Aquatic Macroinvertebrates Station

Three people by a stream with nets, image is upside down.

OVERVIEW

Students will collect and identify insects and other macroinvertebrates from the stream and learn how these species can help indicate the health of a stream and the larger watershed.

LEARNING GOALS

Learn how to collect macroinvertebrate samples from a stream
Practice scientific methods, species identification, and inquiry
Explore how the presence or absence of living things can indicate the well-being of an ecosystem

VOCABULARY

Macroinvertebrate
Aquatic
D-net
Tolerance
Sensitivity
Pollutants

WAYS TO PREPARE YOUR STUDENTS

Print out these info and coloring sheets for a number of common aquatic macroinvertebrates
Do the Build-A-Bug activity: ask students to invent their own aquatic invertebrate species based on what adaptations and features they would need to survive in a stream.
View this slideshow and review the aquatic invertebrate facts

MORE LEARNING RESOURCES

Download the printable station guide here:

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates.pdf

Educational chart displaying illustrations of various stream macroinvertebrates, categorized by physical characteristics like number of tails and legs.

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