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