EPDIS: Institutes: Science: Watershed Investigations

Watershed Investigations

UPDATED 03/11/2004

Participant Application Information

2003-2004 School Year Workshops
1 credit

January 8, 2004: Land Use and Water Quality
Gogebic Ontonagon ISD
GRAPCEP Location/date: TBA

Teachers will learn how to design an investigation of their local watershed, including establishing goals, defining the study question, and selecting monitoring sites. Participants will use topographic maps to delineate their watershed, build watershed models, examine the interaction of past and present land uses on water quality, gather data on their local watershed from a variety of sources, design a watershed tour, and engage in a variety of fun, hands-on activities for the classroom.

February 25, 2004: Biological Indicators
Gogebic Ontonagon ISD
GRAPCEP Location/date: TBA

Teachers will learn how to use stream tables to simulate, observe and measure stream behavior. They will examine the role of aquatic macroinvertebrates as biological indicators of water quality. Other topics include erosion, insect morphology, life cycles, aquatic habitats, and food chains.

April 28, 2004: Stream Sampling
Ford Forestry Center
GRAPCEP Location/date: TBA

Teachers will compare the health of two streams and their watersheds through chemical, biological, and physical sampling procedures. The physical sampling consists of habitat assessment and stream size, velocity and discharge. The chemical sampling consists of temperature, phosphate, nitrate, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, pH, copper and iron tests.

Summer Institute 2004
3 credits

June 20-26, 2004: Interdisciplinary Watershed Investigations
Michigan Technological University

Application

Teachers will learn methods used in watershed assessment such as how to use hand-held scientific probes, GPS and GIS, collect and digitize stream monitoring data, and create watershed maps. Teachers will also use Excel to analyze and communicate their stream data. Teachers will use their stream monitoring data to work with their students to create and implement a community project that addresses a watershed concern in their community. Connections to social studies and language arts will be integrated into the project as teachers and students communicate their findings to the community, and work with local businesses, organizations and government to foster a sense of stewardship toward their local watershed. Teachers will plan a teaching unit that includes a community project to implement in their classroom during the 2004-2005 school year.

Spring 2005 Classroom Practicum
1 credit

Implementation and assessment of teaching units developed during the Summer Institute.

2004-2005 School Year Workshops
1 credit

Connecting with the Learner: Equity Toolkit
Location/dates: TBA

Teachers will learn strategies to facilitate and support an effective learning community in their classroom. They will explore the effect of teacher expectations on student performance.

Instructional Assessment
Location/dates: TBA

Teachers will explore methods and strategies to assess student learning in effective and creative ways. They will learn how effective student assessments can improve instruction and increase student learning.

Summer Institute 2005
2 credits

June 19-25, 2005: Partners in Learning Institute
Michigan Technological University

Teachers and their students will share the successes and challenges in implementing their community projects. They will learn how to assess the impact of their work. Together they will explore careers in science, engineering, and technology, participate in unique field and laboratory experiences, and determine ways to disseminate their work.