Streams and rivers Teacher Resources

Students explore channelization, riparian habitats and soil erosion to find out about  the aquatic habitats in Iowa. In this aquatic habitats lesson, students define important terms and read an article about pollution. ...

Students apply cause and effect relationships to water pollution in a stream. In this pollution lesson students recognize the importance of clean water in their daily lives. Students accompany "Fred the Fish" as he travels down stream....

Young scholars study the characteristics of a stream habitat. In this life science lesson plan, students use sieves, nets, and jars to collect aquatic organisms. Young scholars also measure the temperature of the stream and calculate the...

Young scholars are introduced to Delaware's waterways as precious resources used for drinking water, water for agricultural and industrial uses, recreational areas, and as habitats for wildlife. They are introduced to wastewater...

Learners work as a team to gather organisms from a stream to evaluate if the water quality is excellent, good, or fair to poor.

Students explore and explain their connection to rivers through watersheds. They break into three groups. Each group needs: Blue enamel paint, Miniature objects to simulate a model river system, modeling clay, Tempera paint, Toothpicks...

Students test water for a least one chemical characteristic. They hypothesize how a storm event might change the chemical characteristics of a stream. Students collect water samples and use the chemical test to test the water.

Students explore oceanography by researching migrating fish. In this Pacific Salmon lesson, students participate in a board game activity in which they move a salmon through their annual journey to the spawning habitat upstream. Students...

Strict habitat requirements are needed for the survival of fish populations and fish variety in the Great Lakes. Young scientists become experts in the basic needs of fish and understand how survival necessities can vary with different...

Young scholars are introduced to the concept of species habitats and ranges. They introduced to ArcView GIS as a tool for mapping. Pupils use query data for species withina county, elevation, range, rivers and streams, land cover, and...

Students create and conduct experiments on a "classroom river habitat." They manipulate the biotic and abiotic factors so that they are able to compare an artificially prepared river model to a naturally occurring lotic ecosystem.

Students visit a local stream, pond, creek, or river and collect macroinvertebrates. They sort macroinvertebrates and identify each species using a dichotomous key. Students decide on trophic levels and construct a possible food web for...

Students examine the journey of the Pacific salmon. In this salmon species instructional activity, students review the stages of the salmon life cycle and conduct an experiment to determine how the water and habitat changes during each...

Students investigate the presence of specific organisms in a freshwater habitat to determine the quality of that habitat. They conduct a field study and distinguish and classify organisms found during the field study.

Eleventh graders identify the parts of an ecosystem and how communities change over time.  In this ecology lesson students formulate a habitat restoration plan.

Students investigate how hurricanes impact a stream flow.  In this floods lesson students predict the impact of storms on animals and interpret data.

Third graders assess the damage done to various ecosystems by cleaning products and discover how scientists test water quality. Using stream water and common household cleaning agents, they work in groups to test for pH levels. Once...

In this ducks worksheet, students read information paragraphs about the habitat, reproduction, feeding and adaptation of ducks. Students study the photograph of the bird. There are no questions to answer here.

Students examine the ways that government works to help improve aquatic habitats. In this water habitats lesson students view a video and plan a school restoration project. 

Students observe organisms behavior and adaptations.  In this biomes lesson students conduct fieldwork to determine water quality and answer questions about the differences between different habitats. 

Students explore pond ecosystems.  In this pond organism activity, students will use pond water and a plastic bad in order to locate and identify freshwater organisms.  The activity is designed for younger grades, but...

Students become educated on what a riparian is, the need for riparian, and how a riparian corridor (forest, habitat) can protect waterways. Students construct dioramas depicting riparian habitats.

When Captain John Smith visited the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608, what types of animals and habitats did he encounter? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents to answer this question, as well as compare...

Is it possible to have a waste-less lunch? Can your class become leaders in conservation? Discuss the importance of reducing waste during lunch time with a fun lesson that can be extended to everyday practices. First the class examines...