Lesson 3: Watershed Exploration

 

Student Objective:

This lesson focuses on connectivity of aquatic and terrestrial habitats through the watershed concept, and encourages students to identify ways that humans impact local waterways.

Students will:

      • Understand that habitats throughout Appalachia are connected by various processes.
      • Evaluate the impact that habitat connectivity has on Appalachian fauna, particularly hellbender salamanders.
      • Relate the concept of stream order to the way that water flows through a watershed across multiple spatial scales.
      • Recognize the multitude of ways that human activity can impact water quality and species within the watershed.
river system_smaller

LESSON 3 MATERIALS FOR DOWNLOAD:

*PDF files are provided for immediate use. Some lesson materials include a Word document file to format and adapt for your classroom needs. 

Download the Lesson Plan – [.pdf] / [.doc]
Engage
  • KML Watershed Index downloaded from the USGS website (linked here)
  • WATERSKMZ file downloaded from the EPA website (linked here)
Explore
  • Build a Watershed student handout – [.pdf] / [.doc]
  • Build a Watershed PowerPoint – [.ppt]
Explain
  • Watersheds and Human Impacts PowerPoint – [.ppt]
  • Watersheds and Human Impacts student notes sheet – [.pdf] / [.doc]
Elaborate
  • Your Impaired Waterways student handout – [.pdf] / [.doc]
Evaluate
  • A Letter to Your Representative student handout – [.pdf] / [.doc]