Choose the components that fit your school’s needs:
In-School Program: This in-class lab engages students in the study of micro and macroinvertebrates. Students are provided with an introduction to indicator species to determine the health of our Ashokan Watershed as well as the food web and life cycles of aquatic organisms. This experience also prepares students for their field trip to Ashokan’s Esopus Creek, pond, and forest.
Day Trip to Ashokan: Student scientists will investigate the causes of the demise of local Ash trees and the impact of invasive plants and insects on local biodiversity. They will engage in a deeper study of our creek and pond to determine the health indicators and use our water lab to get a close-up view of micro invertebrates, unseen with the human eye.
Professional Development: We provide teachers with pre and post resource material and assistance to design follow up lessons to enhance student outcomes.
Virtual Field Trips: “Pond and Stream Investigations”, “Forest Mysteries Revealed”, “The Power of Pollinators” are optional virtual introductions to the world of local ecosystems.
Standards: 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 5-ESS3-1, MS-LS2-1. MS-LS2-4, MS-LS2-2, MS-LS2-5, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4
