Outdoor School - Multnomah Education Service District
  • About
    • Mission
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Session Calendar
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Merchandise
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • Programs
    • Outdoor School >
      • Program Tour
      • Field Study Tour >
        • Animals Field Study Tour
        • Plants Field Study Tour
        • Soil Field Study Tour
        • Water Field Study Tour
        • Academic Program Elements
      • Sample Daily Schedule
      • Register Your Class for ODS
      • Session Calendar
    • 4th Grade Overnight
    • StarLab >
      • Presentations
      • Space Requirements
      • Adjustments & Fees
  • Sites
    • Angelos / Sandy River >
      • ASR Location & Directions
      • ASR Facilities
      • ASR Science & Nature
      • ASR Land & History
      • ASR Meet the Staff
    • Collins >
      • CL Location & Directions
      • CL Facilities
      • CL Science & Nature
      • CL Land & History
      • CL Meet the Staff
    • Kuratli / Trestle Glen >
      • KR Location & Directions
      • KR Facilities
      • KR Science & Nature
      • KR Land & History
      • KR Meet the Staff
    • Namanu >
      • NM Location & Directions
      • NM Facilities
      • NM Science & Nature
      • NM Land & History
      • NM Meet the Staff
    • Westwind >
      • WW Location & Directions
      • WW Facilities
      • WW Science & Nature
      • WW Land & History
      • WW Meet the Staff
  • History
    • History by Decade >
      • The 1960s
      • The 1970s
      • The 1980s
      • The 1990s
      • The 2000s
      • The 2010s
      • The 2020s
    • Retired Sites >
      • Adams / Milk Creek
      • Adams / Nate Creek
      • Arrah Wanna >
        • AW Location & Directions
        • AW Facilities
        • AW Science & Nature
        • AW Land & History
        • AW Meet the Staff
      • Canby Grove >
        • CG Location & Directions
        • CG Facilities
        • CG Science & Nature
        • CG Land & History
        • CG Meet the Staff
      • Cascade >
        • CAS Location & Directions
        • CAS Facilities
        • CAS Science & Nature
        • CAS Land & History
        • CAS Meet the Staff
      • Colton
      • Crestview
      • Eagle Fern
      • Howard >
        • HO Location & Directions
        • HO Facilities
        • HO Science & Nature
        • HO Land & History
        • HO Meet the Staff
      • Kiwanis >
        • KW Location & Directions
        • KW Facilities
        • KW Land & History
        • KW Staff
      • Scouter's Mountain
      • Sports Acres
      • Trout Creek
      • Yamhill
    • Outdoor School Staff Photos
  • For Parents
    • Dear Parents and / or Guardians
    • Frequently Asked Questions >
      • English
      • Español
      • русски
      • tiếng Việt
    • Forms for Parents
    • Sample Daily Schedule
    • Sample Menu
    • Students with Specific Needs
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • Session Calendar
  • For Teachers
    • Outdoor School Curriculum
    • Preparation & Follow-Up Ideas
    • Special Needs - Outdoor School
    • Supporting Transgender Youth
    • Forms for Teachers
    • Translated Parent Info
    • Sample Teacher Schedule
    • Ideas for Class Meetings
    • Fundraising Ideas
    • Next Gen Science Standards >
      • NGSS Alignment: Animals
      • NGSS Alignment: Plants
      • NGSS Alignment: Soil
      • NGSS Alignment: Water
    • Teacher Calendar
  • For Student Leaders
    • Criteria for Participation
    • SL Workshop Training
    • Register for Workshop
    • Makeup Workshop
    • Student Leader Recruiters
    • Student Leader Calendar
    • Bus Schedules
    • Forms for Student Leaders
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • 10 Reasons to Participate
    • Handbook, Songbook, & Skits >
      • Beginner Handbook
      • Advanced Handbook
      • Outdoor School Songbook
    • SL Sample Weekly Schedule
    • Evaluation Rubric
    • College Credit & Scholarships >
      • PCC College Credit
      • Student Leader Scholarship
    • Jobs, Internships & Programs
    • Support Resources
    • Social Media
    • Special Needs Volunteers
  • For Staff
    • Trainings & Certifications
    • Incident Reporting
    • Wildlife Handling Guidelines
    • How to Field Instructor
    • How to Program Leader
    • Staff & Field Study Songs
    • Professional Resources
    • Seasonal Employment
    • Job Listings
    • Merchandise Payment
    • Staff Calendar
  • MESD


Water Field Study Curriculum Outline


MESD Outdoor School > For Teachers > Water Field Study Curriculum Outline

Skip Field Study Navigation
See also: Outdoor School Curriculum
Field Study Curriculum Outline: Animals • Plants •  Soil • Water

​Field Study Tour: Animals • Plants • Soil • Water 
Next Generation Science Standards:
 Animals • Plants • Soil • Water

