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Citizen Science Workshop

This comprehensive set of resources provides excellent support for teachers exploring water quality and aquatic ecosystems with intermediate-level classes.  The workshop also introduces Pathway Landmark 22:  ‘Become a Citizen Scientist by helping to monitor environmental health,’ which is geared to Grade 7-8 classes.  The workshop is a partnership between Otonabee Conservation and the Pathway Project.

Ontario Curriculum Links:

Grade 7:  Understanding Life Systems - Interactions in the Environment

Overall Expectations:  1. Assess the impacts of human activities and technologies on the environment, and evaluate ways of controlling these impacts; 2.  Investigate interactions within the environment, and identify factors that affect the balance between different components of an ecosystem; 3.  Demonstrate an understanding of interactions between and among biotic and abiotic elements in the environment

Grade 8:  Understanding Earth and Space Systems - Water Systems

Overall Expectations:  1.  Assess the impact of human activities and technologies on the sustainability of water resources; 2.  Investigate factors that affect local water quality; 3.  Demonstrate an understanding of the earth’s water systems and the influence of water systems on a specific region

Workshop Components:

1. Introductory Video:  This 20-minute video, produced by Otonabee Conservation,  introduces the Otonabee region watershed and provides an overview of chemical and biological methods used locally to monitor watershed health.  This can be used as a stand-alone activity or an introduction to hands-on monitoring opportunities for students.

2. Worksheets:  Depending on the equipment you have available and your access to nearby waterways, the following worksheets have been prepared by Otonabee Conservation to guide students through a variety of activities to learn about their watershed and monitor its health:

  1. Mapping Activity Worksheet
  2. Water Quality Worksheet
  3. Biological Indicators Worksheet
  4. Surface Water Velocity Worksheet
  5. pH Worksheet

French Language Worksheets

  1. Macroinvertebrate Worksheet
  2. Punaise D’Eau – Mots Caches
  3. Quand Je Serais Grand

3. Lesson Plans: These comprehensive lesson plans were developed by teacher and Outdoor Educator Sherri Owen to guide you through aquatic field labs with your class.

FIELD LAB 1: WATER CHEMISTRY

This guide outlines safety considerations as well as protocols for water collection and testing. It includes tracking and assessment sheets and identifies where you can find testing tools and supplies. 

Finally, we show you how to submit your data to Water Rangers, a Canadian organization accepting water quality data from citizen scientists like you. 

Thanks to Water Rangers for contributing a Water Rangers Testing Kit to the Pathway Project.  To borrow our kit, email Cathy at  cathy@pathwayproject.ca

DOWNLOAD: WATER CHEMISTRY FIELD LAB

FIELD LAB 2: BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS

This guide provides everything you need to catch and identify benthic bugs, calculate water quality ratings, and create a water quality statement.  

You’ll also get two worksheet protocols for evaluating water quality using aquatic macroinvertebrates. 

This field lab explains how to submit your data to the Leaf Pack Network Database. 

DOWNLOAD: BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS FIELD LAB