Ballona Wetlands field trip April 20^th 2010

 

Today was the first field trip to the Ballona Wetlands after almost a year of  investigation into recycling and trash initiated by the children.

Focusing on the Wetlands which are near to Isabelle’s home allowed the children to get some real answers and ask in depth questions from the Program Coordinator; Christian Alvez. 

After picking up a pile of trash, Christian led them to a “KI” in a remote part of the Wetlands.

 

“Native Americans lived here for thousands of years.” Christian.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the area was a small, pristine pond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paloma:            Why is this pond so clean?

 

 

Christian:          People don’t come here and the flooding doesn’t occur here.  If you look around, you see mountains very far away surround us.

Pablo:               I can see far away – I can see Africa – I can see houses.

Christian:            When you wash your hands in the sink, where does the water go?

Paloma:            Down the drain.

Christian:            When it rains, where does the water go?

Kai:                  In the ocean.

Paloma:            The drain washes it down to the ocean. That’s bad for sharks, whales, turtles.

Christian:          Think of this like a drain. This is where all the water from the land is coming; we are standing on the drain. When the trash comes in here we have to clean it up because the animals think its food. 

                     

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we showed Christian the signs the children had made, he was quite impressed. The animals they had depicted were very accurate victims of pollution. It was suggested that get community involvement in order to be approved to post the signs.  He also made us aware that every 4^th Sunday is a clean up day at the Wetlands when they pull non-native

Plants and pick up trash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teacher Strategies

Are the signs best posted in the Wetlands or should the children focus on the cities where

the trash originates?

Organize an Earth Day family trip this Saturday, April 24^th, for all the families to meet and enjoy the Wetlands – Paola will be your point person.

Contact the Farmer’s Market ‘stop pollution’ groups to see if we can share the children’s sign work with them.

Contact the Mar Vista City Counsel and share the children’s concern and signs.