Lesson Plans

A teacher workshop was held in September 2009 at Cherry Valley Resort in Newark, Ohio.  At the workshop the research team presented the student knowledge gaps pertaining to stream and watershed.  These gaps were identified by comparing the expert influence diagram with the student's mental model.  The teachers sythesized the student's knowledge gaps into Five Essential Questions that they would address throughout the year by designing and implementing lessons that focused on these gaps.

These lesson plans are available below.  Some of the lesson plans have supplemental documents such as worksheets or additional information attached.  In other cases the supplemental documents may be provided as an additional PDF file.  If you have any questions regarding these lesson plans, you may contact the teacher who originally designed the lesson plan (their email address is provided at the end of the lesson plan) or you may contact Dr. Deborah Hersha at hersha.5@osu.edu.

Essential Question 1:  How do topography, elevation and/or gravity determine the flow/direction of stream?

Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-45 minute period

Files:  Lesson Plan: A Grave Mistake

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  3 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:  EduWebLab on Photosynthesis and Lake Profiles

Class:  Modeling a Watershed
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-45 minute period

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Modeling a Watershed

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Profiles and their Relationship to Meanders

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days

Files:  Lesson Plan: Stream order and Drainage Patterns

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1 day

Files:  Lesson Plan:Eduweb Lab on Pollution Source

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan: WaterWaterEverywhere Lesson

Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1 Double blocked period, 47 minutes each (96 minutes total)

Files:  Lesson Plan: Introduction to Water

 

Essential Question 2:  How human activities influence stream?

Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-45 minute period

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Modeling a Watershed

Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  Two periods + for set up, ten days for data collection

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Phosphates, Nitrates and Eutrophication

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Production and Effects of Acid Rain

Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  2+ - 45 minute periods
 
Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Chemical Monitoring_DE
Chemical Monitoring
 
Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days
 
Files:  Lesson Plan:  Tellico Dam Debate
Decision Making PROACT
 
Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Total Dissolved Solids and Total Suspended Solids

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:   Eduweb Lab on Pollution Source

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:   Production and Effects of Acid Rain

Class:  Environmental Botany
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1-2 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:   Phosphates, Nitrates and Algal Blooms

Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1 47 minute block

Files:  Lesson Plan:    Endotherms and Exotherms

Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1 day

Files:  Lesson Plan:   Case Study on Stream Improvements

Class:  Environmental
Grade
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan:   Intro to Water Pollution Lesson - PowerPoint

Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1.5 - 2.5 Double-blocked periods, 47 minutes each (96 minutes total in a block)

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Pigeon River Debate

Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1 Double-blocked period, 47 minutes each (96 minutes total)

Files:  Lesson Plan:   Introduction to Water Pollution

Class:  Environmental
Grade
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan:   Intro to Stream Monitor Notes - PowerPoint

Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  4-6 double-blocked period, 47 minutes each (96 minutes total in a block)

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Introduction to Stream Monitoring

 

Essential Question 3:  How do energy and/or nutrients flow in the watershed?

Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  4+ , 45 minute periods
 
Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Macroinvertebrate Survey
Macroinvertebrate Data Monitoring Sheet
Macroinvertebrate Identification
 
Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  4-6 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Health

 

Essential Question 4:  What are various locations of niche/habitats/organisms found in streams/watersheds?

Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  2+ , 45 minute periods
 
Files:  Lesson Plan:  Assessing Stream Habitat Quality
 
Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  1+ , 45 minute period
 
Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Gradient
 
Class:  AP Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  2+ , 45 minute periods
 
Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Chemical Monitoring
Chemical Monitoring
 
Class:  Environmental Biology
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  4-5 days
 
Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Survey of Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide for Georgia Streams
West Virginia Stream Assessment Protocols
 
 

Essential Questions 5:  Final Reflection: Connectivity

Class:  Environmental Science
Grade:  11-12
Timeframe:  4-6 days

Files:  Lesson Plan:  Stream Health

 

Student Materials

Class:  Environmental
Grade
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan: Creek Habitat by Billy - PowerPoint

Class:  Environmental
Grade
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan: Rocky Fork Stream Study analysis and Report - PowerPoint

Class:  Environmental
Grade
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan: Science PowerPoint - PowerPoint

Class:  Environmental Science Class - Gahanna Lincoln High School
Grade
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan: Stream Study and Presentations Pictures

Class:  Environmental Stream Project
Grade
Timeframe

Files:  Lesson Plan: TDS and TSS - PowerPoint