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?
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/


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


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
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

Ironton Elementary School, Parkland School District, PA

Graver Arboretum

"The Saga of Fred the Fish"

Graver Arboretum

Mapping the Aquatic Landscape

Graver Arboretum

Macroinvertebrate Sampling

Graver Arboretum

Plankton Net

Graver Arboretum

Identifying Microscopic Organisms

Graver Arboretum

Taking a Water Sample

Graver Arboretum

Water Chemistry

Graver Arboretum

Summarizing Data

Graver Arboretum