Water Ecology: Exploring the East River

Description

ELEMENTARY: Explore the East River and discover what its water can tell us about the health of the ecosystem. Students investigate the river through hands-on observation and community science, collecting samples and exploring the plants, animals, and environmental conditions that make up this urban ecosystem. Along the way, they learn about the East River’s history and consider how people and a changing climate can affect the health of our waterways.
MIDDLE SCHOOL: Students investigate the East River ecosystem through hands-on observation, water quality testing, and community science. They collect and examine samples from the river and use their observations and data to explore the conditions that support life in an urban estuary. Students also learn about the East River’s history and human uses while considering how human activity and a changing climate can shape the health and resilience of our waterways.
HIGH SCHOOL: Students explore the East River as an urban estuary through hands-on community science and environmental investigation. They collect and analyze samples, make field observations, and use real data to investigate the factors that influence ecosystem health. Students connect their findings to the East River’s history and human uses and consider how climate change and human activity are shaping the future of urban waterways.