Chaplin+Elementary+School

=//Students making a difference in their world//=

Sixth-grade teachers, Chris Blair and Barbara Walters, and T.A.G. (talented and gifted) teacher, Donna Dufresne, have been excited about the authentic learning opportunities our students have been engaged in. We are studying the water quality of the Thames River watershed by investigating our own Natchaug River, which flows through Chaplin and empties into the Mansfield Hollow Reservoir. The Natchaug River is one of three sources which flow into Mansfield Hollow, providing drinking water for the town of Willimantic. Our sixth graders have learned about water quality by studying macro-invertebrates, conducted rapid bio assessment on the Natchaug River, and visited the Willimantic Water Works and Waste Treatment plants.

It has been an exciting fall and winter! We have participated in interdistrict field trips and conducted real-life research while addressing state curriculum standards in science, math, and language arts. Check out our watershed simulation activity! We are looking forward to finding out what students in Norwich and New London have learned about the Thames River watershed.