The Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE)
is an on-line science learning environment for students in grades 4-12,
supported by the National Science Foundation.
http://wise.berkeley.edu/
Strawberry Creek Curriculum demo
http://wise.berkeley.edu/WISE/pages/demos.php#creekcom
WISE Strawberry Creek curriculum, developed by
CILT at the University of California - Berkeley, is an "interactive"
Web-based project where middle and high school students can investigate
and learn about a creek in their local area. They look at their watershed
from a physical, chemical, and a biological perspective. By going through
their detailed background information, activities, and lessons, students
will answer probing questions such as: Is your creek healthy? Where
does the water come from? How clean should a creek's water be for it
to be healthy? Should it be clean enough for us to drink? Students engage
in meaningful inquiry and develop the knowledge and the skills necessary
to answer these questions.
In order to assess the creek's health, students
collect water samples and measure water quality factors. Students gain
a deep understanding of the different factors that affect the quality
of water. In Strawberry Creek curriculum, background information is
provided on water quality factors such as pH, fecal coliform, biodiversity,
algae, macroinvertebrates, metals and water quality, temperature, dissolved
oxygen, phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia. An online tutorial
is also included on how to measure water quality using either LaMotte
test kits, CHEMetts, VACUettes, or the CBL. Students are encouraged
to carefully analyze their data collected, make conclusions, build a
model, and make informed decisions that will affect the future of their
local watershed.
Check out WISE's other watershed-related curricular
modules:
WISE Creek Detectives curriculum
http://wise.berkeley.edu/WISE/demos/creekdetectives/
WISE Pine Creek curriculum
http://wise.berkeley.edu/WISE/demos/pineintro/
WISE Drink or Swim curriculum
http://wise.berkeley.edu/WISE/demos/drinkswim/
