Adirondack Curriculum Project

Adirondack Curriculum Project - www.adkcurriculum.org

NYS Content Area Standard

MST 4. Science

Title: The River Comparison Project
CHALLENGE TO BE REVISED 6/06

Grade Level: 6th

Author: Marion Shorey & Valerie Valla, Ballston Spa CSD

Email: mshorey@bscsd.org & vvalla@bscsd.org

Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
_X_ Natural History
_X_ Human History
___ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Investigative Question or Issue: What macroinvertebrate categories do DEC scientists use to study the health of a stream or river, and how do the number of insects in each category show the differences in rivers?

Challenge:

DEC scientists sample insect populations and record the data. Working in groups of three, research the insect population of your assigned waterway and create a bar graph of the total number of insects in each of the three categories (sensitive, somewhat sensitive, tolerant).
1. Go to XXXXXXX website and click on your river.
2. What are the total numbers of sensitive, somewhat sensitive, and tolerant insect species for the most recent year's data?
3. Create a bar graph using graph paper comparing the numbers of insects for each category.
4. Present your graphs to the class.
5. Place your graphs on your work table. Pick two other rivers and compare the data of their rivers to your river.
6. Write two complete sentences for each river describing how that river is similar or different from the river you researched.

Enrichment: In addition to the bar graph, create a line graph showing the insect population changes in each category over a 20 year period. Use increments of 5 years (5 years ago, 10 years ago, 15 years ago, 20 years ago).

Quality Standards:

BAR GRAPH
-colorful, different color for each bar
-neat
-accurate
-must fill the page
-axes labeled (each bar should be labeled)
-equal increments
-title
-student name, teacher name, section in upper left hand corner

RIVER COMPARISON CHART
-river names
-four different comparisons (similarities, differences)
-specific numeric data (numbers of insects)
-circle similarity or difference on the chart for each sentence
-complete sentences

Adapted for the Adirondack Curriculum Project from the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC ©ACP 2002

Product Quality
Checklist
Date: ________ Class Period: ________

Product Author(s):

Product Title/Name:
The River Comparison Project

Evaluator Name(s)

Observed	Standard/Criteria	Possible Points	Rating
	Completed by __________________
	BAR GRAPH (total points )
	Different color for each bar.
	Neatly drawn with ruler, bars equal in width, handwriting is legible
	Accurate number of total insects for each category (sensitive, somewhat-sensitive, tolerant)
	Graph must be designed to fill most of the page
	X-axis (horizontal) labeled "Insect Categories"
	Y-axis (vertical) labeled "Number of Insects"
	Y-axis divided into equal increments and labeled with the numbers
	Student name, teacher name, section in upper right hand corner

	RIVER COMPARISON CHART (total points )
	River names are recorded
	Four different types of comparisons were made
	Specific numeric data (numbers of insects)
	Chart has similarity or difference circled for each comparison
	Complete sentences
	TOTALS	100

Comments: Northern Forest Partnership.