The Student-Written Blog of the Walden Community School!

Weekly

This week's field trip took us to UCF. While there, we visited the SMA (Stormwater Management Academy.) The SMA strives to find ways to use cleaner and environmentally friendly products. One of the things that they are working on is using better products that will prevent runoff water (water that doesn't make it to the sewer system). An example of one of their experiments is green roofs. Green roofs are flower beds that are on roof tops. One of the positive things about these is that on flat roofs, water usually sits and creates mold, but if there is a green roof on top of it, then all the water will be absorbed into the soil. Not only that, but the plants will help lower air temperatures, reduce heating and cooling bills, clean and retain rainwater, and add beauty to roof tops I mean would you want have a hotel room or apartment building overlooking a dirty, smelly roof or would you rather wake up in the morning smelling Jasmine and honeysuckles looking down to down at a green paradise?   

 

Postal Script: WE ALL LOVED IT!!
-Sidney McCall

Please view the slideshow of pictures from our trip!
(If you cannot see the slideshow window, try doubleclicking in the space below.)

Arts & Activities
This week in art we worked on negative space and volume drawing. We then used charcoal paper to practice the principles of the new drawing techniques. Needless to say,  Carrie + Abby + Maddy + Charcoal = A Big Mess ² . Unfortunately, we don't know how much longer Kim and Byron will be with us because it looks like Kim will give birth to their fourth child within the next few weeks. In dance, we made great progress on our Halloween production. Sidney finished her script, and we are working on learning our lines. Sadly, Skipper landed wrong on her right foot and is now recovering from a slight fracture. In science related news, we will begin planting our garden on Monday. Remember to dress for a mess!
-Katie Mikulka

Lists
This week's list of tidbits includes a bit about our field trip. These are the types of pervious pavements by Stone Age Pavers, as introduced to us by our friend Mike Hardin at UCF:

1. Flexi-pave: Mike's personal favorite, Flexi-pave not only makes use of a non-disposable material but also helps diminish stormwater collection. The pavement is made of bits of rubber tire and small stones cemented together with a water-activated polyurethane binding agent. Underneath the Flexi-pave lies an embedded foundation of larger rocks, allowing stormwater to seep through the Flexi-pave and into the ground rather than puddle and collect chemicals on a regular impervious surface such as asphalt. 
2. Pavers: These bricks are no ordinary pavers! Before laying the bricks, layers of rock, similar to the foundation under the Flexi-pave, create a foundation. The company's design is effective because they leave gaps between the pavers that they fill with pea gravel to enable the water to filter through to the ground.
3. Pervious Concrete: Along the same principle of the Flexi-pave, pervious concrete consists of bits of concrete with enough holes to enable water to filter through to the ground.
4. Pervious Asphalt: Mike's least favorite product due to its relative ineffectiveness, the pervious asphalt follows the same principle as the Flexi-pave and the pervious concrete except with small stone and asphalt. As Mike demonstrated, the water does not seep through this material nearly as well as the other products.
To think that all of these products have a life just as long as the asphalt and concrete we have on our streets and sidewalks today. And they cost approximately the same amount as standard paving. Ms. Karin may even consider ordering a Flexi-pave driveway for Walden!
-Madelaine Romito

News & Need-to-knows
In keeping with our field trip to UCF, this week's science lessons focused mainly on environmental studies, specifically the negative effects of stormwater. We also discussed green roofs and their benefits. In addition to the possible Flexi-pave driveway, Ms. Karin wants to apply for a grant for a green roof at Walden to support our environmental awareness. We even traveled the world again with Ms. Gretchen and her humanities lessons. This week we learned about the three kingdoms of Ancient Egypt, which collapsed around 671 B.C.E. We even took a virtual tour through an excavated pyramid in Giza, Egypt.

 We also excavated our "mummified" apples. As a group we concluded that, should you ever need to mummify a piece of fruit, definitely go with a mixture of epsom salt and table salt.

And just a note for those of you who love animals as we do: poor Herman the Tortoise passed away on Wednesday night due to a vitamin deficiency. As hard as Abigail tried to restore his health, Herman's soft shell never healed. Please bow your head for a moment of silence in honor of our departed friend. On the brightside, Abby now has a new and slightly larger tortoise named Billy Redfoot!
-Madelaine Romito

Understandings

MEET MARK HARDIN, UCF Environmental Engineer
Q: 

What do you do at your job?
A: Basically, a large part of my job is to conduct research on storm water management practices.

Q: Why did you choose to be an environmental engineer?
A: Well, I love problem solving math and science.  I wanted to do a job that I would have a positive impact on the environment.

Q: What is your favorite part about working at UCF?
A: I guess I would have to say going out and having tours to groups like yours.

Q: Why are green roofs important?
A: I would have to say the reason they are so important they mimic our natural environment in our most urban areas.

Q: What are some of your life goals?
A: My life goals line up with most people I want to have a positive impact on my community and support my family.
-interview conducted by Carrie Mikulka and Sasha Berman

Trivia

Here are a few facts about water conservation:

• Close to 50% of the water used in a home originates from the bathroom.
• A small drip from a faucet can waste up to 50 gallons of water daily, which is enough water to run a dishwasher twice.
• The average person can live about a month without eating any food, but can only live about a week without water.
• Approximately 70 percent of the Earth is covered with water. Only 1 percent of the water is drinkable.
  -Skipper Williamson

We hope you enjoyed this week's edition of the W.A.L.N.U.T.!
-Katie Mikulka and Madelaine Romito, editors-in-chief

Comments

[Carrie]

Nice job! I really like the interview! Keep up the great work!!!