This resource includes 10 lesson plans for K-6th grade students. Each lesson plan involves interactive activities designed to teach students about water quality and aquatic macroinvertebrates. Students will learn about the unique adaptations of aquatic dwelling macroinvertebrates, feeding habits, the main parts of insects, stream and water quality, and water pollution. The lessons include a variety of crafts, activities, and games for use in the student’s learning. Some integrated skills include identifying aspects of insect anatomy, graph making, exploring rivers and collecting macroinvertebrates, and basic identification.
Main Resource Page: https://streamsidescience.usu.edu/lessons-by-grade
All lessons can be downloaded as a PDF manual: https://extension.usu.edu/waterquality/files-ou/Publications/Bugs-dont-bug-me.pdf
Program evaluation publications here: http://streamsidescience.usu.edu/program-assessment
Note: Some of the teaching information, such as diagrams of local macroinvertebrates, is specific to Utah.
LessonHiveAdmin –
This is a very nice aquatic curriculum for younger students that has been in use for years. We really like the adaptations for younger students: Simon Says, art projects, and picture matching, for example. There are also graphing activities and data interpretation. The multiple publications and assessments place this in our Recommended category.