Last Friday, I found seventh grade science teacher John Reynolds and a group of industrious students on the border of a marsh cutting, weaving, and tying phragmites reeds.
Students in Mr. Reynold's class spent much of the fall out and about around Newburyport exploring and learning about our city's diverse ecosystems. As students learned about plant types they discovered the impact of invasive species on Newburyport's ecosystem. One particularly invasive species in our local marshes is phragmites-you have probably noticed the large swaths of tall reeds throughout the region.
Based on lessons from ancient civilizations and cultures in coastal areas in today's world (e.g. Peru), Mr. Reynolds challenged students to create something useful from this seemingly useless plant. And so a boat is emerging! Below are some pictures of the boat in action-stay tuned for updates on the final product and launch.
