Estuary Life & Landforms
The Puget Sound Estuarium is providing 5th grade elementary students from local school districts with a virtual learning experience about the Budd Inlet and Capital Lake historic shorelines and the human impacts of dredging. Each class will learn about the important factors sediment plays in an estuary, examining oysters and their role in the estuary, and the changes that took place for estuary life when dredging occurred.
Part 1: Estuary Life Online Learning Station & Virtual Live Feeding
This Estuarium lesson focuses on the diversity of estuary life, specifically examining the shellfish residing in shoreline tidal flats. Students will see the variety of life in the saltwater tanks and the educator will talk about marine animals that live in the benthic zone. The students will understand basic shellfish biology and physical character traits, shellfish adaptations for their environment, and their role in maintaining clean water. The Next Generation Science Standards covered are in life sciences (LS4.C; LS2.A; LS2.B).
Part 2: Landforms Online Learning Station
Students will understand flow of water and sediment and see the impacts of dredging in Olympia. Students will be introduced to the math needed to calculate dredging and fill, and develop an understanding of the role engineering plays in real life. Specific curriculum standards for the fifth grade to be addressed in this program include “Geometric Measurement of Volume”, “Make and test data-based conjectures” and “Earth systems, structures and processes” (Common Core State Mathematics Standards 5.MD and Next Generation Science Standards ESS 2-1).
Part 3: Olympia’s Historic Shoreline Self-Guided Tour
Students will understand flow of water and sediment and see the impacts of dredging in Olympia. Students will be introduced to the math needed to calculate dredging and fill, and develop an understanding of the role engineering plays in real life. Specific curriculum standards for the fifth grade to be addressed in this program include “Geometric Measurement of Volume”, “Make and test data-based conjectures” and “Earth systems, structures and processes” (Common Core State Mathematics Standards 5.MD and Next Generation Science Standards ESS 2-1).