Here’s an overview of the key questions and vocabulary students will tackle in the Middle School lessons. Search by keyword to find the perfect lesson for your class!
| Lesson Name | Key Questions | Key Vocab |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Water, Its Uses and Importance | ||
| 1: Water Connections | How are connections important to learning and understanding? How do bodies of water connect? What is the connection between surface water and ground water? | drinking water, erosion, ground water, hydrologic cycle, lake, surface water, tributary, water quality |
| 2: Water Expressions | How can people identify with water through written expressions or poetic quotes? What water words are associated with quotes and what emotions are evoked? | conservation, ecosystem, pollution, quotations, watershed |
| 3: Water Values | How much water is available for human consumption? How much is used during the day? Are there ways that water can be conserved? | conservation, consumption, finite |
| 4: Water Power | What are the positive and negative impacts of dams on a community? What are names and locations of dams in Farmington River Watershed? Why are dams built? | dam, generator, hydroelectric power, impoundment, turbine |
| 5: Water Underground | How do surface water and ground water interact? What happens if a pollutant enters the surface water? From where does drinking water come? | aquifer, impermeable, permeable, percolate, run-off |
| Week 2: The Farmington River Watershed | ||
| 6: Water Ways | Where does the Farmington River flow? Where does the Farmington meet the Connecticut River? | border, confluence, map, topography, tributary |
| 7: Water Lines | How is a river formed? How do hills direct the flow of water? | dam, flow, man-made, model, ridge lines, topography |
| 8: Water Absorption | What is the difference between a pervious and an impervious surface? How does the type of surface in a watershed impact water quality? | buffer zones, impervious, infiltration, orient, pervious, run-off |
| 9: Riparian Banks | What do the riparian banks indicate about overall health of the river? What causes riparian banks to change? What is the impact of the change(s)? | riparian areas |
| 10: Carrying Capacities | What is a reservoir and how is it used? What is the name of the largest reservoir in the Farmington River Watershed? What are carrying capacities? | carrying capacity |
| Week 3: Watershed Ecosystems | ||
| 11: Diversity Walk | Why is diversity important to an ecosystem? | biodiversity, preservation |
| 12: Water Webs | What is a food web and a food chain? How are animals and plants interconnected in an ecosystem? How can natural or man-made impacts affect the balance of an ecosystem? | decomposer, food chain, food web, primary consumer, producer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, trophic levels |
| 13: Riparian Explorer | What can be observed along the riparian banks? What do observations indicate about the health of the river? What are some special adaptations of macroinvertebrates? | adaptations, macroinvertebrate, observation, riparian bank |
| 14: Water Finds | Why do we examine aquatic insects? Why are they important to determining the health of the stream? What other observations about the stream indicate health? | biotic index, identify, magnify, observation |
| 15: Wetland Wonders | Why are wetlands important? How are wetlands identified? What types of animals and plants live in wetlands? | filter, saturate, sediments, wetland |
| Week 4: Going Back to the Past | ||
| 16: Colonial Times | What did the settlers think of America when they arrived? How did settlers alter the landscape? How has the land changed in modern times? | colonist |
| 17: Geology Formations | How has the watershed changed over the years? What geological formations provide clues to another time period? | basalt, boulder, crust, fault, glacial, lava, Precambrian rock, ridge, talus slide |
| 18: Water Threats | Why have salmon populations declined? Why is the Rainbow Dam fish ladder in Windsor important to the salmon? What are Farmington River Watershed and DEP doing to help the salmon? | alevin, anadromous, fish ladder, fry, incubating, pollutant, restoration |
| 19: Farmington Canal | Why was the Farmington Canal important? What was its path? How long did it take to build? | canal, locks |
| 20: Water Wheel | How did the Industrial period impact the river? What type of power was used? | factory, industrialism, water wheel |
| Week 5: Pollution and Monitoring | ||
| 21: Water Studies | How can streams and rivers be monitored? How can water characteristics, riparian banks and watershed habitats indicate stream health? | pool, riffle, run, velocity |
| 22: Water Checks | What abiotic tests will indicate the health of a stream? What factors contribute to higher levels of dissolved oxygen in a stream? Why is it important to monitor the stream? | abiotic, acidic, alkaline, dissolved oxygen, pH level |
| 23: Water Mystery | What is the difference between point source and non-point source pollution? What are possible sources of non-point source pollution? What can be done to prevent pollution? | acid rain, non-point source pollution, nutrient, pesticide, source point pollution |
| 24: Turbid Tides | What is turbidity? Why are streams tested for turbidity? What are causes of turbidity in a stream? | erosion, penetrate, sediment, turbidity |
| 25: Potential Polluters | What can cause pollution? What is the impact of pollution in a watershed? What are ways to prevent or reduce pollution? | pollution |
| Week 6: Water Protection and Conservation | ||
| 26: Making the Connection | How is a river connected to other water bodies? How do upstream pollution events impact water quality downstream? | connections |
| 27: Water Watchers | How can water be conserved? How can daily usage be reduced? | calculate, measurement |
| 28: Water Survey | How much water do I use? How much does my family use? | water usage |
| 29: Drought Dilemma | How can water be conserved in the event of shortages? | water tips |
| 30: Water Actions | What are ways to help protect the watershed? | organization, involvement |