Theme: COMPLEXITY
​

Course Concept: ​WATER CYCLE 
​There is a cycle of water movement through the atmosphere to the land and the oceans, back to the atmosphere.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will identify the parts of the water cycle.
​
Course Concept: ​STREAM MORPHOLOGY 
​Water acts as a transporting agent, changing topographical characteristics through erosion.
​

Standards: 
  • The student will describe the effects the movement of sediment in a stream has on the shape of the stream.
​
Course Concept: ​BIODIVERSITY 
​Ecosystems containing a greater variety of species are less susceptible to change.
​
Standards: 
  • The student will safely collect, examine, and identify a variety of aquatic animals. 
  • The student will use a microscope to examine and identify microscopic aquatic life.
  • The student will explain the life cycle of local anadromous fish and describe the factors that inhibit or enhance that life cycle.
​

Theme: ECOSYSTEMS

Course Concept: ​WATERSHED 
​A watershed is an area of land from which water drains to a common point, supplying lakes, streams, and gravitational water.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will delineate a watershed on a map or model. 
  • ​The student will assess how human interactions affect watersheds. ​​
​
Course Concept: ​HABITAT 
​Water is a habitat for both plant and animal life.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will explain the flow of energy and cycling of nutrients through the trophic levels of a habitat. 
  • The student will identify the location, behavior and niche of aquatic animals and plants. 
  • The student will identify the location, behavior and niche of microscopic aquatic animals and plants. 
  • The student will use water quality to determine the suitability of a given habitat for plants and animals.
​
Course Concept: ​LIMITING FACTOR 
​The amount of water in an ecosystem limits the growth of an ecosystem.​
​
Standards: 
  • The student will discuss reasons for measuring stream flow.
​

Theme: IMPORTANCE
​

Course Concept: ​NATURAL RESOURCES 
​Water has many uses other than sustaining life.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will list and describe three different ways that humans use water.
​
Course Concept: ​ENERGY 
​Falling water has energy that can be used to produce electricity.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will explain the production of hydroelectric power.
​
Course Concept: ​HUMAN DEPENDENCE 
​Humans are dependent on the quality and quantity of usable water.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will recognize their relationship with and dependence upon water and identify three ways they can conserve water.
​
Course Concept: ​WATER QUALITY 
​Many factors affect the purity and condition of a body of water.
​

Standards: 
  • The student will identify at least three factors that affect water quality. 
  • The student will identify aquatic animals and plants and use them as an indicator of water quality. 
  • The student will identify microscopic aquatic animals and plants and use them as an indicator of water quality.
​
Course Concept: ​CAREERS 
​The study of water offers a wide range of career opportunities.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will perform tasks that fisheries biologists, stream ecologists, and hydrologists perform.
​

Water Field Study Activities 
The following activities are typical of a day on Water Field Study at Outdoor School. Actual activities will vary by site and season. 

Dissolved Oxygen / Temperature: Students test the temperature and dissolved oxygen level of a body of water, make predictions about the presence of aquatic life, and discuss the relationship between human impact, environmental factors, dissolved oxygen, and aquatic life. 

Carbon Dioxide: Students test the CO2 level of an aquatic habitat and discuss the role of CO2 in water quality. 

Water pH: Students test the pH of an aquatic habitat and draw connections between human activity, environmental factors, water quality and aquatic life. 

Anadromous Fish: Students study the life cycle of anadromous fish such and discuss the challenges facing migrating salmon. 

Riparian Habitat Survey: Students examine the characteristics of a riparian zone and discuss the relationship between riparian habitat and aquatic life. 

Aquatic Life Survey (Critter Catch) / Fish Count: Students collect, count and identify aquatic life specimens and discuss adaptations and niche of the animals. 

Turbidity: Students test the turbidity of a stream or pond and discuss the relationship between sediment, water quality, and aquatic life. 

Watershed: Students build a model of a watershed, identify components of a watershed, and examine the relationship between watershed conditions, human activity and water quality. 

Stream Flow: Students calculate the volume of discharge of a stream and discuss issues surrounding water use and conservation. 

Microscope study / Aquatic Food Pyramid: Students collect and examine microscopic aquatic life and discuss the model of an aquatic food pyramid. 

Stream Morphology: Students build a model of a stream and examine the effect of erosion on stream shape. 

Water cycle: Students define and/or act out the water cycle and point out observable stages in the water cycle. Then students characterize water as either a renewable or non-renewable resource. 

Water Power: Students examine how energy is harnessed from moving water and discuss the impact of hydroelectric power generation on ecosystems and communities. 

Waste Water Treatment: Students simulate the process of municipal waste water treatment and discuss how human activities directly affect stream health. 

Water Conservation: Students examine typical human water use and discuss strategies for conservation of potable water. 

