Science Kits: Watersheds
The Watersheds: Salmon & Streams Kit is divided into four parts: watersheds, macroinvertebrates, water quality, and salmon. Students have many opportunities to get hands-on experience learning about water flow through the ecosystem, water quality, and how these affect macroinvertebrates and salmon in our streams.
Activities:
- What is a Watershed (.pdf) – Grade 2-8. Create model of a watershed and add water
- Modeling Local Watersheds (.pdf) – Grade 6-8. Create models of watersheds with paper mache and topographic maps
- Macro Field Study (.pdf) – Grade 5-8. Design a field survey, collect and identify aquatic macroinvertebrates, and determine the health of the stream site
- Biotic Index (.pdf) – Grade 5-8. Calculate biotic indices
- Polution Tag (.pdf) – Grade 4-8. Understand stream macroinvertebrate’s varying tolerance levels to pollution
- Salmon Scales (.pdf) – Grade 6-8. Get an up-close look at salmon scales and determine the fish’s age
- Lessons From Legends (.pdf) – Grade 4-5. Learn how salmon find their way back to spawning grounds
- The Life Cycle Game – Grade 5-8. Act out the salmon lifecycle and calculate salmon survival
- Hooks and Ladders (.pdf) – Grade 4-8. Model a salmon’s journey
- Build a Fish (.pdf) – Grade 3-5. Study the parts of fish through art
- Salmon Dissection (.pdf) – Grade 4-8. Learn internal anatomy by dissecting a real fish! Contact Cole M. Rivers Hatchery to receive fish specimen
Educational Tools:
- Macroinvertebrate sampling materials (Nets, ice cube trays, hand lenses)
- Thermometers
- Salmon dissection kit
- Magnifocuser headpiece
- Egg, Alevin, and Fry viewing jars
- Microscope slides of salmon scales
- Watershed maps
Books and Videos:
- Field Guide to the Pacific Salmon
- Ways to Love Your River booklets
- The Magic School Bus Goes Upstream
- Salmon Stream
- Discovering Salmon
- USGS water and water pollution posters
- Eyewitness- Ponds and Rivers DVD