HOUSATONIC RIVER  RESTORATION  
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“. . . the Housatonic River should be a clear and limpid stream, flowing gently through grass, trees and flowers; flanked by broad roadways and parks as the lifestream of the town.”

W.E.B. Du Bois

The purpose of this guide is to provide a resource for incorporating a study of the Housatonic River Watershed into the curriculum. It is intended as a starting point and provides introductory information and activities, as well as suggestions for obtaining further facts or ideas for the classroom. It spans grades K-6, with information that can be scaled up or down, depending on your class.

This guide is part of a comprehensive K-12 education project developed by Housatonic River Restoration, Inc. HRR is a collaborative organization that seeks to restore the Housatonic River. The project grew out of the HRR Education Action plan, which has as its vision the protection of a restored Housatonic River and watershed. The goal of HRR’s education program includes a comprehensive river education curriculum to increase overall public awareness of the river and its watershed as a means of promoting responsible practices for its protection.

The information is organized into three parts: the first is an introduction to the topic of watersheds; the second presents a variety of activity ideas for the K-8 classroom; and the third provides resources for additional information. It is our goal that in selecting activities and discussions that are appropriate to your students, you will gain new ideas for teaching your students about the Housatonic River and the greater watershed.

The key concepts and skills emphasized in the activities presented herein align with the Massachusetts Science Frameworks, which are referenced as appendix 3. Through these activities, students use inquiry and science process skills to develop an understanding of water as an important natural resource. There are also connections to math, art, social studies, and language arts. Students will acquire a better understanding of issues related to water quality and health of a watershed. Although the objectives for each activity vary, the overall educational objectives for the guide include the following:

Students will:

· use a variety of techniques to research watershed characteristics.

· identify major components of a watershed and describe potential impacts of human activity.

· observe a component of the Housatonic River watershed and record their observations.

· study water samples and discover various characteristics that lead to water quality issues.

· classify and interpret their observations and results to make determinations as to water quality.