Fifth graders at Kizu Elementary School in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, recently tested the water quality of two nearby streams to gain a deeper understanding of their city's rich nature.
The school has been working to help pupils develop a deeper affection for the Kizu River, a tributary of the Yodo River that runs through the southern part of the prefecture.
Students between third and sixth grade at the school study the biological life and garbage in streams, as well as disaster prevention efforts.
During a recent field trip, the fifth graders were split into two groups to study the Ogawa River and the Shika River, which flow into Kizu River.
Those who visited the Shika River recorded its water level, whether or not there was litter and whether grass was growing in the area. They also examined the river's cleanliness by measuring its COD, or chemical oxygen demand, and pH level, and noted any color change in the water using droppers containing reagent.
The COD level was 6 milligrams per liter, indicating the river was slightly polluted.
"Should a river be considered polluted if it only has a lot of fallen leaves (and not garbage)?" a teacher asked the children. They were encouraged to assess numerical results while carefully observing the actual river in front of them.
The pupils then compiled reports on the condition of the local rivers.
"I want to help keep the river clean by, for example, picking up garbage," 10-year-old Karin Takenaka said.
