Water Study
Science
Nature Study

STREAM SURVEY:

For a full survey, you need:
Jars, scoops, thermometers, string, pH paper, stopwatch, tape measure, yardstick. magnifying glass, clean plastic jars with lids, small containers such as old 35mm film containers (free for the asking at any photo department), field journal for sketches and notes, pen, masking tape or labels, nets, old shoes, field guides, specimen tweezers, white ice cube trays, white bucket. Grid Paper: large or small or use your own.

Pre-trip:
Learn about the river or stream you will visit. Locate it on a map, learn the route it takes and talk about its role in the community.
Go over a few of the ways you will collect data:
pH, velocity, temperature, river bottom sample, habitat exploration

Print out:
The following 3 PDF pages are from Bonneville, WA:
Tolerant Insect List
Intolerant Insect List
Pocket ID Card
Stream Quality Checklists:
Page One
Page Two

At the stream:
Use your grid paper to map the stream are you are testing.
Dip jars into the water to collect samples for pH testing.
Collect a small sample (film canister) to take home to make a slide if you have a microscope
Scoop dirt from the river bottom from several places. Label carefully and mark on the grid where the sample is from.
Measure water and Air temperature:
You can use the same thermometer or use two different ones.

Measure velocity:
Measure a length of the stream and drop a leaf or stick in the water. Use the stopwatch to time how long the item takes to go the length of the test area. Take three times and use the average.

Take a natural inventory:
List all the plants and animals you can see around the water or that use the area (tracks, scat)

Take a Quality Survey:
Go to an undisturbed part of the stream and start picking up rocks. Use the tweezers to remove any insects you find and place them in creek water in the white bucket. After you have several dozen insects, seperate them into the ice tray cubes by type and identify and count them. Make a note on your chart and use the guides to see how clean the water is.

Extras: Create a map of the entire waterway through your area. Note bridges, dams, farms, merging streams, industry, ect.

POND PROBE:

Pond probes don't really require a pond. Any shallow body of water will do. This is great for younger kids.
Before you go:
Discuss the pond as a habitat and talk about the role it plays in the ecosystem.
Introduce the 4 habitats the pond has: shoreline, surface, open water and bottom and make guesses about what lives in each.

You need:
Collection jars, boots or old shoes
Net

Simply poke around in shallow water and see what you can stir up. Collect insects in small jars to observe and release.

Buy or make and underwater viewer to add to the fun of exploring.

Sand:

Make Sand castings:

You need:
Plaster of Paris
Fresh water
Bucket

Press shells and pebbles into a shallow hole. Pour in Plaster of Paris and allow to harden. This is a good time to practice casting footprints and tracks.

Sand Study: