Learning Through Leaf Packs: Using Biotic Index to Infer Water Quality (Lesson 7 of 8)

This is an 8-lesson unit that is designed to be used together to learn about the health and diversity of your local watershed by placing leaf packs into a water source (natural or man-made ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers) and attracting macroinvertebrates. This is lesson 7 of 8. Links to lessons and resources are included. 

This lesson is meant to be taught after collecting data using actual leaf packs or using the Leaf Pack Network® Simulation. This is an opportunity for your class to input data into the global data bank with the Leaf Pack Network using MonitorMyWatershed.org. Students transfer data from the leaf pack dissection to the Biotic Index Data Sheet. They then infer water quality based on found macroinvertebrates and communicate findings using the RAFT format.