo and noticc the effects of the bridge creek fire.  It was almost spooky not knowing what to expect. It was a great opportunity to get to know and explore another part of our study site.

Tumalo Week 2 - Math

Jared measuring DBH using a spencer tape.

Tumalo Math Day

        During Tumalo math day Dante our 8th grade math teacher who loves every thing about math prepared us for what we would be doing. He explained how our data we would be collecting would later be taken back to the classroom. We would later analysis and make sense of the data to better understand Tumalo. This is how we collected our data, first we broke in to groups, groups then found a tree, took an i pod and went to the kilometer app and entered 60 degrees as the coordinates. We then take a tape measure and see how far the distance is from the ground to the tree once we are at a 60 degree angle from it, we take that measurement and multiply the it by 1.73 to get the approximate tree height. Then we take a tape measure and go round the tree to get the diameter breast height. Then we record the data we collected. -Sienna Noah Trevor Isaiah

Steven and Delaney recording tree DBH data.

Reflection Week 2

Today after collecting carbon data at Tumalo, we were given math related quotes to interpret. The over all theme of the day was math. Today's writing invitation was different from other reflections because instead of reflecting on the day, we had to make sense of a quote that had something to do with math being everywhere. We had to connect the quotes to the real world and Tumalo Creek. The writing invitation mentioned was, what is the authors message or point? How does the quote relate to your experience with Tumalo Math day? Quotes: “Nature is an infinite sphere of which the center is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere.” "Mathematics is no more computation than typing is literature." "Mathematics is the supreme judge; from its decisions there is no appeal." "The way to learn mathematics is to do mathematics."

Cassidy interpreting one of the many quotes.

My favorite lines from Sienna's interpretation:

"Because of this it would be impossible to put a circumference on all of nature." 

“Nature is always shrinking, expanding and a factor of evolution , just like how Tumalo Creek was severely damaged, then under took restoration, which leads to us today"

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“Nature is a sphere because everything in nature is always affecting its self and when I think about that I think a sphere does represent nature.”

Closing Circle Week 2

    As soon we got back we got in a standing circle. As we disgust about our successful day with Math. As we listened to Dante, Karen and Mr. Beck answer our comments and questions, we gave an appreciation on something we all did well or how someone helped you, and how did this make your day better. I got an appreciation because I gave someone my water. This made me feel good about my self and makes me want to do it more. Doing this makes everyone enjoy there day. When people are happy it makes the day fun, as it flows like water. At the end we gather our things and headed for the gear to load on the bus and head back to Realms.

Week 1 Opening Circle

The 8th graders sit and review the day's activities. Excitement being built as a group.

                                        

After getting off of the bus we stood in a circle and Mr.Beck read a poem by Missy VanDoren a previous 8th grade student that went to Tumalo. Personally my favorite line was "All I hear is the soft roar of the Creek. A soft roar? How does that work? It does. The roar is the raging creek flowing, jumping over the rocks, like the little kids playing jump rope." We also went over our personal goals (intentions) and expectations for the day.It was a special time for Mr.Beck to share his feelings for Tumalo. It was like he was passing a family gift down to us.(His face beaming with excitement). The Realms family gift of Tumalo Creek.

After reading the poem it opened up a way to look at Tumalo until we could develop our own perspective and understanding. We sat now a group of inspired 8th graders feeling the great urge to run and see this "glorious Tumalo Creek." I couldn't wait to see Tumalo through the eyes of Missy VanDoren.

Ethan Copeland sharing his expectations for the day.

Tumalo Week 1 Maps

Tumalo Map Day

Stacia, Mariah, and Cole identifying what kind of map. 

During the map activity Mr. Beck our science teacher told us to try to figure out where we were located on the map we would be given. right after the instructions we broke into groups and tryed to locate our selves on the maps using only the knowledge we came with before that day. This seemed very hard to me sense I did not understand maps very well before this activity. Each group of 4 or 5 received different styles and types of maps. Eventually every group successfully found where our study site was on the map. Afterwards the groups presented  to our class how they came to understand and use the map they were given. By the end of the activity we all could recognize how to use and locate our self on different types of maps. -Sienna, Trevor, Isaiah, Noah

Student showing where our study site is.

