Aquatic Ecosystem Teacher Resources

Learners engage in the process of researching a riparian ecosystem. They conduct a field trip in order to obtain different types of data and work on measurement skills to analyze data to form a conclusion about the biotic factors of the...

Students identify different organisms found in the lake ecosystem. In this life science lesson, students discover the predator-prey relationship through a game. They explain how beavers adapt to the environment over time.

Learners use the Internet to research the capabilities of earth-observation satellites. Using the information, they write a report on how remote-sensing technology is used to measure the impact of climate change. They identify the...

Pupils determine whether water is a need, a right, or a commodity. For this water lesson, students investigate land and water ecosystems through activities. Pupils also discover water as a resource and energy source as they observe and...

Students determine the pH level of water and its effect on aquatic plants and brine shrimp eggs. This is a three part lesson that leads the student through the development of an understanding of water pH. They form a hypothesis and are...

Students examine water samples from a local stream. They identify various types of macroinvertebrates found in that water ecosystem and perform a quantitative macroinvertebrate survey to determine the stream's water quality.

Students investigate the environment of a stream or lake to collect and observe macroinvertebrates in their natural environment. They record data and summarize the information obtained. Students look to see if there has been any human...

Students work together to design and participate in experiments to determine the rate rotifers eat. After completing their experiments, they record and analyze their data and identify any challenges faced during the procedure. They...

Young scholars identify the sources of water on Earth. For this life science lesson, students list the different plants and animals that live in the ocean. They explore marine objects in the lab and draw them.

Students determine the optimal temperature at which brine shrimp eggs hatch and develop. They evaluate the changes, if any, which occur in a brine shrimp culture at various temperatures.

A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the topic of aquatic ecosystems. It discusses the difference between freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, then explains what the three ecozones are in a marine ecosystem.

Discover the aspects of aquatic ecosystems.

Students will investigate three aquatic ecosystems (pond, stream, bog) to determine the relative pollution index and the water quality of each ecosystem. They will collect and analyze the benthic organisms found in each system and...

Try these five multiple-choice questions about aquatic ecosystems. After answers are submitted, students can review their mistakes.

Why is dissolved oxygen important to life in water? A video will dive into the answer to this question. [5:18]

In this activity, students' use a pH sensor and Temperature Sensor to measure and compare the pH and temperature of three aquariums over a period of several weeks. They will compare and understand how plants and animals affect the water...

Chemicals from the Earth's atmosphere are making their way down to the planet. Not in spaceships, but in rain. The acid rain can infiltrate ground water, lakes, and streams. How does acid rain affect aquatic ecosystems?

For this activity, students visit a local stream over a 9-week period to take measurements of its chemical and physical attributes, and collect information about the life forms it supports. After exploration, they will choose what they...

In this hands on activity students will learn how to identify basic macroinvertebrate using a dichotomous key. They will complete a chart used by the MPCA and we will discuss why an ecosystem may not be healthy or not.

High levels of mercury exposure can cause birth defects, permanent brain or kidney damage, and/or death. This resource focuses on the impacts of mercury in the environment. Learn how mercury can reap havoc on lakes and other aquatic...

Learn about the different zones of the open ocean, the pelagic biome, and what organisms call each zone home.

Using maps and graphs of large data sets collected in FrogWatch, students will determine the range, preferred land cover, and proximity to water of the American bullfrog to figure out the bullfrog's requirements for food, water, and...

Students will add acidity to a healthy lake to see what happens to plants and animals in this interactive activity adapted from EcoKids.

In this science fair project you will learn about biomes and how different climatic conditions affect plant growth. This can explain why some plants and animals are similar in different areas of the country, and in other parts they are not.