Prairie Home Companions

November 2010

Video by Gary Olsen and hosted
by Ceondra Kowalske

he Roosevelt Middle School Prairie Restoration Project is an extraordinary learning experience that is now 5 years old. Besides being a stellar learning experience for middle school science students, it is a habitat for birds, invertebrates, and all manner of native plant species. The project has taken the study of prairie ecosystems our of the classroom and into the actual prairie that was preserved when Dubuque Community Schools built Roosevelt Middle School on property on the border between Dubuque and Asbury. Later, however, the prairie area had to be reduced to accommodate the construction of George Washington Carver Elementary School. But this hasn't deterred our intrepid young scientists or their science teacher, Joe Dolan,who has overseen the project since its inception.

Even a wild prairie needs some maintenance and care, and that's where our students come in. Mr. Dolan's science classes were charged with the responsibility of identifying, cataloging and picking seeds from the desirable plants on the prairie, including wildflowers and grasses, and put them in storage until next spring. After a controlled burn to remove the undesirable invasive species of plants and undergrowth, the prairie will be re-sown with the native seeds the students harvested in the fall.

The purpose of this science unit was to learn about regional prairie plant and eco systems. Naturalist Jenny Lawlor was on hand to guide students through what are good seeds to pick and which are invasive species to be avoided. Jenny is affiliated with the Swiss Valley Nature Center.

This episode of Crazy Cam is hoted by Ceondra Kowalske, a student at Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School and a regular host of Crazy Cam adventures.

Click here for an archival version of the movie you can keep forever.