Thousand Islands Elementary School Students
Fight To Save Turtles
(Pictured above: Grade 5 students Chris Butler, Owen Hill and Kyle Hodge hold up a turtle crossing
sign similar to one that will soon be erected on Black Rapids Road.)
Thousand Islands Elementary School
Students Fight To Save Turtles
(Lansdowne) – A popular children’s tale involving a turtle and a hare trumpets the mantra that “slow and steady wins the race.”
Unfortunately, slow and steady for turtles crossing area roads leaves them losers in the battle with cars and trucks. In fact, the carnage on area roads has contributed to seven of the eight native turtle species in Ontario being placed on the endangered list.
That’s why students in Lisa Chitty’s Grade 5 class at Thousand Islands Elementary School (TIES) are working to save at least some of those turtles by convincing Leeds and Thousand Islands Township to erect a turtle-crossing sign on Black Rapids Road. Working with the local branch of the Species at Risk program, three students in Chitty’s class recently made a presentation to councillors, winning a commitment to erect the sign at an appropriate location along the road between two turtle habitats.
The idea is to alert local drivers about an established crossing so they can slow down and avoid transforming local turtles into road kill, said Chitty.
Chitty says having her students participate in an in-depth research project in science, as well as making a public presentation, are great educational experiences for them.
“There is the scientific knowledge gained, the presentation skills learned, and the experience of being able to stand up in front of a township council and make a presentation, “ said Chitty. “It’s just phenomenal for these kids.
“But the compassion that our students feel for these turtles is the most important thing, I think. They’re really (emotionally) invested in it and they truly want to help.”
The initiative is part of a module on biodiversity being studied in Chitty’s class. The students have been studying food chains and the interconnectivity between plant and animal species in maintaining the ecological balance. The students learned about the turtles’ valuable role in limiting algal levels in area lakes, ponds and rivers. Too much algae can contribute to oxygen depletion in these bodies of water when the algae dies and decomposes – which can harm fish populations.
During the module, students split into small groups to work on presentations that could have potentially been made to council. After reviewing the presentations by the students, Chitty selected the one by Owen Hill, Chris Butler, and Kyle Hodge as the best one – earning the trio the right to appear before council.
On January 22, the three presented to township council along with local Species at Risk coordinator Tim Woods. Councillors praised the three boys for the quality of their presentation and approved a resolution for the installation of a turtle crossing sign wherever the public works department deems it appropriate.
The students are glad councillors agreed to their request.
Hill says the state of the turtle population warrants the action.
“The fact that out of eight species in Ontario seven are on the endangered list, and we only have one more, we have to do something so drivers will slow down (and be more cautious) on our roads.”
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For more information, please call:
Lisa Chitty
Teacher
Thousand Islands Elementary School
613-659-2216
Posted February 3, 2012