Teaching Resources
Teaching environmental issues in your classroom is a critical component of providing your students a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience. Discover a wealth Chesapeake Bay related books, multimedia, curriculum guides, individual lesson plans and online data sources.
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Subject
Level
All Levels- Early Learning
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- High School
Type
Alignment
Keywords
- All Keywords
- acid rain
- adaptation
- African American
- agriculture
- air pollution and fossil fuels
- aquatic grass SAV
- beaver
- biodiversity
- blue crab
- boats, canoes and kayaks
- climate change
- culture and watermen
- development
- dissolved oxygen
- Drinking Water
- economics
- ecosystem and biomes
- erosion
- experiments and investigations
- fish
- food web
- forest
- geocaching (GIS/GPS)
- Geography
- green development
- habitat and niche
- identification
- invasive species
- John Smith and colonial times
- land use
- litter, trash and recycling
- Native American
- nitrogen and carbon cycle
- non-point source
- orienteering
- Outdoor Activity
- oyster
- photosynthesis
- point source
- pollution
- population growth
- predator prey relationships
- renewable resource
- restoration
- salinity
- schoolyard habitat
- sediment, soil and rocks
- smart growth
- stormwater
- stream study
- student action
- Temperature
- transportation
- Underground Railroad
- water and energy conservation
- water cycle and movement
- water quality
- water testing
- watershed
- weather
- wetland
- wildlife
> water testing NOAA Estuaries Physical Science Module Activity 2: Dissolved Oxygen in the Estuary
In this activity, students (grades 9-12) learn about dissolved oxygen(DO) and its effects on life, with a focus on the chemistry. First, they are introduced to, and analyze data gathered from, water quality sensors in Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), observing how DO and chlorophyll-a change from the surface to the bottom and considering the relationships between DO and temperature. Then, in the unique environment of Azevedo Pond in the Elkhorn Slough NERR, CA, they analyze DO data and speculate about how hydrodynamics, abiotic factors, and biological processes cause extreme fluctuations in DO in the pond.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide, Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
National Science Education
Keywords:
watershed, aquatic grass SAV, water quality, water testing, dissolved oxygen
NOAA Estuaries Physical Science Module Activity 1: Chemistry in an Estuary
In this activity, students (grades 9-12)investigate water quality parameters to study the nature of, and the cyclical changes inherent in, the chemistry of estuarine water. Students study key water quality factors at several stations in a single reserve over time — current, daily, and yearly time scales. Students also compare water quality values over a yearly time scale in three different estuaries within NOAA’s National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR) —South Slough NERR, Oregon; Delaware NERR; and Old Woman Creek NERR, Ohio. Then students take water quality measurements at a site near them and compare their data to the water in the three geographically diverse NERR estuarine environments.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide, Lessons and Activities, Data
Level(s):
High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
National Science Education
Keywords:
watershed, water quality, water testing, salinity, dissolved oxygen
Chesapeake Bay FieldScope Activity: Salinity in the Estuary
Students explore the varying salinity of the Chesapeake Bay estuary by manipulating and analyzing real-time and student-input data in the Chesapeake Bay FieldScope tool. Students will be able to read and interpret graphs in order to understand how salinity levels change throughout an estuary and predict salinity levels in an estuary based on relative location to fresh or saline water input sources.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities, Multimedia, Data
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Keywords:
watershed, stream study, water quality, water testing, salinity
Chesapeake Bay FieldScope Activity: Changing Temperatures in the Estuary
Students consider how water temperature changes with different parameters by examining factors such as time, depth, and location in the estuary. Students compare their data to data from professional monitoring systems.
