Aquatic

Students evaluate an aquatic ecosystem, and record observations of microscopic life, macro-invertebrates, vegetation on the water's edge, and the chemical and physical qualities of the water.

Grade Level: 5-8
Time Needed: 2.5 hour

Aquatic Ecology Module/Unit (PDF Files)

Cover page, Table of Contents, Unit At a Glance (.75 MB)
Lesson 1 - Physical and Chemical Qualities of Water
Lesson 2 - Aquatic Indicator Organisms (1.35 MB)
Lesson 3 - Plankton and Biodiversity
Lesson 4 - Aquatic Landscapes (.85 MB)
Lesson 5 - Field Study Procedures and Log Book (1.1 MB)

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Downloadable PowerPoint Presentations
To download, open the link and then use the "File/Save" pulldown menu from the toolbar on your browser.

What Are Aquatic Indicator Organisms - PPt file
What Are Aquatic Indicator Organisms - Text/Script (PDF file)

How to Identify Aquatic Indicator Organisms - PPt file
How to Identify Aquatic Indicator Organisms - Text/Script (PDF file)

The Aquatic Food Web - PPt file
The Aquatic Food Web - Text/Script (PDF file)

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LESSON 1- Physical and Chemical Qualities of Water

Web sites for the teacher:

Stevens Institute of Technology, Center for improved Engineering and Science Education- Down the Drain: How much water do you use?
https://gradesfixer.com/blog/motivational-quotes-on-study/

U.S. EPA- Index of Watershed Indicators
https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/watershed-index-online

U.S. EPA, Office of Water- Classroom Activities and Experiments
https://www.epa.gov/students/lesson-plans-teacher-guides-and-online-environmental-resources-educators

Web sites for the students:

U.S. EPA Office of Water- What's Up With Our Nation's Waters?
http://www.epa.gov/owow/monitoring/nationswaters/

U.S. PA Office of Water- Nonpoint Source Pollution Home Page
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/

USGS- Water Science for Schools
https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school

Center for Global Environmental Education- Watershed Action Background Information
http://cgee.hamline.edu/watershed/action/background/fact_sheets.htm

Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association - 
Managing a Watershed Resources
https://thewatershed.org/about/

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LESSON 2 - Aquatic Indicator Organisms

Web sites for the teacher:

Pa. Fish and Boat Commission
http://www.fish.state.pa.us

Stroud Water Research Center
http://www.stroudcenter.org

Web sites for the students:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Biological Indicators of Watershed Health.  
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273440701_Biological_Indicators_of_Watershed_Health_A_Resource_and_Portal_for_EPA_Bioassessment_Activities

Government of New South Wales, Australia. 
Water Bug Detective Guide.  
https://www.nswwaterwatch.org.au/resources/water-bug-id-charts-and-posters

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LESSON 3  - Plankton and Biodiversity

Web sites for the teacher and students:

Microscopy UK- Main Menu
http://www.microscopy-uk.net/full_menu.html  

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LESSON 4  - Aquatic Landscapes

Web sites for the teacher:

Abandoned Mine Drainage Education.  Watershed Education.
http://www.geocities.com/~paulstan/lesson.html

 Delaware River Basin Commission- Ed. Web
https://www.nj.gov/drbc/edweb/

Kid's Gardening - Let It Flow.
https://kidsgardening.org/

US Geological Survey Learning Web.  What Do Maps Show?
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70039472

Ironton Elementary School, Parkland School District, PA