Secondary Program: Investigating Streams & Water Quality

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Secondary Program: Investigating Streams & Water Quality

This place-based stream ecology curriculum draws connections between aquatic life, water quality and the way we live in our watersheds. By studying the life in local streams, secondary students meet myriad small creatures who depend on clean water for life. Understanding their connection to this intricate web of life empowers students to join community efforts to protect water and habitat where they live.

This three-lesson curriculum, suitable for grades 6-12, does not require hours of preparation. On the contrary, Life in Our Watershed: Investigating Streams and Water Quality allows teachers to dive right in with their students!

To view the curriculum materials, including the Teacher's Manual, Student Handbook, Student Workbook, and DVD, please see the Secondary Curriculum: Investigating Streams & Water Quality.

History of the Secondary Program

Late in 2000, the first version of the high school curriculum Life in Our Watershed: Investigating Streams & Water Quality was co-authored by Greg Suba and Eva Butler with support from the Splash team. It was reissued in 2005 as Version 2. Version 3, which features a new Student Handbook and Teacher's Manual, was issued in April 2009 as the Splash Secondary Curriculum for use in middle schools and high schools.

Information for Prospective Splash Teachers

Splash would love the opportunity to teach your students about the streams that flow through the areas where they live and go to school. Check out the links below for more information about our streams program for 6th - 12th grade classes.

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Secondary Program Evaluation

If you taught the Splash Secondary Curriculum in 2009-10, please click here to fill out this brief survey about your experience.  We genuinely value your input and your comments help us get better and better!

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Makes students aware of environmental surroundings

I like Splash because it allows me to teach students real, hands-on applications to water quality testing, such as bioassays using Daphnia. Splash also makes students aware of environmental surroundings, [so they are] more likely to become problem solvers of water pollution.

— Matt Tozzi, Integrated Science I & II Instructor, Center High School