Liberty Science Center 10th Grade:

ESTUARIES

 

GRADE LEVEL:   10TH GRADE

LEARNING STANDARD:

Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

TIME REQUIREMENTS:

This lesson will approximately take twenty minutes preparation time and  about forty minutes class time.

TOPICS COVERED BY THIS LESSON:

Estuaries, Mudflats, Salt marshes, Algae, Phytoplankton, Worms, Oyster crabs, Pollution

PRE-VISIT LESSON:

            Purpose:         To familiarize students with what estuaries are.

            Objectives:

  1. To define the term estuary.
  2. To explain what mudflats and salt marshes are and to give their significance to estuaries.
  3. To explain the salinity in an estuary and how it varies on a daily basis.
  4. To give examples of the major producers in estuaries.
  5. To give examples of the  major consumers in estuaries.
  6.   To give examples of  vertebrates and fishes that live in estuaries.
  7. To give examples of  semi aquatic vertebrates and waterfowl that feed in estuaries.
  8. To explain why estuaries are important to commercial and residential developments and how they contribute to polluting these waterways.

Materials:

1.     pencil

2.      paper

VISIT:

1.     Students will need a pencil and paper for the visit to the Liberty Science Center.

2.     Students will be given a tour of the Estuary exhibit.         

3.     During the visit, students should write down facts about and draw three organisms that live in estuaries.

POST VISIT:

1.     The next day students are required to complete three one-page summaries about each organism they saw at the exhibit.

2.     In the summaries students should include scientific name, common name, similar species, life cycle, food and a drawing of each species.

QUESTIONS:

1.     What can the government do to protect estuaries?

2.      Why are estuaries a good place for commercial development?

 

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