Some young children are timid around creepy critters, but not the kindergartners at St. Charles.
It was bug exploration day for those students on Wednesday, put on by Allen County Soil and Water. Samples from the Ottawa River were brought in and the students went through finding, identifying, and classifying different bugs found in the river. The lesson gives them a hands-on approach to learning the river is more than just water, that it's alive and they have an impact on it.
"I think the experience sticks with you a little more," said Casey Heilman, community outreach coordinator for Allen County Soil and Water. "When you're talking about macroinvertebrates or insects in the classroom many kids are apprehensive as to wanting to see it. When it's in front of them, as you saw, they all wanted to touch and feel and see it close. It leaves an impression."
Allen County Soil and Water can do this for any school organization by request. It can be done in the classroom or at the river.
