The Watershed Sleuth Challenge

Provided by: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) |Published on: May 20, 2021

Activity - Classroom

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Synopsis

The Watershed Sleuth Challenge includes three self-guided lessons on watersheds.
Students will complete lessons on the basics of watershed science, water quality threats, and protecting their local watershed. Students can earn badges as they complete the lessons and increase their knowledge of watershed health and protection.

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Subjects: Social Studies, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)

Region: United States

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

The lessons include activities that could be used for group projects.
The lessons direct students to reputable sources to research their local watershed.

Prerequisites

Students have to complete and submit each lesson before moving on to the next lesson.
Students must enter an email address to receive their watershed badges.
The last interactive question in Lesson 1 directs students to use the EPA's MyEnvirnoment website to locate data on local water quality reports, but the link does not provide the information needed to answer the question.

Differentiation & Implementation

If students struggle to read text on a computer, the lessons could be printed to assist in adding reading scaffolds to increase student comprehension. Students could also read the texts in pairs or small groups.
Lesson 3 instructs students to organize a community clean-up project to help the local watershed. The class could complete this activity as a group field trip. Students could document the project and make a short video or presentation showcasing the importance of keeping watersheds healthy.
Other resources on this topic include this activity on investigating the water quality of a watershed, this PBS video on the effects of humans on the water cycle, and this information literacy activity on the effects of climate change on watersheds.

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About the Partner Provider

National Environmental Education Foundation

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is the nation's leading organization in lifelong environmental learning, creating opportunities for people to experience and learn about the environment in ways that improve their lives and the health of the planet. NEEF is a non-partisan, non-advocacy organization working to make the environment more accessible, relatable, relevant, and connected to people's daily lives.

Scientist Reviewed

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The Watershed Sleuth Challenge

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources