Content:

The Rivers Project Curriculum

The Rivers Biology Unit

Lesson 1: How To Begin a River Study

Teacher Notes Student Information

1.1: Introduction to Rivers Biology Student Activity 

1.2: Journal Writing Student Information 

1.3: Safety Guidelines and Contract Student Information 

1.4: The Facts About Water Student Activity 

1.5: Water in Your Area

Lesson 2: River and Stream Ecology

Teacher Notes Student Information 

2.1: River and Stream Ecology Student Activity

2.2: How Does Your Aquarium Rate? Student Activity 

2.3: How Does a Food Chain Work? Student Activity 

2.4: Food-Chain Rummy Student Assessment

2.5: They All Hang Together

Lesson 3: Indices of River and Stream Water Quality

Teacher Notes Student Activity 

3.1: Creating and Using an Index Student Information 

3.2: Biological Indices of Water Quality Student Information 

3.3: Benthic Macro invertebrates and Pollution Tolerance Student Activity 

3.4: The Water-Quality Index

Lesson 4: Biological Surveys

Teacher Notes Student Information  

4.1: Looking at the River Student Information 

4.2: Guide to Sampling Benthic Macroinvertebrates Student Information 

4.3: Riverine Habitats Student Activity

4.4: Determining the Benthic Macoinvertebrate Index for Your River or Stream Student Activity 

4.5: Completing a Riverine Habitat Survey Student Activity 

4.6: Determining the Diversity Index for Your River or Stream Student Assessment 

4.7: A River Diorama

Lesson 5: Dissolved Oxygen in River and Stream Water

Teacher Notes Student Information 

5.1: Oxygen in Water Student Information

5.2: What is Biochemical Oxygen Demand? Student Activity

5.3: Dissolving Oxygen in Water Student Activity

5.4: Measuring Dissolved Oxygen in a River or Stream Student Activity 

5.5: Measuring Biochemical Oxygen Demand in River or Stream Water

Lesson 6: Fecal Coliform Bacteria in Rivers and Streams

Teacher Notes Student Activity 

6.1: What are Fecal Coliform Bacteria? Student Information

6.2: Techniques for Fecal-Coliform Testing Student Activity

6.3: Measuring Fecal Coliform in a River or Stream Student Assessment 

6.4: Swamp Water

Lesson 7: Environmental Assessment

Teacher Notes Student Information 

7.1: The Role of Environmental Assessment Student Activity

7.2: Permit Request Student Activity

7.3: Section 404 Permit Review Student Activity

7.4: Public Notice and Meeting Student Activity 

7.5: Final Environmental Assessment and Statement of Findings

Appendix A: Assessment Tools

Teacher Notes for Assessments Student Assessment

River of Your Dreams 

A Collage Student Assessment

Portfolio Student Assessment

Biological Field-Study Proficiency Checklist Student Assessment

Challenge Project: Telecommunications

Appendix B: Answers and Solutions for Student Information and Activity Sheets

Appendix C Resources

Glossary

Description and Picture

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