K -12 Education Programs

Click on the following links to download brochures of the programs listed below:

Conservation Education Programs (general)

Middle and High School Education Programs

Freddie the Fish

This presentation uses Freddie the Fish to give your students a fishes-eye-view of what life is like in a polluted river. Freddie the Fish Teacher Guide

Participants will follow Freddie the Fish downstream to gain an understanding of the importance of clean water, ways in which we pollute the water, and the impacts pollution has on wildlife. This activity provides a very tangible demonstration of what happens when we don’t take care of our environment.

Riparian Rescue

What is the riparian zone?  And, why is it so important in water resource management?  How does nonpoint source pollution and habitat destruction affect wildlife that depend on this ecosystem for survival?   K - 6 Riparian Rescue Teacher Guide, 7 -12 Riparian Rescue Teacher Guide

Students will discover through hands-on activities and live indicator species the concerns this fragile environment faces. 

Enviroscape

This presentation utilizes the Enviroscape, a hands-on watershed model.  Enviroscape Teacher Guide

Students will use the Enviroscape model to learn how point source and nonpoint source pollution negatively impact streams, rivers, and lakes. Students will also discuss ways they can help prevent pollution and conserve our water resources.

Students will use the Enviroscape model to learn about watersheds, point and nonpoint source pollution, best management practices to prevent pollution, and where pollutants originate. Also covered will be environmental regulations and how different government agencies play a role in keeping water clean.

Stream Team Detectives

This presentation utilizes the Streamulator, a hands-on stream model. Students will be detectives and try to determine outcomes of different scenarios. Special arrangements may be made for a presentation for younger students.  Stream Team Detectives Teacher Guide

Students will learn the concept of stream systems, and the effects that humans can have on stream quality. Watersheds, erosion, flow, and land use issues will also be discussed.

The concept of stream function and movement will be discussed. Also included in the presentation is stream vocabulary, as well as the effect of development on velocity and erosion, watersheds, flow, and land use.

Incredible Journey

Water is a valuable resource and a limited one. Students will engage in a hands on activity to learn concepts associated with the water cycle.  Incredible Journey Teacher Guide

In this program, students learn about the water cycle by becoming a water molecule. They also learn ways to conserve and protect the freshwater resources that we depend on.

Web of Life

Students will discover the interdependency of plants, animals, and humans by exploring  food chains, food webs, and the energy cycle through a hands on program.  Web of Life Teacher Guide

This presentation allows the students to become familiar with the concept of the web of life as well as the four components of habitat and the basic needs of plants and animals.

Soil Sleuths

Students will discover the properties of soils through demonstrations, experiments, and games. This program offers a hands on learning experience for all.  Soil Sleuths Teacher Guide

This presentation allows the students to play a game to gain an understanding of the concept of permeability while learning about the different parts of the soil- sand, silt, and clay.

Students will learn about the different particles found in the soil, how each particle effects the way a soil behaves, and key terms involving soil science.

This program allows students to use different physical and chemical tests to determine the different properties of soil.

What's Under Your Feet?  Groundwater

This program utilizes the Ground Water Flow Model and offers a realistic visual interpretation of the various types of ground water aquifers that exist throughout Ohio's subsurface environment.  Ground Water Teacher Guide

Participants will use the Ground Water Flow Model to explore the hydrologic cycle, the water table, soil structure and how nonpoint source pollution can affect our underground water resources.

In this program, students will become familiar with the interrelationships that exist between ground and surface water, the cone of depression associated with a pumping well, the cause and probability of aquifer contamination, the impacts of nonpoint source pollution on groundwater, and the importance of preventing ground water contamination.

Benthic Bugs

Are you stuck inside?  Unable to take your students outside for stream quality monitoring?  We can help by bring a this unique opportunity indoor through Benthic Bugs, an interactive stream quality monitoring simulation activity!  Benthic Bugs Teacher Guide

Students will discover the importance of bioassessment and the effects of point and nonpoint source pollution.

Oil, Toil, and Trouble!

How much oil is spilled when a tanked leaks?  Or a local factory has a spill?  Does this effect aquatic animals, wildlife, and humans?  Oil, Toil, and Trouble Teacher Guide

Students will discover that water and oil don't mix and how oil pollution effects the health of water, animals and us.

In this hands on activity, Students will discover how oil pollution effects the animal life it comes in contact with and oil response teams clean up spills.

Stream Quality Monitoring

Stream quality monitoring is an excellent way for youth and adults to learn about the macroinvertebrates that live in streams. It is and interactive learning experience which allows participants to study water quality and the importance of keeping our water resources clean.

GSWCD will provide monitoring equipment and organize a visit to a local stream to test water quality with your students. An in-class presentation on macroinvertebrates is also available to help prep students for this adventure.

Students will use a kick seine to collect and identify macroinvertebrates to determine the water quality.

Students will collect macroinvertebrates and study various components of stream habitat. Chemical tests will be performed for pH, nitrates, phosphates, temperature, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.

Click here to get information about our summer Stream Quality Monitoring Program

Conservation Days

The Geauga SWCD can help plan, organize, and implement activities covering many conservation related topics. Any previously mentioned programs can be incorporated into Conservation Days. These activities can be done as a school or by grade level.

Illustrated concepts are (but are not limited to) the food web, predator/prey relationships, habitat, recycling, conservation, and water quality.

Topics include (but are not limited to) the water cycle, how pollution effects the food web, habitat, and limiting factors of wildlife.