Education - Watershed Wonders

 

Watershed Wonders is an educational video series exploring issues in marine conservation, watershed management, and the plaque of plastic debris. Host Marcus Eriksen, PhD, takes the audience on an adventure whether its crawling through wetlands or sailing the California Coast

on a boat made from plastic bottles.

 

Episode 1: Watershed Wonders

An overview of watershed management issues targeting middle and high school students.

 

The Watershed Wonders DVD

The Watershed Wonders DVD discusses the problem of pollution in our watershed and shows examples of sustainable watershed management in action.

 

The Watershed Wonders companion curriculum

The Watershed Wonders companion curriculum conforms to California science standards. Each activity aims to empower students to understand the effect of human interaction on our watersheds, but also involves them in positive action to improve the state of our environment.

 

Episode 2: Watershed Wonders: California Wetlands and the Journey of Fluke

Watershed Wonders: California Wetlands and the Journey of Fluke targets K-5 grade students with an in depth look at coastal wetlands. The program includes a DVD and 30-page Activity Guide. The subject of the program is to help elementary students understand the importance of wetlands and watersheds to clean ocean water, and what each one of us can do to help keep them clean.

 

Episode 3: Watershed Wonders: Mississippi Adventure

The third production in AMRI’s Watershed Wonders Educational Series, Watershed Wonders: Mississippi River is a 25-minute, DVD documentary chronicling a 2,000-mile, 5-month journey down the Mississippi River taken in 2003 by AMRI’s Science Specialist Dr. Marcus Eriksen aboard a raft made entirely of recycled materials. The video focuses on the journey, and on case studies about watershed conservation. A newly updated DVD along with a complimentary guide book will be distributed, and audiences for the package include Science Centers, Museums, Aquariums, and Junior and Senior High Schools. This exciting program is supported partly through Disney’s Friends For Change Project Green.

Look for sessions at the St. Louis Science Fest in October on Watershed Conservation, featuring experts from the Algalita Marine Research Foundation.

Episode 4: Watershed Wonders: The Los Angeles River and the Adventures of the Cola Kayak

Based on California State Science Standards, this book offers a rich cultural and ecological history of the LA River, contains lesson plans for classroom activities, and includes a DVD documenting Dr. Marcus Eriksen’s 52-mile voyage down the LA river on a canoe-sized raft made from 100 plastic bottles and other recycled materials.

 

A limited number of these books are available for free to teachers within the Los Angeles and Orange County watershed area. Algalita will offer 175 free copies of Watershed Wonders: The Los Angeles River and the Adventures of the Cola Kayak to interested public school teachers.

 

The Algalita Marine Research Institute is currently offering teacher resource guides and science enrichment assemblies on the LA River and plastic marine pollution to local public school teachers. Support for these resources is made possible by a grant from the Boeing Foundation and a partnership with Friends of the LA River (FOLAR).

 

To schedule a classroom presentation, contact Anna Cummins: annacummins@gmail.com, (310) 998-8616.