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Ironton Elementary School, Parkland School District, PA


"The Saga of Fred the Fish"


Mapping the Aquatic Landscape


Macroinvertebrate Sampling


Plankton Net


Identifying Microscopic Organisms


Taking a Water Sample


Water Chemistry


Summarizing Data


Easton Catholic Middle School and Muhlenberg MSP Student Intern
C. Westring

 

 

 

 

 
Aquatic Ecology

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)



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)



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?
http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/drainproj

U.S. EPA- Index of Watershed Indicators
http://www.epa.gov./iwi

U.S. EPA, Office of Water- Classroom Activities and Experiments
http://www.epa.gov./OGWDW/kids/exper.html

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
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/waterquality.html

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

http://www.thewatershed.org/wm_resources.php


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:

Key to Stream Invertebrates
http://www.watersheds.org/teacher/StreamInsectsIDKey.pdf

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Biological Indicators of Watershed Health.  
http://www.epa.gov/bioindicators/html/invertebrate.html

Government of New South Wales, Australia. 
Water Bug Detective Guide.  
http://www.bugsurvey.nsw.gov.au/html/getting_stuff.html#guides


LESSON 3  - Plankton and Biodiversity

Web sites for the teacher and students:

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


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
http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/edweb/edweb.htm

Kid's Gardening - Let It Flow.
http://www.kidsgardening.com/TMI/images/pdfs/5cra.pdf

US Geological Survey Learning Web.  What Do Maps Show?
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow.htm

 

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