(Image of 4th/5th graders checking a pitfall trap for arthropods)

In just six short weeks this summer, BEMP worked with 86 Horizons of Albuquerque students and well over a dozen of their teachers to bring science education to life through the local bosque ecosystem.

The students were grouped by grade level such that the 2nd and 3rd graders, 4th and 5th graders, and 6th graders made up the three educational BEMP groups. Each grade level had their own theme for the six weeks, in the hopes that students would come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the bosque. Students also had the opportunity to gain scientific skills and familiarity with concepts that they can implement throughout their educational careers.

The theme for 2nd and 3rd grade was exploring what an ecosystem is and how each parts of that system is interconnected. After some in-class learning and a few explorative bosque walks, the students, working in pairs, made their own models of habitats in the riparian ecosystem. Some of the prominently featured creatures included the tiger salamander and the BEMP-beloved porcupine.

The 4th and 5th graders focused on the world of the creepy crawlies of the bosque. The students began their studies by constructing miniature models of some of the arthropods they had encountered in the bosque. Then, after writing their own hypotheses on where they would find the most arthropods and why, they conducted their own pitfall trapping to test their hypotheses. Many of the students could hardly believe the amount of life that exists right at their feet! From wolf spiders to field crickets and many, many roly-polies, the students went through the contents of each trap and compiled all of their data into tables. They used this analysis to make incredible posters highlighting their results.

Sixth graders focused on the wonderful world of aquatic turtles this summer. Using turtles as a way to gain familiarity with both the scientific method and wildlife conservation, students developed their project from the ground up. They developed hypotheses about the turtles in the bosque and then actually got in the Bosque School pond to trap and process the turtles. With the data they collected, the students worked in groups to make professional posters showcasing their results.

Often, many of the students would tell us that BEMP was the favorite part of their week and that they wish that they could do BEMP all the time. Many of the 6th grade students wanted to stay involved with BEMP during the school year through their schools. We can’t wait to keep working with these fantastic Horizons students that have been inspired by their projects with BEMP.

Blog Post by Elijah Martinez, BEMP Summer Educator