The Estuary Guide. Level 3: High School. Draft.

Estuaries are marine systems that serve as nurseries for animals, links in the migratory pathways, and habitat for a complex community of organisms. This curriculum guide intended for use at the high school level seeks to teach what estuaries are; provide opportunities to practice decision-making that affects estuaries; and encourage students to examine their behaviors that affect their estuary. Equally divided into three sections, the first section presents five chapters concerning the geology, local history, ecology, literature and arts, and human use of estuaries that serve as background information for the teacher and students. The second section presents seven activities coordinated with the assignments at the end of the chapters. The activities include taking a field trip to an estuary, conducting a plankton study, monitoring estuary water quality, keeping a marine aquarium, writing activities involving estuaries, thinking globally about estuaries, and exploring what students can do for estuary protection. The third section identifies resource materials for the class. Resources include lists of estuary ecology, protection, and literature resources; a field guide to Padilla Bay organisms; reproducible masters for use during the activities and lessons; answers to chapter questions; a glossary of 59 terms; and a bibliography of 39 references. An evaluation sheet for teachers using the guide is provided. (MDH)