Welcome to the Trout Unlimited Stream Education Curriculum! This set of high school lesson plans covers the full range of scientific concepts related to streams, rivers and watersheds and their importance to trout, salmon and people. It is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards, AP Environmental Science and the updated International Baccalaureate Biology and Environmental Systems and Society courses. Each lesson includes hands-on activities in the classroom and many include field-based activities to be done on a stream. The lessons also emphasize data collection, manipulation and interpretation. All lessons are the original work of Duncan Blair and property of Trout Unlimited.
The lessons can be explored and taught in sequence according to the four units:
- Stream Ecology
- Hydrology
- Trout Biology
- Human Impacts
The lessons can also be accessed individually by clicking on the links below organized in a number of different categories.
- Data-based:
- Calculating biotic index (classroom-based)
- Gathering and graphing stream discharge data from USGS website (classroom-based)
- Measuring sediment transport blowing different materials with a straw (classroom-based)
- Dissolved oxygen (DO) investigation (classroom-based)
- Gathering and graphic stream temperature data from USGS website (classroom-based)
- Field-based:
- Stream macroinvertebrate survey and biotic index
- Measuring stream discharge and building a stream profile
- Stream habitat survey
- Biological oxygen demand (BOD) investigation
- All hands-on activities by title:
- Calculating biotic index (classroom-based)
- Stream macroinvertebrate survey and biotic index (field-based)
- Gathering and graphing stream discharge data from USGS website (classroom-based)
- Measuring stream discharge and building a stream profile (field-based)
- Measuring sediment transport blowing different materials with a straw (classroom-based)
- Role play debate about dam construction (classroom-based)
- Stream habitat survey (field-based)
- Fish dissection (classroom-based)
- Dissolved oxygen (DO) investigation (classroom-based)
- Biological oxygen demand (BOD) investigation (field-based)
- Carbon cycle activity (classroom-based)
- Gathering and graphic stream temperature data from USGS website (classroom-based)
- By Teaching Standards:
- If you do TIC/SIC already:
- Lessons:
- Lesson 1.3 (Measuring Biodiversity)
- Lesson 2.2 (Measuring stream discharge)
- Lesson 3.1 (Understanding trout physiology)
- Lesson 3.2 (Understanding the Trout Life Cycle)
- Lesson 3.3 (Measuring Abiotic Requirements for Trout)
- Activities:
- Calculating biotic index (classroom-based)
- Stream macroinvertebrate survey and biotic index (field-based)
- Stream habitat survey (field-based)
- Fish dissection (classroom-based)
- Dissolved oxygen (DO) investigation (classroom-based)
- Biological oxygen demand (BOD) investigation (field-based)
- Lessons:
Questions related to this curriculum? Reach out to TU’s STREAM Education Manager, Cecily Nordstrom.
