Topic outline

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  Free Lessons, Activities and Data Sets About the Great Lakes

  Explore earth, physical, life and social sciences modules.
• 1
  
  

  Earth Science Module

  Learn About: Source, sink, fruit belt, lake effect ice cover and water temperatures.
  Explore Data Sets: Precipitation, Water temperature, Water levels and Water flow.

  Storm Surges And Seiches: Wind blowing across the water surface causing water to pile up at the downwind side of the lake is called a storm surge. After the wind has stopped, the oscillation of water as it reaches equilibrium is called a seiche. In this module, students will investigate storm surges and seiches in the Great Lakes using weather data and NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory models.
  

  • LESSONS:

  • Storm Surges And Seiches
  • Storm Surges And Seiches - Lesson 1: Investigating Seiches Page
  • Storm Surges And Seiches - Lesson 1 Activity: Investigate Wind And Water Page
  • Storm Surges And Seiches - Lesson 2: Lake Level Changes Page
  • Storm Surges And Seiches - Lesson 2 Activity: Storm Behavior Page

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    Great Lakes Climate and Weather

  • Climate and Weather - Lesson 1: Source and Sink Page
  • Climate and Weather - Lesson 1 Activity: Heat Source and Sink Page
  • Climate and Weather - Lesson 2: Fruit Belt Page
  • Climate and Weather - Lesson 2 Activity: Growing Fruit Page
  • Climate and Weather – Lesson 3: Lake Effect Page
  • Climate and Weather – Lesson 3 Activity: Lake Effect Page

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    Watersheds, Wetlands and Water Quality
    

  • • Exploring Watersheds
    • Wetland in a Pan
    • What Makes Water Healthy

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    DATA SETS:

  • Physical Characteristics of the Great Lakes Page
  • Water Quality Page
  • Research Methods - Water Quality Page
  • Hydrology of the Great Lakes Page
  • Background: Hydrology of the Great Lakes Page
  • Research Methods: Hydrology of the Great Lakes Page
  • A Storm’s Effect on Lake Erie Page
  • Research Methods: Storms and Lake Erie Page
  • The Storm that Sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald Page
  • Underwater Sinkholes in Lake Huron Page

  
  
• 2
  
  

  Physical Science Module

  Learn About: Wind, sun and seasonal temperature changes
  Explore Data Sets: Physical and chemical changes

  Oxygen Levels and Seasonal Changes: Areas without enough dissolved oxygen to support fish and zooplankton are known as dead zones. In this unit, students use water temperature and dissolved oxygen data to explore Lake Erie.
  

  • LESSONS:

  • Dead Zones - Lesson 1: Discover Properties of Water Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 1 Activity: Water Densities Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 2: Lake Layers And Real Data Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 2 Activity A: Seasonal Cycles Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 2 Activity B: Interpreting Lake Erie Temps Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 3: Water By Numbers - Graphing Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 3 Activity A: Graphing Temperatures Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 3 Activity B: Air Supply - Graphing DO Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 4: Finding Dead Zones Page
  • Dead Zones - Lesson 4 Activity: Sizing Up The Lake Erie Dead Zone Page

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    DATA SETS:

  • Snow and Ice Conditions in the Great Lakes Page
  • Lake Michigan Surface Currents Page
  • Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature in Lake Erie Page

  
  
• 3
  
  

  Life Science Module

  Learn About: Primitive fish (lake sturgeon), introduced fish (salmon) and the importance of fish habitat
  Explore Data Sets: Changes in plankton-eating fish community and salmonids (chinook and coho salmon) populations

  Fish communities and monitoring populations: Monitoring fish populations involves using technology, including collecting data about fish habitat, water temperature and water quality. Charter fishing businesses depend on using data from satellites to predict fish locations.
  

  • LESSONS:

  • Fish Finders - Lesson 1: Searching For Steelhead Page
  • Fish Finders - Lesson 1 Activity: Find The Break! Page
  • Fish Finders - Lesson 2: Smelt Page
  • Fish Finders - Lesson 2 Activity: Predicting Smelt Runs Page
  • Fish Finders - Lesson 3: Lake Sturgeon Page
  • Fish Finders - Lesson 3 Activity: Design Sturgeon Habitat Page
  • Restoration of Great Lakes Marshes Page
  • Restoration of Great Lakes Marshes Activity: Writing Hypotheses Page

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    DATA SETS:
    

  • Fisheries Data Sets Page
  • Types of Plankton in the Great Lakes Page
  • Where in Lake Michigan Does Plankton Live? Page
  • Scuds and Mussels Page
  • Hitchhikers: No Ballast on Board Page

  
  
• 4
  
  

  Social Science Module

  Learn About: Natural resources management and beach health.
  Explore Data Sets: Beach cleanup data for Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Superior

  Voluneering and Stewardship: Preserve a stream, river or lake near you. Volunteers learn about water quality, plants, fish and birds. Many volunteer efforts provide opportunities to work with others on fun and interesting projects in some of the most beautiful places in the world. 
  

  • LESSONS:

  • Hydropoly, A Decision-making Lesson and Game

  • Healthy Beaches Page
  • Recycling Page

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    DATA SETS:
    

  • Beach Clean-up Data Sets Page

  
  
• 5
  
  

  Toolkit: Resources and Guided Inquiry

  Toolkit: Resources and Guided Inquiry

  • Resources

  • About the Lessons Page
  • About the Data Sets Page
  • Charting And Graphing Tips Page
  • Great Lakes Glossary
  • Great Lakes Literacy Principles Page
  • Observing And Monitoring Page

  • Guided Inquiry Tools

  • Guided Inquiry Process, Articles and Resources Page
  • Guided Inquiry Rubric File
  • Guide to Writing An Inquiry-based Question Page
  • Writing A Testable Question - Article File