Subject(s):
Science, Technology
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities, Multimedia, Data, Posters and Maps
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Keywords:
watershed, stream study, water quality, water testing, Temperature
Chesapeake Bay FieldScope Activity: Sharing Data in FieldScope
After participating in field study, students will return to the classroom and assess the collected data to produce the highest quality dataset. The class will then use the National Geographic FieldScope tool to upload the data in order to share their findings with the citizen science community.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities, Multimedia, Data, Posters and Maps
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Keywords:
stream study, water quality, water testing, student action
Chesapeake Bay FieldScope Activity: Collecting Data in the Field
Students measure water quality and document local conditions in the field in order to focus on parameters that can illustrate something about the health or degradation of a waterway. Students will be able to record water quality data for later analysis, take notes and other observational data on conditions in the ecosystem and reflect on local and regional environmental factors and how they might be affecting water quality and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities, Data
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Keywords:
stream study, water quality, water testing, student action
Chesapeake Bay FieldScope Activity: Preparing for Field Investigation
Students consider what it means to be citizen scientists, learn how notes and photographs can enhance a field investigation, and review techniques for choosing and recording sampling locations.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities, Multimedia, Data
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Keywords:
stream study, water quality, water testing, student action
Virginia's Natural Resource Education Guide: Virginia's Bay & Coastal Resources
In the lesson plans that accompany the literature included in this packet, students will observe that muddy water blocks sunlight. They will consider ways that soil might get into water and make inferences about its effects on underwater grasses, crabs, and other animals. They will also dramatize connections between the sun, the earth, and eelgrass; and between people on land and blue crabs in an eelgrass environment.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Virginia
Keywords:
water cycle and movement, watershed, water quality, water testing
Are You a River Keeper?
Learners will utilize fundamental techniques to determine the health of a local river. They will collect, compile, display and interpret their data. The students will focus on how water speed affects rates of erosion and deposition. They will focus on the history of, reasons for, and possible solutions to excessive deposition in the southern branch of the Muskegon River or waterway in their community. Through the writing and performing of a short theatrical activity, learners will summarize articles they have read to increase environmental awareness. Learners will become aware of global issues of clean water scarcity. Learners will investigate the many causes of river water pollution and relate them to their sources. Students will then identify four sectors of society and how each can be an agent for change. They will locate and write letters to public service, nonprofit organizations in support of water clarity. After presenting their findings to peers, students will distribute a self-designed pledge, requesting households to commit to positive change.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Middle School
Keywords:
pollution, water and energy conservation, erosion, water quality, water testing, student action
Water Quality Monitoring Lesson
This lesson describes testing methods for four important parameters of water quality, dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity and clarity/turbidity.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
New York
Keywords:
pollution, stream study, water quality, water testing
Understanding Salinity Lab Booklet
This informational booklet contains two activities focused on salinity 1) Measuring Salinity 2)Estuairne Layers.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
New York
Keywords:
water quality, water testing, salinity
The Global Water Sample Project
This site explains the Global Water Sample Project which pulls students from around the globe will team up to test fresh water. Join us in this collaborative project, comparing the water quality of your local river, stream, lake or pond with other fresh water sources around the world.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Multimedia
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
stream study, water testing
Streams Lesson
Students will test stream water at two different locations for acidity. Then observe and record the type of insects found in stream water at different locations.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Pennsylvania
Keywords:
stream study, water testing
Leaf Pack Network Database
Student collected data from leaf pack experiments that assess stream health by using aquatic insects as their indicator species. Data is available for the Susquehanna, James and Patapsco Rivers.
Subject(s):
Science, Technology
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities, Data
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
stream study, water testing, wildlife
Gateways to Conservation II Curriculum Guide (Grades 6-8)
Pickering Creek published this guide with the help of the National Park Service's Chesapeake Bay Gateways. Explore 134 pages full of hands-on learning activities and background information to help students and teachers explore the outdoors in conjunction with a nearby nature center, while gaining an understanding of their relationship with the Chesapeake Bay.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Middle School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
pollution, wetland, adaptation, watershed, biodiversity, ecosystem and biomes, erosion, experiments and investigations, habitat and niche, restoration, sediment, soil and rocks, water quality, water testing, wildlife
Gateways to Conservation Curriculum Guide (Grades 1-5)
Pickering Creek published this guide with the help of the National Park Service's Chesapeake Bay Gateways. Explore 183 pages full of hands-on learning activities and background information to help students and teachers explore the outdoors in conjunction with a nearby nature center, while gaining an understanding of their relationship with the Chesapeake Bay.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Elementary School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
pollution, water cycle and movement, wetland, land use, food web, watershed, agriculture, water and energy conservation, ecosystem and biomes, erosion, experiments and investigations, forest, habitat and niche, litter, trash and recycling, renewable resource, schoolyard habitat, stream study, water quality, water testing, wildlife, student action
Clarity and Turbidity Lesson
Following completion of this lesson, the students will be able to: 1)Identify possible environmental complications that can be attributed to clarity and turbidity 2) Measure the clarity of a body of water.
