PROJECT SEARCH

WATER QUALITY MONITORING (and more)
FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Row of pebbles.

How the Program Works

Student with petri dish and microscope. By joining Project SEARCH, high school teachers and students are provided with new opportunities to understand the environment while engaging in hands-on field research. Teachers receive training in data collection and analysis in order to conduct water quality monitoring with their students. Each school can borrow equipment to complete the field and laboratory aspects of Project SEARCH.

Curriculum

The Project SEARCH curriculum is designed to be integrated into regular high school science classes. SEARCH activities can be incorporated into biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science. Alternatively, the SEARCH curriculum can serve as the core for classes in ecology and environmental science. Also several schools have incorporated SEARCH with their afterschool environmental and/or ecology clubs.

Students measure pH, temperature, dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, hardness, alkalinity, nutrients and bacteria levels in local streams. Benthic invertebrates, which function as biological indicators, are collected and identified. Indices calculated from invertebrate data, along with chemical and bacterial test results are used to assess stream conditions. Each school implements the testing procedures that they feel confident with. This helps to ensure the value of the data received from the students. A variety of maps and aerial photographs allow students to evaluate local land use and identify factors that may affect water quality.

Our Committment

We will provide the necessary training for teachers to successfully implement Project SEARCH in their classes. SEARCH staff will support teachers and provide field assistance to implement the program during the academic year. SEARCH staff regularly attend site visits with each school. The attending staff member collects replicate chemical data and offers advice on techniques during the field components. Staff will also visit schools for prep sessions or verification of macroinvertebrate identifications.