Exploring a Local Ecosystem

Lesson 1

30-minute Zoom

Focus Question: What interactions happen in an ecosystem? 

Before the lesson, complete the following with your students:

1. Do activities on pages 2, 3, 12, and 13 

    in the Russian River journal PDF and RR journal google slides

2. Complete a micro hike.

• Instructions for micro hike
• Video about micro hike

3. Review vocabulary: ecosystem, watershed, biodiversity, and evidence.

4. The Russian River Story: Watershed & Stream flow video.

     ~ What is a watershed? - Watch this video about watersheds. 

Optional:

5. Find your watershed by entering your address on this Sonoma Watersheds Map. 

6. Complete the Shower Curtain Watershed Lesson by Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

7. Investigate maps of the Russian River watershed: 

• Russian River watershed map poster
• Interactive Russian River watershed map
• Lower Russian River sub-watersheds map

8. Practice "Exploring like a Scientist" in this free course by Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

9. Read An Incredible Journey (Spanish or English) and look over the curriculum created by NOAA.

• Listen to An Incredible Journey in an audibook format!

After the lesson:

1. Students explore Russian River Plant Cards. 

2. Students explore Russian River Animal Cards. 

3. Students create a plant or animal card.