Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Week 1

Introduction to River Cutters:  Pass out guides and explain lesson/ portfolio. Assess prior knowledge with slideshow of rivers, erosion, toxic waste, etc.

Session 1: Exploring a Model River.

Students choose groups and prepare their models— perform a test run for checking understanding.

Session 1 cont’d:

Work on finishing activity and sketching models. Address any questions that may be confusing about project.

Session 2:

Discussing River Features.

Group discussion on photos and observed features.

Key Words:

Erosion, weathering, sediment, deposition.

 Session 2 cont’d:

As a class, discuss what they have found so far in the project. Encourage them to ask questions they can answer with their river systems. Pass out folders for portfolios for students to start organizing and decorating.

Week 2

Session 3:

Time and the River.

Students discover how time affects river systems.

Session 3 cont’d:

Students finish activity and complete worksheets for portfolios. Present to class differences in their systems from other groups due to time.

Session 4:

Dams and Toxic Waste.

Students build dams and place toxic waste in rivers to see affects on systems.

Session 5:

Discussing the results of River Models.

Compare river runs before and after toxic waste and dams were introduced. Groups explain to class their different findings.

Writing day:

Have students reflect on how humans have affected river systems, developing into a short paper on humans affecting our environment.

Week 3

Session 6:

River Experiments: Age or Slope?

Introduction to lab method of controlled experiment. Students test two theories for why two rivers are developmentally different.

Session 6 cont’d:

Students finish activity and write a reflection on how they used a controlled, fair experiment to determine which theory is superior.

Session 7:

Designing your own experiment.

Students design (plan) their own investigations.

Session 7 cont’d:

Students conduct their chosen experiment.

Session 7 cont’d:

Students reflect on their experiment, including anything that went wrong. 

Week 4

Portfolio day:

Groups work on organizing and finishing their portfolio details

Portfolio day cont'

Group presentations, emphasis on experiment findings.

Group Presentations cont’d.

In-School field trip:

As a class, students walk around creek near school to identify things they can connect with what they have learned, including finding toxic waste, erosion, etc.