Cindy McDowell

McDowell's project, "It's Not Just Big, Buggy, Stinky and Salty - It's the Great Salt Lake," is a hands-on science learning experience that teaches students about the ecosystem of the Great Salt Lake. Students take a field trip to the Great Salt Lake and learn about the plants and animals that inhabit the lake, in addition to learning about wetland habitat, rocks and minerals, sediment and water quality. Samples are taken from the lake to the classroom to create a simulated Great Salt Lake ecosystem in the classroom. Through this exciting learning approach, students make practical sense of a unique ecosystem located in their own backyard.