Recommended for grades 4-12
This kit will help you explore the magnificent world of macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrates are the "canaries in the coalmine" for stream ecosystems. Students will discover how these organisms can teach them about water quality. Complete with tools for collecting and identifying macros. Use in the field or classroom.

Activities:

1. Macroinvertebrate Mayhem - Illustrate, through a game of tag, how macroinvertebrate populations indicate water quality.
2. Water Canaries - Recognize indicators of environmental quality in streams, ponds and other aquatic environments.
3. Water Wigglers - Examine different in-stream microhabitats.
4. What Am I? - Learn vocabulary associated with macroinvertebrates and create one of your own design - great math exercise in following directions, exact measurements, precision and accuracy.
5. Build A "Bug" - Learn vocabulary associated with aquatic insects and build one of your own design.
6. Are You Me? - Recognize the various stages of aquatic animals, including macroinvertebrates.
7. Macroinvertebrate Graphing - Learn water quality indicators through this fun graphing exercise.

Resources:

1. All equipment needed to sample in the field - D-frame net, seine net, basters, ice cube trays, petri dishes, magnifying boxes, pocket magnifiers, macroinvertebrate ID cards, waterproof sorting sheets, 6 pairs boots, etc.
2. Guide to Pacific Northwest Aquatic Invertebrates. Hafele, Hinton. Photographic guide book.
3. Streamkeeper's Field Guide. Adopt-A-Stream Foundation. Watershed Inventory and Stream Monitoring Methods.
4. S.O.S. For America's Streams, video. Izaak Walton League. Water quality and stream monitoring methods.