​Water Physics: Students conduct a variety of experiments to demonstrate unique physical qualities of water such as surface tension, capillary action and hydrogen bonding and discuss implications of these qualities for natural and human systems.
ODS Logo

About

Mission
Meet Our Staff
Session Calendar
​Employment
Merchandise
Partners
​Contact

PROGRAMS

Outdoor School
4th Grade Overnight
​StarLab

History

ODS since 1966
ODS Staff Photos

Locations

Angelos ODS
Arrah Wanna ODS
Canby Grove ODS
Howard ODS
Kiwanis 4th Grade
Kuratli ODS
​
Namanu ODS

Resources

For Parents
For Teachers
For Student Leaders
For Volunteers
For Staff
MESD Logo
11611 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland OR 97220
phone: (503) 257-1600 fax: (503) 257-1592
​outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us
© COPYRIGHT 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  • About
    • Mission
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Session Calendar
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Merchandise
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • Programs
    • Outdoor School >
      • Program Tour
      • Field Study Tour >
        • Animals Field Study Tour
        • Plants Field Study Tour
        • Soil Field Study Tour
        • Water Field Study Tour
        • Academic Program Elements
      • Sample Daily Schedule
      • Register Your Class for ODS
      • Session Calendar
    • 4th Grade Overnight
    • StarLab >
      • Presentations
      • Space Requirements
      • Adjustments & Fees
  • Sites
    • Angelos / Sandy River >
      • ASR Location & Directions
      • ASR Facilities
      • ASR Science & Nature
      • ASR Land & History
      • ASR Meet the Staff
    • Collins >
      • CL Location & Directions
      • CL Facilities
      • CL Science & Nature
      • CL Land & History
      • CL Meet the Staff
    • Kuratli / Trestle Glen >
      • KR Location & Directions
      • KR Facilities
      • KR Science & Nature
      • KR Land & History
      • KR Meet the Staff
    • Namanu >
      • NM Location & Directions
      • NM Facilities
      • NM Science & Nature
      • NM Land & History
      • NM Meet the Staff
    • Westwind >
      • WW Location & Directions
      • WW Facilities
      • WW Science & Nature
      • WW Land & History
      • WW Meet the Staff
  • History
    • History by Decade >
      • The 1960s
      • The 1970s
      • The 1980s
      • The 1990s
      • The 2000s
      • The 2010s
      • The 2020s
    • Retired Sites >
      • Adams / Milk Creek
      • Adams / Nate Creek
      • Arrah Wanna >
        • AW Location & Directions
        • AW Facilities
        • AW Science & Nature
        • AW Land & History
        • AW Meet the Staff
      • Canby Grove >
        • CG Location & Directions
        • CG Facilities
        • CG Science & Nature
        • CG Land & History
        • CG Meet the Staff
      • Cascade >
        • CAS Location & Directions
        • CAS Facilities
        • CAS Science & Nature
        • CAS Land & History
        • CAS Meet the Staff
      • Colton
      • Crestview
      • Eagle Fern
      • Howard >
        • HO Location & Directions
        • HO Facilities
        • HO Science & Nature
        • HO Land & History
        • HO Meet the Staff
      • Kiwanis >
        • KW Location & Directions
        • KW Facilities
        • KW Land & History
        • KW Staff
      • Scouter's Mountain
      • Sports Acres
      • Trout Creek
      • Yamhill
    • Outdoor School Staff Photos
  • For Parents
    • Dear Parents and / or Guardians
    • Frequently Asked Questions >
      • English
      • Español
      • русски
      • tiếng Việt
    • Forms for Parents
    • Sample Daily Schedule
    • Sample Menu
    • Students with Specific Needs
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • Session Calendar
  • For Teachers
    • Outdoor School Curriculum
    • Preparation & Follow-Up Ideas
    • Special Needs - Outdoor School
    • Supporting Transgender Youth
    • Forms for Teachers
    • Translated Parent Info
    • Sample Teacher Schedule
    • Ideas for Class Meetings
    • Fundraising Ideas
    • Next Gen Science Standards >
      • NGSS Alignment: Animals
      • NGSS Alignment: Plants
      • NGSS Alignment: Soil
      • NGSS Alignment: Water
    • Teacher Calendar
  • For Student Leaders
    • Criteria for Participation
    • SL Workshop Training
    • Register for Workshop
    • Makeup Workshop
    • Student Leader Recruiters
    • Student Leader Calendar
    • Bus Schedules
    • Forms for Student Leaders
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • 10 Reasons to Participate
    • Handbook, Songbook, & Skits >
      • Beginner Handbook
      • Advanced Handbook
      • Outdoor School Songbook
    • SL Sample Weekly Schedule
    • Evaluation Rubric
    • College Credit & Scholarships >
      • PCC College Credit
      • Student Leader Scholarship
    • Jobs, Internships & Programs
    • Support Resources
    • Social Media
    • Special Needs Volunteers
  • For Staff
    • Trainings & Certifications
    • Incident Reporting
    • Wildlife Handling Guidelines
    • How to Field Instructor
    • How to Program Leader
    • Staff & Field Study Songs
    • Professional Resources
    • Seasonal Employment
    • Job Listings
    • Merchandise Payment
    • Staff Calendar
  • MESD