Forget textbooks and sitting at a desk all day. Eighth-graders at Mill Creek Middle School took their classroom on the road to Murray’s Mill this week to learn about water quality.

“The textbook I don’t think could do justice to that,” said Telicia Perkins, eighth grade math teacher at the school.  “They have to come out, get involved to understand water quality.”

Beginning Wednesday, the first of three groups of eighth-graders headed to the mill to look at water quality issues that are part of the eighth grade science curriculum.  A different group of eighth-graders were there Thursday, and the final group will be at the mill on Friday.

It’s the fourth year the school used the resources at the mill to extend educational lessons outside the classroom.  Teachers try to incorporate as many different types of study into the Murray’s Mill trip, from science and math to language arts and social studies.

“It’s a chance to use the facilities here and pull it all together,” Perkins said.

On Thursday, there were about 105 students cycling through four stations, three of which deal with water quality.

Students put on tall boots and waded into the creek at Murray’s Mill in search of macroinvertebrates in the water. They used nets to catch any specimens they could and then sketched drawings and identified them. In the end, they had to determine whether finding the organisms was a positive or negative sign for water quality. So far, eighth grade science teacher Mike Miller said students have found leeches and beetles.

At another station, students tested water samples from the creek to determine pH levels, turbidity, temperature and the amount of dissolved salts. Meanwhile, another group was working within a simulated ecosystem identifying pollutants and other environmental stressors.

The water quality tests at Murray’s Mill also provided an opportunity to integrate a history lesson on the mill. Eighth grade social studies teacher Cindy Sigmon said the eighth grade curriculum covers North Carolina history, and the mill is a prime example of early 19th century state history.  She said students were amazed to learn how a gristmill grinds wheat and corn into grain. Even more startling for some is the equipment used, which she said some students found intimidating.

Teachers said students get more engaged and interested in the material when they take learning outside the standard classroom and get them away from the normal school day.