Curated OER
Water Quality and Watersheds: A GIS Investigation
Requiring more than one class period, this resource takes earth science learners on a journey through a watershed. Using ArcGIS Explorer, an online geographic information system, they view maps of watersheds and surrounding landscapes....
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Runoff: Intro to Watersheds
Students are taught that a watershed is, what types of basic land cover are impermeable and permeable to water. They trace the flow of water around their school and around their home. Students determine what watershed their school is a...
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Drawing Water
Students investigate the NYC water supply system and its watershed. For this water supply lesson, students read the Magic School Bus at the Waterworks to help them identify the components of the water supply system. Students diagram the...
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Spin Cycle
Students explore the concept of "spin" and discuss how politicians use spin to sway public opinion. A leading American politician is selected and talking points that exemplify the main idea of this lesson are shared with the class.
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Snapshot Day Definitions and Activities
Here is a document full of teaching notes on water quality and bodies of water that you can use in your ecology curriculum. It has information specific to the Hudson River area, but can easily be adapted to any local body of water....
Curated OER
Dream Stream
Investigate the parts of a healthy stream to build content-specific vocabulary and ecological awareness. The class builds vocabulary and determines why clean water is important for trout. They design a shoe box to show what a clean...
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Trout Are Made of Trees Crayon Mural
Students recognize that for a trout habitat to be ideal, several components must be present. In this trout activity, students explore what makes a healthy stream. Students create paintings for a mural of a trout habitat. Students...
Curated OER
The World's Water Woes
Students discuss their community's water sources and assess the factors affecting the water availability and quality. They research water disputes around the world and explain common factors among them.
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Dissolved Oxygen and Respiration
Learners are presented with the question, "Do plants that grow underwater use oxygen?" They create an experiment to test the presence of dissolved oxygen in the water using provided materials. Student experiments include a control jar as...
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Is Our Water Healthy?
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.
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Aquatic Ecosystem Exploration
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...
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Invasives and Marsh Birds
Students are taught that invasive plant removal can have a variety of impacts. They are shown this by using graphs. Students view maps of vegetation change on Iona Island. They discuss implications of changes on marsh birds using data...
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Match the Hatch
Students learn how to flyfish and learn that flyfishing plays an important role in protecting, and restoring coldwater fisheries. In this flyfishing lesson plan, students learn the art of flyfishing and learn about the natural feeding...
Curated OER
Trout across America
Young scholars research trout and salmon and create a report. In this trout and salmon lesson plan, students research where trout live in the United States, fill out a graphic organizer, and create a report on their findings.
Curated OER
What Trout Need
Students investigate the important components for a healthy trout habitat. In this fish habitat lesson, students discuss how the aquarium will simulate a trout's environment in nature. Students complete a trout information sheet to set...