Tuckahoe

Global Minds: Navigating Watersheds and Mastering Critical Thinking by Investigating Species Health

Henrico Learner Profile (HLP) 6C Focus

6th grade - Life Science

SOL/Standard  

6.8 The student will investigate and understand that land and water have roles in watershed systems. 

6.9 The student will investigate and understand that humans impact the environment and that individuals can influence public policy decisions related to energy and the environment. 

Learning Experience

In this 2 part lab, students learned about watersheds, human impact on watersheds, and how macroinvertebrates can serve as bioindicators of a healthy watershed. On day 1, students used Mini Enviroscapes to learn about how water flows over a watershed. Students were asked to critically think about human pollution that could make its way into the watershed and to see patterns that their actions cause while engaging with the enviroscape. Then they placed different “pollutants” on the Enviroscape to visualize how humans can impact the watershed. Finally, students mapped their own watershed with the help of https://modelmywatershed.org/ . On day 2, students were given leaf packs from a local creek and pond to look for macroinvertebrate indicator species. Indicator species were sorted into levels to assess the health of a body of water. Students then connected the knowledge of how human pollution flows into these waters with the organisms. To finalize the activities, students reflected with a Flipgrid to collect evidence of being a global citizen and how critical thinking can help them keep a watershed cleaner.  

What did the student(s) learn about this experience:

"A watershed is where all the lakes, rivers and land empty into one big body of water. We can pollute the watershed with chemicals, waste, gasoline, litter, fertilizer, and pesticides. This helped me be more aware of our water as a whole and how pollution affects the watershed. The lab has improved my skills of critical thinking and global citizenship.” " - Aniya C. and Josie P. 

What did the teacher enjoy about this experience:

" Students were able to make the connection between pollutants that they might put in the water and the water quality of a stream based on what living organisms they found in the stream.  The squeals of students (and teachers) as they discovered crayfish and salamanders along with the larval insects and aquatic worms they pulled out of the leaf packs made for a thrilling learning experience for all! " - Donna Forester

Additional Pictures, Media & Artifacts

Testing local water and organisms found in local water. 

Students comparing and testing local water for organisms and pollutants. 

Students investigating the local water sources.

Student reflection on their learning experience

Thank you to the innovators who helped make this experience possible: