Stream Critters Box
You will find the following educational props and information that will enhance your stream critter learning experience:
4 bug critter catching nets
8 white tubs for critters
4 Bug viewers, with squirt bottle and baster for catching
Bug tray with multiple compartments for critters
Dragonfly model
Stone fly nymph model
3 Peterson's "Guides to Insects"
Green binder loaded with good stream critter, salamander and frog information
SOLs that correlate to this activity box include: Sci 4.1, 4.5, 4.8
An Example Guideline
(Here is one way of running a station like this. Be creative but here's some ideas on how to get started)
Introduce the station and tell the kids that they will learn all about critters found in this stream. Show them a few pictures of the animals and go over some of the details. (Mayfly has 3 tails vs Stonefly has 2 tails, etc.) Use the green binder and you can cover what you want. Go over that depending on what animals are in the stream, this can tell us how healthy the stream is. If the water has good qualities about it, like good pH, oxygen content, temperature is favorable, etc., then we will see certain types of critters. If not, then we will see other types of critters.
Tell the kids that we are gonna go fishing for some critters. Let the kids use the nets to catch critters. Make sure they move around the rocks on the bottom of the stream, and pull up leaves to sift through. The D-net is best for this. You can help them with this. Bring leaves and rocks onto the bank and spread them out. Have the kids who aren't fishing to look through the leaves and see what they can find. Place critters in the tubs with water so they stay alive and everyone can see. You can put the animals in the viewer with a bit of water and view the insect from above and below.
See what the kids can find. Get them to identify the insects with the field guides and information sheets. Help them when they need it.
For a wrap up, see what overall bugs and insects were found. Remind them that we can determine the health of the stream by looking at what insects are in the water. Ask them how healthy they think the stream is? What could have affected the success (or lack of success) of catching insects. (Did it rain really hard recently and changed the flow of water, is the stream really low/high, whats the temperature of the water, etc). Get the kids to talk about what they found and if it indicates a healthy stream or not.
Tips:
Kids watch you:
If you're afraid of the bugs, they will be too.
If you won't go in the water, they won't want to be near it.
They follow your lead, and the lead of chaparones too. If available, get the chaparones involved and don't let them stand in the back to talk.
If a kid isn't doing anything, get them to assist you with some "special" mission, or assign them a task.
Try not to get all the materials for them. Get them to fish and dig up leaves. Get their hands dirty...its what field trips are all about!
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