Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Missing Macroinvertebrates - Stream Side Science

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Field study groups collect samples of stream water and identify the macroinvertebrates found. Using their data, they calculate a water quality index to rate the health of the stream. They graph their data and discuss the value of a water...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World of the Pond

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Field trip! The class will review what they know about organisms that dwell in freshwater ponds, then trek down to the old water hole to collect specimens for examination. This includes several web links, useful tips, and an excellent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquatic Ecosystem Exploration

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Wonders

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore hydrology concepts. In this environment and biology lesson, students identify and describe macroinvertebrates using a variety of pictures and resources. Students observe and write about a classroom aquarium in which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freshwater Habitats

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students take samples from local freshwater sources and examine them for macroinvertebrate life. They take samples from both shallow and deep freshwater environments, measure temperatures, and classify organisms found in their samples.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dissolved Oxygen in an Aquatic Ecosystem

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explain why dissolved oxygen is important in aquatic ecosystems. They evaluate the optimal dissolved oxygen levels for living organisms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Into the Pond

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use a pond to explore macroinvertebrates and other organisms. They use a dichotomous key to classify the organisms and maintain a journal recording their findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determination of Overall Water Quality Using a Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Missing Macroinvertebrates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of a macroinvertebrate. They observe the presence of increases or decreases in population in order to test for factors that contribute to the extinction of a species. Students predict the likelihood of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oxygen Levels and Aquatic Plants and Animals

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners design an experiment to test the effects of a change in the amount of dissolved oxygen of water on aquatic plants and animals. Questions are offered for exploration and experiment design. Results are tabulated and conclusions...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Critters Tell Us About Water Quality: A Macroinvertebrate Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore our ecosystem by investigating the quality of our water. In this aquatic insect lesson, students examine a group of random insects collected from different streams and ponds in the area. Students record their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relating Number of Insect Species to Water Quality

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are asked to respond to questions such as:" Have there been surveys of the area to inventory the species?" (For example, for a wetland area, do they know what amphibians live there and how abundant they are?) Are there any...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aquatic Organisms and Their Habitats

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does the Introduction of Pesticides and Fertilizers Alter an Aquatic Ecosystem?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students conduct an experiment using a small sample from a local water source. They introduce fertilizers and pesticides, separately, and carefully examine the results in their simulated aquatic ecosystem.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Critter Clues

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars work together to examine water quality. They identify the indicators of water quality and complete an experiment. They discuss their results.