Rivers, Lakes, Flooding, Dams, Salmon, Levees, Water Quality Unit

This comprehensive unit explores rivers, watersheds, water quality, flooding, levees, dams, wetlands, and salmon, offering a dynamic learning experience for students. Divided into three engaging parts, the unit includes over 20 lessons (50 minutes each) and 53 pages of printable work bundles. These bundles guide students through interactive activities, note-taking, quizzes, and more, all aligned with detailed, interactive slideshows. Each part concludes with a 20-question quiz game to reinforce concepts and assess learning. Answer keys, materials lists, video links, and crosswords are included to streamline teaching. The resources are adaptable for both traditional classrooms and digital platforms like Google Classroom.

Part 1: Rivers and Watersheds

• Lessons: 6 (50 minutes each)

• Work Bundle: 16 pages

• Topics include watersheds, the major rivers of the U.S., river parts, erosion, transport, deposition, and riparian areas. Activities include creating a watershed model, designing a river from mountains to oceans, and a stream table simulation. Students explore river features like meanders, oxbow lakes, and floodplains. The part concludes with a box game review, crossword puzzle, and assessment with self-assessment options.

Part 2: Water Quality

• Lessons: 3 (50 minutes each) + Stream Study

• Work Bundle: 16 pages

• Topics include the physical, chemical, and biological properties of water quality. Students engage in hands-on stream discharge measurements, chemical testing, and macroinvertebrate identification to assess water quality. The unit concludes with a stream quality assessment.

Part 3: Flooding, Levees, Dams, Wetlands, and Salmon

• Lessons: 11 (50 minutes each)

• Work Bundle: 21 pages

• Students explore the causes and impacts of flooding, levee types, and flood prevention strategies through activities like a levee design project. The importance of wetlands and urbanization impacts are discussed, followed by an in-depth study of dams, including their types, functions, and environmental impact. Case studies (e.g., Hurricane Katrina, Aswan Dam) and a dam debate role-play project engage critical thinking. The section wraps up with a focus on salmon life cycles, conservation, and a salmon simulation activity.

This unit offers an engaging, interactive approach to teaching critical topics in water systems, quality, and environmental impact. The detailed lessons, hands-on activities, and assessments ensure students develop a deep understanding of rivers, watersheds, water quality, and the effects of human activities. With adaptable formats for Google Classroom, it’s easy to integrate into any teaching style. Explore the links to preview each part and discover how this unit can transform your science classroom.