Students will stencil an educational message next to curbs above storm drains to raise awareness about water pollution prevention. The project connects students to their local environment and improves their understanding of watersheds, ecosystem connectivity, and the role of city government in protecting the environment. Students demonstrate how stormwater carries pollutants directly into nearby water ways.
Students take a field trip to investigate some of the phenomena that they have been studying. They inventory debris along a shoreline or riverbank and study local water movement patterns to develop ideas about where the debris might have come from.
In this 3-4 day investigation, students go outdoors to explore their local water body, using sampling techniques to discover the plants and animals.
Students plan and carry out a survey of human impacts to a local aquatic environment. They analyze their findings and prepare to share them with the community.
Over 4–5 days, students prepare for and complete a field trip to apply skills from the sea otter mystery. Activities may include ecosystem mapping, a stream walk, or a coast survey. Back in class, they analyze and share their findings.