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Provided by: Green Guardians |Published on: November 11, 2022
Lesson Plans Grades 3-5
Synopsis
This set of four lessons and additional resources details how building dams can impact fish populations and how one fish hatchery in California is acting to help endangered salmon survive.
Students will learn about the history of the Nimbus dam, why it was built, the journey of salmon during their life cycle, the importance of salmon as a keystone species, fish ladders, water pollution, how climate change affects fish populations, and what people can do to help endangered fish species.
This resource is incredibly detailed and includes everything needed in order to complete a small unit.
It includes presentation slides with notes, worksheets, lesson plans, a family guide, engaging games, and videos.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should have a basic understanding of how human activity impacts ecosystems and species.
Teachers will need to make physical copies or digitally distribute worksheets for student completion.
The links for the readings and audio clips in the slide presentations do not function.
The list of beach clean-ups to join is for California only, but you could have students sign up for stream clean-ups in their local area.
Differentiation
Connections can be made in health classes discussing sources of food or social studies classes learning about how human society impacts the environment.
Consider chunking the lessons into smaller parts for younger students or classes who struggle with longer sessions.
Science classes can use this resource to introduce many ecology concepts including ecosystems, keystone species, predator-prey interactions, and habitat destruction or degradation.
Engineering classes can discuss the fish ladders, the design of the dams, and the infrastructure needed to transport water to other areas of California from the dams.
As an extension, have students write a reflection at the end of each session about their learning.
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About the Partner Provider
Green Guardians
Our mission is to promote K-12 environmental literacy as a project-based, multi-disciplinary 21st century learning initiative that engages students, parents, teachers, educators, schools, community-based partners and school districts committed to a sustainable and equitable future.
