Resources: Education

Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership Writing Contest
2 categories—Poetry and Personal History Essay
Subject matter for both contests must include reflections on life and work on Five Mile Creek. Open to K-12 students living in the Five Mile Creek Watershed.
Deadline for submissions: October 31, 2007 (download the flyer)

Committee Goals:
Incorporate local history and Five Mile Creek biology to:

• K-6 curriculum in schools serving the students in the Five Mile Creek Watershed
• 6-12 curriculum in schools serving the students in the Five Mile Creek Watershed
• General public who come in contact with the Greenway and canoe trails
• Signage for the greenway corridor

 First Steps:
Through a grant from Samford University, Dr. Ken Kirby and Francesca Gross have proposed a writing contest for K-12 students in communities within the Five Mile Creek Watershed.  An important part of the Partnership’s concept is to use segments of the greenway as outdoor classrooms for schools in the region. This writing contest would be a first effort to get the historical, cultural, and environmental issues associated with Five Mile Creek into the minds and classrooms of local schools.  Prizes will be given in four competition groups: grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.  Samford will sponsor and help conduct the contest through Dr. Kirby’s Communication Arts service learning projects during fall semester 2007.

The Black Warrior Clean Water Partnership is working with the Environmental Science staff at Huffman High School to develop an Outdoor Environmental Science Classroom behind the school, on the banks of an unnamed tributary of Five Mile Creek.

1. Food and herb gardening,
2. Restoration of the riparian wetland area behind school,
3. Studying the Five Mile Creek tributary,
4. Greenhouse plant cultivation, and
5. Addressing local environmental issues in the science curriculum.

1. Stimulate interest in science and other subjects,
2. Positively affect students’ attitudes about learning,
3. Lead to better achievement in science, and
4. Boost students’ self-esteem and pride in their school.

Specific site development for the Outdoor Classroom will include:

1. Converting “the Swamp” behind the school into a healthy riparian wetland ecosystem,
2. Adding an outlet structure to maximize flood control ability,
3. Installing an observation pier for outdoor labs,
4. Planting native wetland plants for habitat improvement,
5. Adding a pitcher plant bog,
6. Removing invasive species from streambanks and planting native riparian vegetation,
7. Stabilizing streambanks with natural material, and
8. Replacing the bridge over the creek with a handicap-accessible bridge.

Specific possibilities for the Outdoor Classroom curriculum include:

1. Researching the potential of reintroduction of the Cahaba Lily to Five Mile Creek,
2. Students performing water quality and biological assessments,
3. Renovating and expanding the existing greenhouse,
4. Biology and Botany classes participating in native plant propagation, and
5. Using native plants in innovative stormwater treatment systems in Five Mile Creek area.

The Outdoor Classroom will provide hands-on opportunities for students to understand the science behind current local water quality issues such as:

• Flooding
• Nonpoint Source Pollution
• Decreasing Biodiversity
• Habitat Degradation
• Brownfields
• Acid Mine Drainage
• Etc…..