Teach for the Watershed
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Provided by: West Michigan Environmental Action Council|Published on: September 10, 2025
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this program from the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, students will see a model of nonpoint source pollution and explore their watersheds, taking measurements to determine their health.
- Grand Rapids Public Schools educators can request that a WMEAC staff member provide a demonstration and lead students on a two-hour field trip of their watershed, taking physical and chemical measurements and recording the macroinvertebrates that are present.
- The resource also includes printable resources, like coloring sheets, a dichotomous key, and vocabulary activities.
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Region: Southwest Michigan
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- By exploring their own watershed, students will have relevant, hands-on learning experiences to connect what they learn to their community.
- The videos provide verbal and written definitions of new content-specific terms to help with vocabulary acquisition.
Prerequisites
- To have a WMEAC staff member implement these activities, teachers in Grand Rapids Public Schools can fill out this form.
- Students should know how to measure accurately with a tape measure, find the average of measurements, use a stopwatch, and use an equation to determine speed.
- This activity book is a companion resource for this program.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Teachers can make connections to climate change by discussing the impacts climate change has on watersheds. This lesson can help teachers connect these concepts.
- In preparation for this program, students can watch through the videos in the field trip portion and record new vocabulary as it arises.
- Teachers can connect this program to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, using it as an opportunity to introduce Goal 6, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Goal 14, Life Below Water. To find more SDG resources to use in the classroom, teachers can use this curriculum guide.
This resource provides an overview of a potential field trip and activities for students to learn about the health and pollution of a local stream. Students will explore sources of pollution and how to measure the level of pollution and stream health. These activities will illustrate how human actions can impact water resources around them. The information presented is accurate, and this resource is recommended for teaching.
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Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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