Tulane University and Archbishop Rummel High School
The Roof Runoff Project
Funded by Toyota Tapestry
Dr. Joan Bennett and Dr. Laura Steinberg of Tulane University
Jewel Reuter of Archbishop Rummel High School
Forging A
Link 2000
Tulane University and
Archbishop Rummel High School
The Roof Runoff Project
Funded by Toyota Tapestry
Dr. Joan Bennett and Dr. Laura Steinberg of Tulane University
Jewel Reuter of Archbishop Rummel High School
Toyota TAPESTRY Grants for Teachers
Our link begins with Tulane
University and Archbishop Rummel High School.
We have decided to base our link around doing a water quality
investigation. Tulane University
has identified a problem, and hasbegun to plan the methodology of the
investigation. The students will be involved in each step of the project.
They will understand that the procedure must be created and that data
must be collected. Since this is a
new project, we have no answers to our questions. Our problem is centered around
lead in urban water runoff. Students
will collect and analyze runoff, and send their results to the university.
We
are attempting to get funding for the project from various sources since the
project requires equipment and test kits. We
hope to develop a vertical learning chain that has university students mentoring
high school students and high school students mentoring grammar school students.
We want to expand our project beyond the two schools to include schools
in our area and to include teacher development as part of the project.
Who:
Students:
585 student
in the core of the project and 1335 auxiliary students from Archbishop Rummel
High School and Christian Brothers School
Tulane University Green Club
Faculty:
University Faculty
Dr. Joan Bennett-
Co-Director of Environmental Studies and Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology
at Tulane University
Dr. Laura Steinberg-
Professor of Civil Engineering at Tulane University
High School and Middle School Faculty
Ms. Jewel J. Reuter-
Project Director, Biology AP / Environmental Science / Chemistry Teacher
at
Archbishop Rummel High School
Ms. Lennie Wholer-
Biology / Environmental Science Teacher at Archbishop Rummel High School
Mr. Walter LeBon, Jr.-
Chemistry / Physics Teacher at Archbishop Rummel High School
Mr. Mark Firmin-
Statistics AP / Calculus/Algebra Teacher at Archbishop Rummel High School
Mr. Laurence Konersmann-
Life Science and Math Teacher at Christian Brothers School
Auxiliary
Faculty:
Science Teachers
Mr. Michael Corn,
Ms. Suzanne
Fitzpatrick, Mr. Steven Guitterrez, Ms. Rusty Jones, Ms. Dona Manning, Mr.
Milton Vigo, Ms. Charlene Wetzel
Math Teachers
Ms. Donna Elmore, Ms.
Anne Guajardo, Ms. Ms. Linda New, Mr. David Rodriguez, Ms. Ann Roth
English Teachers
Ms. Denise Otillio,
Ms. Lynn Silbernagel
Art Teachers
Ms. Gana Jones, Ms.
Ana Marie Russo
Head Start Teachers
Mr. Mark Firmin, Ms. Lennie
Wholer
What:
The Roof Runoff Project:
Could the
source of dangerous heavy metal contamination in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin be
in something as familiar as the water running off our roofs and walls?
Five project teachers and 585 students from Archbishop Rummel and
Christian Brothers School team with Tulane University students and professors to
conduct studies of roof and wall water runoff and water in their local area
network drainage system. Using
sensors and computers, students quantitatively collect data on heavy metals and
determine the pH, nitrate levels, dissolved oxygen and flow rates of surrounding
waters. Students culture Zebrafish embryos in water samples to determine the
possible developmental effects caused by the pollution.
A water quality profile is constructed and data is posted on the
project’s Web page, http://www.classtech2000.com.
The Roof Runoff Project is a multi-disciplined project that allows a
total of twenty teachers to help a total of 1335 student integrate science,
mathematics, English and art, participate in vertical learning with students
from middle school through college, and learn to take an active role in the care
of their environment.
Where:
Archbishop Rummel High
School, Tulane University, Christian Brothers School, the Greater New Orleans
area roofs and walls and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.
Why:
To determine if the
source of dangerous heavy metal contamination in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin
could be in something as familiar as the water running off our roofs and walls,
and to afford 585 students a real-world, hands-on science project that will help
their community. Tulane University and Archbishop Rummel will forge a link
through this project, and foster a higher level of education.
