Grades: 5 - 6th grade, but can be adapted to all ages.
Time: 3 hours
TEKS Correlation: 5.1A, 5.2B, 5.4A, 5.5A, 6.1A, 6.2B, 6.4A, 6.5A, 6.7B
Objectives:
- Be able explain what factors influence the salinity of the bayou.
- Learn the importance of estuarine habitats.
- Test the water quality of the bayou using scientific equipment.
- Examine animals found in and on the bayou.
- Be able to list human-made stresses that threaten the balance of the bayou.
- Learn and practice observation skills.
- Bayou: a channel of water that flows slowly in both directions depending on
- the tide and wind.
- Brackish water: a mixture of salt and fresh water.
- Estuary: regions of interaction between rivers and nearshore ocean waters,
- where tidal action and river flow create a mixing of fresh water and salt
- water.
- Salinity: The salt content of the water.
- Turbidity: measures the clarity of the water; how much turbulence.
- Supplies:
- Portable toilet (should be at boathouse)
- Copy of Bayou studies evaluation - 1 / student
- Boat Activities
- Cast net - 1
- Binoculars - 1 / student
- Bird identification cards - 1 set
- Fish identification cards - 1 set
- Secchi disk - 1
- Copy of data sheet - 1 / student
- Copy of Armand Bayou map - 1 / student
- Checklist of birds - 1 / student
Core sampler - 1
Seining net - 1
Hip waders - 2 pairs
Fish identification cards - 1 set 5 ‘ piece of sturdy string or thin rope - 1 / 2 students dip net - 1 / 2 students
raw chicken pieces - 1 / student
Procedure Outline
| Time | Activity |
| 15 min | Intro: Welcome everyone. Introduce yourself. Discuss any rules and safety issues. As you walk to the restroom (they must be given a chance to use the restroom) explain what ABNC is and what is the purpose of the Nature Center. |
| 15 min | Focus: Quickly walk down the boathouse road to the boathouse. Along the way, give the students a brief introduction to what they will be doing. Let them know they will be divided into 2 groups (if there is more than 12 students and chaperones). Let the group know there is a portable toilet in the boathouse for any emergencies. Once you are at the boathouse, divide the group with the help of the chaperones. |
| 55 min | Group A: Will board the pontoon boat and complete the “Boat Activities”. (See below) Group B: Will walk down the shoreline and complete the “Shore Activities”. (See below) |
| 5 min. | Switch groups. |
| 55 min. | Group B: Will board the pontoon boat and complete the “Boat Activities”. (See below) Group A: Will walk down the shoreline and complete the “Shore Activities”. (See below) |
| 10 min. | Gather all materials and students together. |
| 25 min. | Closure: Walk back to the Education building. Review what the students have learned along the way. Compare measurements taken from different sites and specimens caught in different sites. Ask students to discuss the different findings. Ask students to fill out the Bayou studies evaluation form. |
Detailed Procedure
Boat Activities
At two different sites on the bayou take the following measurements: water temperature, depth, turbidity, salinity and oxygen levels. Record this information onto the data sheet.
Use the bird identification cards to identify birds observed; binoculars are available for a closer look. Record information on bird checklist.
Throw a cast net and use fish identification cards to identify fish that are caught, then release them. Record information on fish checklist.
Shore Activities
Let 2 students at a time wear the waders and go seining. Give every student the opportunity to sein. Use the fish identification cards to id the fish. Record information on fish checklist. Release the fish back into the water.
Put students in pairs. Give each pair of students a long string, a dip net and two pieces of chicken. One student dangles the chicken in the water, when they feel a tug, pull it up and the other student will net the crab. With the help of the teacher observe the crab (see attached) as close as possible then release it. Then the students will switch jobs in hopes that each student will get to pull up a crab.
From the boat house area take the following measurements: water temperature, depth, turbidity, salinity and oxygen levels. Record this information onto the data sheet as site one or site three depending on when you go on the boat.