This Human Impact Adventure explores the Hudson River Plume; including what it is, how it is created, and what impact it has on the marine environment. Through this unit students learn about watershed dynamics, density, satellite sea surface temperature data, human impacts on the watershed (non-point source pollution), and eutrophication.
The unit is written so that students progress through it as a class with the teacher facilitating the rate of progress and shifting between student work at the computer to group and whole class discussions. This unit can be done with each student at their own computer, in small teams (preferred), or as an entire class working with a white board.
Journal questions have been strategically placed throughout the unit so students have the opportunity to stop and reflect on their learning. Many of these questions can be utilized as class discussion topics and are a great opportunity for formative assessment. There are also several hands-on activities that can be done (outside of the web-based environment) to further increase student understanding.
The units are designed to allow adaptability and customization to the needs of different groups of students. Core activities of the unit (in a recommended sequence) constitute the main flow of the unit, while discovery activities and readings provide extension opportunities.
The following unit progression is suggested (with timing based on an 8th grade reading level and a 45 minute period). Student journals can be printed each day for teacher review.
Overarching Question for the Unit
Note: Lessons 1 and 2 can be reversed, depending on your students’ familiarity with watersheds and the computer lab schedule.
[1-2 class periods]
Introduction to the Hudson River Watershed and the Hudson Plume
*Web Pages: 1-19
Topics to Cover
Optional Homework
Print out Learn More about Water from web site page 2
[1 class period]
Build a Watershed Activity
[1 class period]
Create a Plume Activity
[1 class period]
Explanation of density and plume characteristics
Web Pages: 19-30
(click on “3 – Why do plumes stay together?” in the left navigation bar to jump directly to page 20)
Topics to Cover
Optional Homework: If not done during computer lesson: Learn More About “How temperature & salinity affect the Characteristics of a Plume” (printed from web site page 28)
[2 class periods]
First Part: Layering Liquids [Activity | Slides and Density Jar Demo [Activity | Slides
Second Part: Density Currents
[1 class period]
Human Impacts on the Watershed
Web Pages: 31-37
(click on “4 – Why are plumes important?”)
Topics to Cover
[1 class period]
Explanation of Eutrophication
Web Pages: 38-40
(click on “5 – What is eutrophication?”)
Topics to Cover
[1 class period]
Review of Eutrophication
Project web pages 39-40 on board
Topics to Cover
[2 class periods]
Student Final Project
Web Page 41 (optional)
Student creates essay, children’s book, diorama, informational poster, cartoon strip illustration, etc., to describe what they have learned in this unit, specifically what happens when river water meets the ocean and the impact this has on the marine environment (possibly creating the conditions for eutrophication to occur: delineating the steps and its consequences).
Check out the example rubric for how to grade the final projects.
Lesson | Concept | Type of Activity | Class Periods | Extensions |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Intro to Hudson River Watershed and the Hudson Plume | Computer | 2 | Google Earth Hudson River Tour |
2 | Build a Watershed | LAB in classroom | 1 | |
3 | Create a Plume | LAB in classroom | 1 | |
4 | Explanation of density and the Hudson River Plume characteristics | Computer | 1 | Find That Plume Real-time Data: Plumes in SST Reading: About Water |
5 | Density and density currents | LAB in classroom | 2 | |
6 | Human Impacts on the Watershed | Computer | 1 | |
7 | Explanation of Eutrophication | Computer | 1 | COSEE Eutrophication Tanks: Teacher Guide and Student Workbook |
8 | Review of Eutrophication | Classroom discussion | 1 | Reading: Pollution Solution Reading: Dead Zones Reading: NJ Dead Zone |
9 | Student Application of Watershed and Eutrophication knowledge | Classroom/Computer student project | 2 | Literature Connection: Paddle to the Sea |
This unit address the following national content standards focusing on evidence, models, and explanation: