DNE science students learn about ecology

DECATUR — Northside Elementary School fifth grade students spent the day learning about nature and ecology and performing field experiments at Crystal Lake on Nov. 5.

Forty students in Jacque Smith and Donna Gier’s classes braved the crisp fall weather to conduct aseries of 10 experiments studying air quality, soil composition, weather, how to make recycled paper and ecosystems, among other things.

“The day provided reallife hands-on experience of a day as an ecologist, a scientist who studies ecosystems, and the students seemed to enjoy having an outside science classroom for the day,” said Smith.