Deborah L. Turnbull
Stream Exploration
Objectives
To explore the stream and discover the variety of life forms and their environmental adaptations, test for water quality, note land use patterns, note evidence of geologic formation.
Field Site
The field sites noted on the surficial geology maps of the Wallingford and Branford quadrangles are accessible to you and your students with minimum difficulty. Site #1 shows the beginning of the stream in a freshwater swamp in Wallingford. Sites #2 and #3 are the best for this curriculum study. Site #4 is located where the Muddy River intersects the Quinnipiac River and is a good one to visit for land use and the change from fresh to brackish water. The slide show that accompanies this unit shows flora, fauna, land use and points of geologic interest along the river.
Materials
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Personal equipment, including boots or waders
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Fish and plankton nets, Travel
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White-bottomed pans (refrigerator trays, bleach bottle bottoms)
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Hand lenses, collection jars or plastic bags
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Field guides as noted in Bibliography
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100-foot tape, yardsticks, tennis balls or other objects that float
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Watch
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LaMotte chemistry kits for oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, and a thermometer and hydrometer
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Surficial geology maps of the Wallingford and Branford quadrangles provided for you in the Teacher’s Box
Timing
A day per site, but each trip could easily be expanded to a few days. Three to five periods for post-trip activities.