Mountain Stream Ecology - On-site Activities/Interpreter
Led
Grade Level: 5
Content Area: Life Science
Time
to Complete: 2 hours
Title of Program:
Stream Survey
South Carolina State Standards
Addressed:
|
5-1.1
|
Identify questions
suitable for generating
a hypothesis.
|
|
5-1.4
|
Use appropriate tools
and instruments safely
and accurately when
conducting a controlled
scientific investigation .
|
|
5-1.6
|
Evaluate results of an
investigation to
formulate a valid
conclusion based on
evidence and communicate
the findings of the
evaluation in oral or
written form
.
|
|
5-1.8
|
Use appropriate safety
procedures when
conducting
investigations.
|
|
5-2.2
|
Summarize the
composition of an
ecosystem, considering
both biotic factors and
abiotic factors.
|
|
5-2.3
|
Compare the
characteristics of
different ecosystems.
|
|
5-2.4
|
Identify the roles of
organisms as they
interact and depend on
one another through food
chains and food webs in
an ecosystem,
considering producers
and consumers,
decomposers, predators
and prey, and parasites
and hosts.
|
|
5-2.5
|
Explain how limiting
factors affect
populations in
ecosystems.
|
Lesson Description:
Students will study the habitats and
associated organisms of a coldwater
mountain stream to understand the
interdependence between various
organisms and their environment. An
assessment of the water quality will be
determined by the diversity of organisms
collected, as well as population size
tendencies.
Focus Questions For Students:
|
1. |
What is a mountain stream? |
|
2. |
What types of plants and animals would you expect to find in the stream? |
|
3. |
What are the main requirements for a
coldwater habitat? |
|
4. |
Where would you expect to find animals in the stream? Why? |
|
5. |
What role do the organisms found in the stream have in a food chain? |
|
6. |
Why
are coldwater streams important in nature and what positive impacts do people have on them? |
Culminating Assessment
| 1. |
Complete
Stream Survey Sheet of abiotic and
biotic factors to assess water quality. |
| 2. |
As a post-site activity, draw a food
chain based on the study done in Carrick Creek at Table Rock State
Park. |
Material/Equipment/Resources (provided on site):
Teacher Preparation:
| 1. |
Complete all pre-site activities. |
| 2. |
Introduce vocabulary words to
students. |
| 3. |
The teacher(s) who will be assisting
with the abiotic stream survey during the park visit, should review
the sample worksheets. |
Procedures:
|
1. |
Divide into groups with other
adults leading the abiotic
stream activity. |
|
2. |
Provide students with boots,
collecting nets, pH strips and
thermometers. |
|
3. |
Explain safety rules and
boundaries to students. |
|
4. |
Demonstrate how to safely and
gently collect organisms.
Explain to students that
organisms will be returned to
stream after observations are
made. |
|
5. |
Students will collect organisms
from the stream and place them
in collecting pans. |
|
6. |
With a teacher leader, students
will also take pH and
temperature readings and make
visual observations of stream
characteristics. Results
will be recorded on a worksheet. |
|
7. |
All
groups will return to the
discovery classroom to identify
organisms, discuss
interdependence between
organisms and the environment
and the effect of water
temperature and pH. |
|
8. |
Complete Stream Survey worksheet
to determine water quality and
population tendencies. |
Differentiation of Instruction
Students pre-K thru first grade and students
with physical disabilities that will prevent them from entering the river
will complete activities on the river bank and in the laboratory.
|
