6th Grade Creek Studies
Teacher Information
On this page: 6th Grade Handbook with Fish Scale Lab, Sage Grouse Creek Assessment and Database activities; ESWP Database for download (Microsoft Access); GEMS classroom kits information
Embedded Files
The 6th grade field study is a full-day field trip that includes six 15-minute water quality stations (Temperature / pH (1 station), Dissolved Oxygen (2 stations), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) / Hardness (1 station), Turbidity, and Nitrates). These rotations take approximately 1.5 hours. When available, we join with volunteers from California Fish and Wildlife who do electrofishing, and students identify, weigh, and measure their groups' fish, and optionally collect a scale sample to view under a microscope later. This is about an hour. After lunch, there are three 45-minute stations: Streamflow calculations using stream flow meters and math to calculate the total Cubic Feet per Second (CFS) flow of water in their stream; Aquatic Macroinvertebrate sampling, using a kick net and sorting and identifying collected invertebrates to assess the water quality of the stream; and a Greenline survey, sampling the shade plants along the creek banks. See the docent page for more details about each of these stations.
This program can be done without electrofishing to shorten the day, or can be done in separate morning and afternoon sessions to work with your schedule. See the Sample Rotation Schedule below to see a full day schedule.
6th Grade Handbook with Classroom Activities
6th Grade Handbook with Classroom Activities
Handbook 6th 2018-optimized.pdfESWP Database
ESWP Database
(Microsoft Access file) to download and use with lessons from Handbook
NOTE: If you are unable to download the file, please contact Maggie at mriley@inyocoe.org and I'll email it to you.
This database is only available on Microsoft Access currently. We are working toward getting it online in the future so that it doesn't require any special software.
Classroom GEMS Kits Information
Classroom GEMS Kits Information
We supply all of the materials in the kits below. Please note on the inventory lists (inside lid) what needs to be restocked, and return your kits when you bring your students on their field trips.
River Cutters: This popular unit explores the concepts of erosion, pollution, toxic waste, and human manipulation of rivers. Students create river models, acquire geological terminology, and begin to understand geologic time. More information...
NOTE: Lawrence Hall of Science seems to be having trouble with the website linked above - more information is available at their online store, but don't buy the book - it is included in your classroom kit as well as all the materials needed to teach the unit!
RiverCuttersMaterials.pdfAquatic Habitats: These engaging life science activities, in which students set up and observe living “desktop ponds” in the classroom, convey key environmental concepts and illustrate the interactive nature of living ecosystems. More information...
NOTE: Lawrence Hall of Science seems to be having trouble with the website linked above - more information is available at their online store, but don't buy the book - it is included in your classroom kit as well as all the materials needed to teach the unit!
AquaticHabitatsMaterials.pdfDirections to Field Trip Creek Study Locations
Directions to Field Trip Creek Study Locations
(Home Street buses to Izaak Walton Park)
Round Valley
Round Valley
Round Valley 6th Grade Creek Study Site.pdfBig Pine / Owens Valley
Big Pine / Owens Valley
Directions to Big Pine 6th grade study site.pdfLone Pine
Lone Pine
DIR to LP 6th.pdfSample Rotation Schedule
Sample Rotation Schedule
Please let us know and keep us updated on any needed changes to schedule, when you expect to arrive, and when you need to leave. Thank you!
6th Grade Rotation Schedule 2025.docxPage updated
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