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-Workshop Participants

Lessons by Grade

Grades K-6
Grades 5-12

Bugs Don't Bug Me - Full Manual (pdf)

Designed to help introduce students to aquatic macroinvertebrates and the adaptations that allow them to live in an aquatic environment.

Lesson 2: Macroinvertebrate Mix and Match (pdf)

This activity will introduce students to aquatic macroinvertebrates (primarily insects) and the major segments (the head, thorax, and abdomen) and differentiation between larval, nymph, and adult stages.

Lesson 3: Macroinvertebrate Simon Says (pdf)

Introduces students to the adaptations of macroinvertebrates and their feeding habits.

Lesson 4: Macroinvertebrate Investigation (pdf)

Through collection and observation, students learn about macroinvertebrates.

Lesson 5: Macroinvertebrate Graphing Activity (pdf)

Teaches students to describe and identify the quality of a stream site by analyzing the aquatic macroinvertebrates that live there.

Lesson 6: If Bugs Could Talk (pdf)

Introduces students to the link between aquatic macroinvertebrates, land use activities, and water pollution.

Lesson 7: Water Pollution Graphing (pdf)

Teaches students the link between land use activities and water quality.

Lesson 8: A Drop in the Bucket (pdf)

Teaches students the different sources of freshwater, and the relative ratios of these water sources on the earth.

Lesson 9: The Incredible Journey (pdf)

Students will simulate the movement of water through the water cycle.

Lesson 10: Water Cycle Drama (pdf)

Students will learn the different parts of the water cycle by playing a game similar to charades.

kids by river

girls

kids

More Aquatic Macroinvertebrate resources

Full Stream Side Science Manual (pdf)

Lesson 1: Where's the Water?

A teacher led presentation helps students identify the reservoirs of the Earth's water cycle and understand the relative amounts in each reservoir through estimation.

Lesson 2: What's in the Water?

On a field trip, or in the classroom, students measure four abiotic factors (pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and temperature). They will learn how these factors are influenced by external conditions such as location, land use, and pollution.

6th grade 6.4.1 SEEd connection

Lesson 3: Who Lives in the Water?

Students explore diversity and adaptation to aquatic environments by observing aquatic macroinvertebrates collected in a stream.

6th grade - 6.4.1 SEEd connection

Lesson 4: Missing Macroinvertebrates

Students sort and count aquatic macroinvertebrates and use a simple index to predict the quality of the water where the organisms were collected.

Lesson 5: Wetland vs. Stream Macroinvertebrates

Students will compare aquatic macroinvertebrates collected in wetland and stream sites and use these observations to understand the differences between the two environments.

Lesson 6: Riparian Review

On a field trip, students will measure and observe biotic factors of a stream environment, including different measure of vegetation and wildlife.

Lesson 7: Nitrogen Cycle

Students will diagram the nitrogen cycle following a teacher led discussion, and will measure nitrogen in water samples collected from different sources to better understand human impacts on the global nitrogen cycle.

Lesson 8: When Things Heat Up

Students will measure the temperature and dissolved oxygen of a stream and discuss what this data can tell us about possible pollution problems.

Lesson 9: Aquatic Invasion!

Students will choose a specific aquatic invasive species, investigate its distribution, life history, reasons it is considered invasive, the effects it has on a given ecosystem, and possible solutions of management practices to control the species or its impacts.

Lesson 10: That's Predictable

Students will research and report on ecosystem changes that occur as a result of changes in abiotic or biotic factors such as a drought or the construction of a dam.

Lesson 11: Water Management

Students will participate in a mock "community meeting" to discuss their positions on water use, water shortages, distribution, and water quality.

Lesson 12: Biodiversity Debate

Students will hold a debate about the construction of a dam in terms of biological, aesthetic, social, and economic arguments with regard maintaining biodiversity.

Lesson 13: Watershed Detectives

Students will analyze water samples from different fictional watersheds and use their knowledge of water quality to determine the source of their samples.