COURSE DESCRIPTION

The region is in crisis — populations of certain local animals are declining, for no obvious reason. It’s up to students to figure out what is happening and how to prevent a looming catastrophe. As they do so, they will learn the real-world tools and techniques environmental scientists use to solve such mysteries and will gain a deeper understanding of how all the separate components of an ecosystem work together.

Key Topics: Problem-solving • Food Webs • Biotic/Abiotic Factors • Biomagnification

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COURSE HIGHLIGHTS

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Water Quality Testing

Students analyze water samples for multiple characteristics: pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chemical contamination.

Engineer a Filter Feeder

Students learn about the role of filter feeders in an ecosystem and design their own “filter feeder.”

Catching the Zebra Mussels

Students engineer a device to collect zebra mussels from Loon Lake and then modify it to eliminate bycatch.

COURSE EVALUATION

90% of Students Liked or Loved this Course

92% of Teachers Agree that Students Showed Persistence with Difficult Tasks

““I am glad that my school participated in STEM week because it gives kids like me an idea of how a engineer, etc works and how you need to keep on trying and not just give up.”
”

— 5th Grade Student

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ECOSYSTEMS SAVED