Science Week 1

Week 1 Science

      Every one was so excited. Our first time at Tumalo and it was go time. Our class split into two groups for the day. The first group laid down tiny orange flags across the bankfull line. The bankfull line is the imaginary line that is created when the  stream is at its fullest. " It surprisingly didn't take as long to place each flag than I thought it would." - Amelia Carlson. " It was difficult to determine where the bankfull line was at some times. It became easier as we continued through our job." -Conner Berlant.
       For the second half of the day the second group walked along the bankfull line holding a 6 foot PVC pipe that was home made by Mr. Beck. Every time the tube hit a tree another person behind them would right down what kind and how old the tree is. That's the job I had. I traded off holding the tube with the other members that were in my group. I learned all the of the different tree species that live at Tumalo Vally. My arms got very tired from holding the pole. Many people were exhausted after the day ended. I couldn't wait to come back to Tumalo Vally.      

Jared is completely filling out the data recording form

A completely filled out bankfull line data sheet.

Art Week 1

Today at our study site, the class was instructed to shade in what we saw at Tumalo. We took the time to find a piece of nature. Some, including Stacia, drew a leaf, while other choose intricate plants, like Sienna, or a rock by the stream. Instead of outlining an object, we shaded until we were satisfied with our final piece, to become proficient at the shading technique and to look at Tumalo through different lens. Personally I enjoy Stacia's artwork, because she smudged, to give the blurred effect. This was the first week the class visited this study site, we were unfamiliar with the sights, sounds, smells and feel of Tumalo Creek. Art helped us appreciate the small details at Tumalo and become acquainted with this place that we visit each week.

Sienna's artwork with the title "Little Flowers"

Stacia drawing a leaf.

Cole shading in willow leaves and a rock near the creek.

Stacia used her finger to smudge the shading of her artwork.

Tumalo Week 1

Example of a reflection on week 1

   

 Ronan in solitude and reflection
 after doing art. 

     Tumalo creek has a riverbed made of stone and green, long, furry seaweed. The water is so clear if it was still it would be down onto the riverbed. Since the water is moving at a swift pace it creates a blur of the riverbed. With small rapids accompanied by the peaceful hum of the creek, as it flows endlessly by. The hot sun beats down on us, but as I entered the shade near the river bank the cool breeze following felt much better.

Reflecting to me is a time to think about what you just did and the amazing things you just learned. It is a time that you can write about almost any thing you want and how your day went including why you think we are leaning what we are learning. being at Tumalo soothes me in a way that no place could before. Reflecting to me is a time to relax after the long day at Tumalo. A chance to rest while thinking about the day. If there wasn't reflecting I probably would forget about all of the amazing field work we have done in the past 3 years.  

Week 1 Closing Circle

REALMS Students in a Closing Circle sharing their day

In the first week of Tumalo Fieldwork, we did so much, collecting data, doing art... But at the end of the day, we're all tired and ready to go home. That is why we do a Closing Circle.  In Closing Circles we share things that we did during the day, like a reflection or art. This week, the class was split into two groups, so we did not know what the other group did. But in the circle we were able to share what we did with the whole class! Like art we did with Phoebe, and a reflection we did on our own. Most people were most comfortable sharing their art, but a couple of people would be brave enough to share their writing. By the time school was out, we all felt connected, as if we were together the whole day.

Reflection

By Soulen Jacob

Shady spot, with grass around. River flowing and wind blowing. What I see is spiders and insects scattering and flying. Fallen down trees and alive trees, blue skies and stones sitting still. What I smell is fresh air and grass, water, and V8. The experience of my first day is amazingish, a little too hot. I got to walk through a lot of things, I got to dunk my head in the river (biggest brain freeze ever) breaking branches is fun too.

Art

By Delaney Pogue 

By Amelia Carlson