McKinney Roughs Nature Park Field Experience

Watershed Walk

Time: Two 50-minute class periods

Source: Teacher Developed

Students either sample water from their own watersheds (find your watershed on the EPA's website) or teacher and students take a short walk to a local water source to obtain a sample. Water quality tests can be performed onsite or in the classroom (using a water quality kit) Be aware that dissolved oxygen results will not be accurate if taken back in the classroom. Students should also place water under a microscope or good magnifying lens for closer inspection. Use the guidebook from LCRA as reference for determining the health of the watershed or use LCRA's online indicators. Contrast and compare with the results at McKinney Roughs. Ask the students to hypothesize why results are the same or different.

Tip: If your school does not have water quality testing kits, you can check with the LCRA's Colorado River Watch Network. You and your students can participate in this great community action project and have use of water quality testing kits for free.

TEKS: 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.14
TAKS Objectives: 1, 5