'Day in the Life of the Hudson River' Lesson Plans

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Lesson Plans Based on 'A Day in the Life' Data

*NEW Check out our 2021 "Is The Hudson a River or an Estuary" 3 Part Investigation for Middle & High Schoolers!

All Ages

3-5 grade

4-7 grade

Middle School

High School

Annual Activity Sheets

Lesson plans using data students collect themselves can be exciting! Below you will find several lesson plans based on our A Day in the Life activities and results sorted by grade from elementary to high school. These activities are a great way to prepare for your annual A Day in the Life event, or to wrap up after the event. Many of these activities can be updated by replacing the data used with current year data. More Hudson River focused lesson plans developed by the Hudson River Estuary Program.

Curriculum Title	Teacher Background	Grade Level
Day in the Life 'Definitions' Review with your students some of the key vocabulary from this event BEFORE you venture out to the river	Good Student Preparation for the field experience	Adaptable to all ages
Predictions Worksheet A pre-event activity for A Day in the Life'. We encourage students to complete this predictions worksheet in order to consider the different parameters they will be measuring at their study site. After the event students compare their data to their predictions!	Teacher Background & Directions	Adaptable to all ages
Data Visualization Hudson River Salinity 2008- Dry Fall River Salinity 2009 - Wet Fall Salinity In these two 'Data Visualization" activities salinity data collected on two Day in the Life events are marked on an estuary map. Students color and interpret the map according to the data - teacher notes point out some discussion points.	Teacher Background Consult the Teacher Background information for how to split your students into two groups to enhance this activity.	Adaptable to all ages
Compare Fish Catches at 3 locations in the estuary - does salt affect the catch? Look at data from a summer workshop & place the fish in the right salinity - pdf version.	Uses Venn diagrams download ppt version	All Ages
Fish Above & Below the Salt Front Examine data from the 2010 A Day in the Life Event to assess salinity preferences of fish in the Hudson River.		All ages
Track the Salt Front Use word problems to interpret graphs and maps to interpret data on the interactions between salt water and fresh water.	Teacher Background	3-5 Grades
Fish Communities Uses tables and graphs to interpret organized observations and measurements from fish seining data from A Day in the Life.	Teacher Background	3-5 Grades
From the Mountain to the Sea A background reading on the geography and natural history of the Hudson River followed by data based questions to assess understanding for an English Language Skills activity.		3-5 Grades
Locating the Salt Front with Salinity Data Look at data from A Day in the Life to determine where the Salt Front was for the day	Teacher Background	4-7 Grades
Fish Distribution Look at fish seining data from A Day in the Life to examine fish habitats and behavior	Teacher Background	4-7 Grades
Sea Level Rise: A Field Activity Developed through NYS Sea Grant for use on an estuary of ocean coastline. Looks at present sea level and predicted future sea level based on the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates, NGSS aligned. Full activity & supplies list.	Teacher Background	Middle School & High School
Is the Hudson a River or an Estuary: High School / Middle School Students create models of a river and an estuary that they refine through a 3 part investigation looking at fish, salinity levels and tides in the Hudson. PPTs and lesson plans all linked above. Investigaton in 3 parts. Download three instructional ppts: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3	Teacher Background	Middle School & High School Versions Avaialble
Hudson Ups and Downs Examine tides and tidal cycles. This activity uses graphs and charts from the Hudson River Ecological Observing System (HRECOS) a network of real time monitoring stations in the Hudson River.	Teacher Background	Middle School
Multiplication/Division with Shipping Data Use real data from Snapshot Day ship travel to calculate speed of transit and more	Teacher Background	Middle School
Designing a Study Scientific Method - Oh that! Look at how setting up a study can determine what you learn, and how useful it is	Teacher Background	Middle School & High School
Testing the Salt Front Model This activity explores 2 questions: (1) In the absence of technical models, what biological indicators of the salt front might we rely on? (2) How do ‘Day in the Life’ student-collected data compare to USGS model results? You will need the Salinity and the Fish datasheets: Salinity & Fish.	Teacher Background	High School
Graphing the Salt Front Activity Examining data for a 12 month period, see how the salt front moves in the river	Teacher Background	High School Middle School
Interpreting Your Data Worksheet Useful for field discussion or analysis on how to look at the data you collected	Teacher Background	High School Middle School