Estuary Teacher Resources

Amazing high-quality satellite imagery, photos, informational graphs, and detailed diagrams comprise this presentation on the movement of estuaries and the continental shelf. Data used as an example is from The Chesapeake Bay and because...

Mixing metaphors into science. To begin, the instructor leads a discussion about estuaries to determine what the class already knows. Working in small groups, pupils determine how a selected object is similar to an estuary, how it...

Estuaries attract people—and that can mean trouble. Learners use video and article resources to learn about the struggles of specific estuaries. They follow their discussion with an analysis of an estuary by identifying possible threats.

Learners investigate the biodiversity in estuaries. In this estuary lesson plan, students use Google Earth to explore the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. They produce a biodiversity concept map and portray the life of a...

Students assemble a poster of an estuary showing the five communities of animals and plants that inhabit the estuary. They research the concept of an estuary and find photographs or diagrams of various estuaries to identify and see the...

Students create a model estuary. In this modeling estuaries lesson, students identify characteristics and mix water of varying densities. Students form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, and analyze the results.

Assess the risk of introducing a non-native species of snail to four different estuaries. Lab groups conduct research as habitat evaluation and present their conclusions to the class. The resource has a comprehensive booklet containing...

Students participate in a webquest about the plants and animals that inhabit an estuary. They role play as environmentalists researching this habitat and present the results of their research in a creative way.

In this estuaries worksheet, young scholars answer short answer questions about estuaries where they live. Students complete 9 short answer questions.

Young scholars role play as newscasters to highlight the lives of estuary animals. In this estuary animal instructional activity, students watch local new shows to examine how interviews take place. They research the lives of animals...

Students study estuaries and how the physical factors change over time.  In this investigative lesson students use a website to gain knowledge of estuaries then in groups they create and present their charts.

Students conduct research on estuaries. They design and construct an estuary, describe the physical characteristics of an estuary, and create a diagram illustrating an estuarine food web.

Students study estuaries and compare several ones in the U.S. In this estuary lesson students interpret data and compare the distribution of different species. 

Students take a field trip to a local estuary and analyze water samples. They analyze and graph the data results, write an essay, and create a food web of their field site.

Students study waste and how to eliminate the use of fertilizers.  In this estuary lesson students play a pictionary game that helps them to develop a better understanding of an estuary and its issues.

Fifth graders read a description of an estuary and search for problems that occur there. In this estuary lesson, 5th graders mediate controversial issues for the best solutions.

Students investigate picture taking techniques while visiting an estuary. In this picture taking instructional activity, students examine the "Magical Images of the Estuary" handout. They think of and list important picture taking...

Students explore the sounds of the estuary. In this wetlands lesson, students discuss how to simulate the sounds of nature. Students write and record a musical score featuring the sounds of the wetlands.

High schoolers explore the effects of tides and salinity on an estuary. In this salinity and tides lesson plan, students complete 3 activities which help them understand estuarine systems. They study the tides in the Chesapeake Bay, they...

Focusing on the fish in the Hudson River Estuary, this activity could be used to practice reading, graphing ,and critical-thinking skills. Answering the 6 questions should be interesting for students due to the interesting subject matter.

Students investigate the San Francisco Bay Estuarine Research Reserve and watershed. In this estuary and watershed lesson plan, students complete 4 activities to better understand estuarine systems. They include studying the San...

In this estuary worksheet, students examine data about the salinity of the Hudson River, create a graph from given data and complete 12 short answer questions about the data and graph.

Fifth graders practice interpreting line graphs of the Hudson River water levels to assess the tides and tidal cycles in the estuary. They explore how weather can affect water levels and tides and observe that high tides and low tides...

In this salt front of the Hudson River learning exercise, 7th graders first read an excerpt about the lower portion of the Hudson River that is an estuary. Then they use a colored pencil to plot salinity data from the table shown on a...