Water Quality Lesson 7 : How Healthy Is This Stram?

Lesson Overview

Students are introduced to the physical, chemical, and
biological characteristics of an ecologically healthy
stream and to the procedures used by scientists and
aquatic biologists for assessing the health of a stream.
Students use their new knowledge to compare four
Michigan streams and select the best for planting
young brook trout after evaluating bioindicators,
habitat, and water quality data provided. Evaluation
of student-collected data and creation of a concept map
are used to assess students’ understanding.

Focus Questions
Students answer these essential questions: What is
stream monitoring, and how is it done? How do you
know if a stream is healthy? What are bioindicators?
What makes good habitat for fish?

Subject/Target Grade
Science and Social Studies/Middle School (6-8)
Duration
Two 50-minute class periods – Classroom setting
Materials
per class
• balance (optional)
• 1 gram weight per student (optional)
Comparison of Two Streams PowerPoint
(on MEECS Water Quality CD)
Designing A Stream Monitoring Investigation
15-minute PowerPoint (on MEECS Water
Quality CD)
Designing A Stream Investigation (answer key)
• computer projector
Aquatic Food Chain in a Stream (transparency
master)
Where Should the Brook Trout Be Planted?
Stream Assessment Data Table
(answer key)
• page with color photo of each river: Clinton
River, Coles Creek, Gilkey Creek, and Au
Sable River (on MEECS Water Quality CD)
• samples of live or preserved benthic
macroinvertebrates (optional)
Aquatic Invertebrates & Water Quality video
(optional)
Biological Assessment Data Form 
(transparency master)
Stream Habitat Assessment Form
(transparency master)
Habitat Assessment PowerPoint (on MEECS
Water Quality CD) (optional)
Macroinvertebrate Identification PowerPoint
(on MEECS Water Quality CD) (optional)
Hart Middle School Students: First
Responders to Erosion Mishap photos
(on
MEECS Water Quality CD)
Hart Middle School Students: First Responders
to Erosion Mishap
(answer key)
• sample Stream Health concept map


per small group
• Page with color photo of each river: Clinton
River, Coles Creek, Gilkey Creek, and Au
Sable River (on MEECS Water Quality CD)


per student
• Background Information/Student Reading
Designing a Stream Investigation (student activity)

Where Should the Brook Trout Be
Planted
Student Packet containing:
Where Should the Brook Trout Be
Planted?
instructions
– Stream Assessment Data Table
– Data page for each stream: Au
Sable River, Clinton River, Coles
Creek, Gilkey Creek
– Stream Ecology: Temp/pH/DO
– Biological Assessment Data Form
– Stream Habitat Assessment Form
Who Is Protecting Michigan’s Rivers
and Streams?
(student activity)
Hart Middle School Students: First
Responders to Erosion Mishap

(student assessment)
Stream Health concept map (student
assessment)

 

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