MINNEAPOLIS -- The old fashioned method of text books and worksheets is out the window, literally for Wendy Anderson and her students at Minnesota Transitions Charter School in Minneapolis.
"I don't like text books and worksheets so much. I love getting them outside. When you do that, they take ownership," explains Anderson.
The students recently did their regular check up of the Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis by gathering as many critters as possible, ones most may not know are there.
"The kids are digging for macroinvertabrates," says Anderson.
Wendy is committed to bringing real science to the kids here.
"I've been doing it here at this stream for about 6 years altogether. Taking ownership of what goes on here, it becomes their stream. They care about it, they ask about when we're coming out," she says.
Her students agree saying some people don't understand how the little streams contaminate rivers.
It's not just about doing school work, it's about the bigger picture:
"The stream was what you could consider pretty sick when we started. It's been on the increase as far as health goes which the kids are really excited about. We've been gathering all this data with Hennepin County. Now we're finding a lot of things not tolerant of pollution so it's really exciting for the kids," Anderson said.
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