Science in the World Around Us

Time: 30-45 mins.
Grade Level: 4th
Location: A park with a river or stream.

Preperation:

Prior to the field trip, students should be learning about various rock types and other geoscience topics.
Before the field trip, have the teachers provide each student with a pencil and clipboard.
Give each child a copy of this worksheet.
Take a short tour of the park and allow the children to familiarize themselves with the area.
Split the children into 2 groups. Each group will start on a different activity. After 20 minutes, they will switch to the other activity.

Why do we care about water quality?
What are we looking for?
- We are looking for different types of macroinvertibrates (bugs). The different types of macroinvertibrates indicate how good the water is.

Take the children to a nearby stream.
Show the children where to look for bugs (under rocks seems to be the best place.
Allow the children 15 minutes or so to look near the river bank for different macroinvertibrates.
As they find different macroinvertibrates, have the children circle them on their worksheets.
Gather the children and discuss the water quality of the stream based on the types of macroinvertibrates that they found.

Review the different types of rocks and other things that the students will be looking for.
Allow them to look for differnt things for 15 - 20 minutes.
Help them to find some of the things that they are looking for.