Subject(s):
Mathematics, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
New York
Keywords:
pollution, water quality, water testing
C. B. Atlas Animations Temperature Experiments Lesson
Students will investigate cooling rates of shallow and deep water by analyzing Chesapeake Bay water temperature. Students will then interpret the effects of water temperature variations on living organisms.
Subject(s):
Mathematics, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities, Data
Level(s):
Middle School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Virginia
Keywords:
habitat and niche, water quality, water testing, Temperature
Healthy Water, Healthy People
Healthy Water, Healthy People is an innovative water quality education program sponsored by Project WET and the Hach Scientific Foundation.
The goal of Healthy Water, Healthy People is to make complex concepts of water quality relevant and meaningful for you and those you teach.
The program offers hands-on activities, an Educator’s Guide, testing kits, training, and much more. The Healthy Water, Healthy People Educator’s Guide, geared at Grades 6-12, contains twenty-five hands-on activities that are ideal for teaching complete water quality units as well as a supplement to existing curriculum.
Subject(s):
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide, Lessons and Activities, Supplies
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
pollution, watershed, restoration, water quality, water testing
"Be Part of Something Big!" Curriculum
This curriculum guide, produced by Maryland DNR, is designed for Grades 3-8 and provides educators and students the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences with water quality monitoring. This series of activities is designed to help your class or student group learn more about the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Topics addressed defining and identifying watersheds, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary streams and rivers, problems associated with excess nutrients, chemical and biological characteristics of stream, and how to assess the health of a local stream. The curriculum guide also includes action strategies students can take to improve water quality in their local streams, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay such as trash clean ups, stream buffer plantings, and personal conservation measures.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide, Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
point source, non-point source, land use, watershed, water and energy conservation, habitat and niche, litter, trash and recycling, restoration, water quality, water testing, student action
TEAM DNR
TEAM DNR is a volunteer program, organized by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, that is dedicated to educating elementary and middle school students about the Chesapeake Bay and other natural resource issues in Maryland. TEAM DNR currently offers schools four different classroom programs and one outdoor program. Each program has pre and post visit activities to enhance the experience of your students. These programs are available upon request of the classroom teacher or school administrator.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
pollution, point source, non-point source, population growth, land use, watershed, oyster, culture and watermen, experiments and investigations, habitat and niche, predator prey relationships, restoration, stream study, water quality, water testing, wildlife, fish
Chesapeake Bay FieldScope Website
Explore National Geographic's interactive online map of the Chesapeake Bay. Learn about land use by exploring real-time data and interactive map layers. Your class can also conduct stream studies and enter their data online to use some cool analysis tools, and to share data with other schools.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Multimedia, Data
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Keywords:
pollution, population growth, wetland, land use, watershed, agriculture, development, ecosystem and biomes, forest, water quality, water testing
Research Acid Rain Levels in Your State
Acid rain is a major environmental challenge around the world. In this lesson, students will learn the definition of acid rain, research pH levels of rainwater for their state, collect data from their community, and investigate the causes of and solutions for acid rain.
Subject(s):
Mathematics, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Middle School, High School
Keywords:
pollution, water cycle and movement, acid rain, water and energy conservation, water quality, water testing
Diving Octopus - Floating & Sinking Lesson Plan
Students make and manipulate a simple bottle diver to investigate its floating and sinking properties. They can experiment with variables and make observations to. They apply the same principle to make and keep a toy octopus which dives or floats in a soft-drink bottle.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Keywords:
water testing
Amazing Ice Cubes
This short lesson is intended to be used as part of a unit on water or properties of matter, or simply as a fun and motivating lesson. Unlike nearly all other substances, water expands when it freezes, and shrinks when it melts. Students discover this unusual property by observing the mesmerizing process of an ice cube melting in cooking oil. Simultaneously, a surprising teacher demonstration prepared at the beginning of the lesson is monitored and discussed at the end of the lesson.
Subject(s):
Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School
Keywords:
water cycle and movement, experiments and investigations, water testing
