There is a critical need to engage students in science investigations that involve the identification of a real-world problem, the collection of accurate data, modeling and analysis of such data, and the development of solutions to the problem. Newberry Math and Science Academy's 7th grade students will monitor the rehabilitation of the ecosystem in and around the North Pond located in Lincoln Park. The ecosystem is currently under rehabilitation by the Chicago Public Park District, due to the fact that bottom-feeding fish have achieved dominance in the pond and are consuming plants and disturbing sediments that resulted in the contamination of the pond. Students will collect qualitative observations of life forms and quantitative measures of both physical and biological phenomena. The data will be used to determine the effects of water, soil and air quality on the increasing range of biodiversity at the pond. Students will then conduct experiments in school in which they will investigate the effects of various phenomena on plant and animal life that exist around the pond. Students will also present their findings in periodic reports to the Park District engineers and community organizations involved with the rehabilitation of the pond, and will create a web site to share their findings with the world at large.

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