Hudson River Plume
This Human Impact Adventure explores the Hudson River Plume; including what it is, how it is created, and what impact it has on the marine environment. Through this unit students learn about watershed dynamics, density, satellite sea surface temperature data, human impacts on the watershed (non-point source pollution), and eutrophication.
Unit Plan
The unit is written so that students progress through it as a class with the teacher facilitating the rate of progress and shifting between student work at the computer to group and whole class discussions. This unit can be done with each student at their own computer, in small teams (preferred), or as an entire class working with a white board.
Journal questions have been strategically placed throughout the unit so students have the opportunity to stop and reflect on their learning. Many of these questions can be utilized as class discussion topics and are a great opportunity for formative assessment. There are also several hands-on activities that can be done (outside of the web-based environment) to further increase student understanding.
The units are designed to allow adaptability and customization to the needs of different groups of students. Core activities of the unit (in a recommended sequence) constitute the main flow of the unit, while discovery activities and readings provide extension opportunities.
The following unit progression is suggested (with timing based on an 8th grade reading level and a 45 minute period). Student journals can be printed each day for teacher review.
Overarching Question for the Unit
How does your watershed impact the ocean?
Note: Lessons 1 and 2 can be reversed, depending on your students’ familiarity with watersheds and the computer lab schedule.
Lesson 1 (Computer Lab)
[1-2 class periods]
Introduction to the Hudson River Watershed and the Hudson Plume
Web Pages: 1-15
Topics to Cover
- Watershed Dynamics
- Review of the Water Cycle (animation)
- Watershed Dynamics (how water flows in a watershed)
- Hudson River Watershed
- Plume Characteristics
- Paint the Plume (students print this version to compare to their revised drawing)
- Smokestack Analogy
- Plume Characteristics (food coloring dropped into water video)
- Repaint the Plume
- Satellite images of Plume
- Sea Surface Temperature (SST) explanation
- Plume paths (how wind affects the plume)
Optional Homework
Print out Learn More about Water from web site page 3
Lesson 2 (Classroom Lab)
[1 class period]
Build a Watershed Activity
Lesson 3 (Classroom Lab)
[1 class period]
Create a Plume Activity
Lesson 4 (Computer Lab)
[1 class period]
Explanation of density and plume characteristics
Web Pages: 16-25
(click on “2 – Density” in the left navigation bar to jump directly to page 16)
Topics to Cover
- Google Earth file: flyby of the Hudson River
- Extension: NY SST archive
- Plume Dynamics (why does it stay together)
- Extension: Learn More About: How Temperature and Salinity affect the Characteristics of a Plume
- Video of temperature and salinity layering
- Explanation of Density
- Knowledge check (layering river, bay, and ocean water based on temp and salinity)
- Review of Plume Characteristics
- How scientists track a plume
- Meet Brian Gaas, Marine Microbiologist
- Scuba Hugh interviews Brian Gaas (video clip lasts 2 minutes 45 seconds)
Optional Homework: If not done during computer lesson: Learn More About… How temperature & salinity affect characteristics of a plume (printed from web site page 23)
Lesson 5 (Classroom Lab)
[2 class periods]
First Part: Layering Liquids Activity | Slides and Density Jar Demo Activity | Slides
Second Part: Density Currents
Lesson 6 (Computer Lab)
[1 class period]
Human Impacts on the Watershed
Web Pages: 26 – 31
(click on “3 – Non-Point Pollution”)
Topics to Cover
- Why is studying river plumes important?
- What gets carried by the water into the ocean? (student ideas)
- Looking at Land Use
- Comparing Land Use to Natural Features (rivers)
- Human Impact graphic
- Local pollution sources question
Lesson 7 (Computer Lab)
[1 class period]
Explanation of Eutrophication
Web Pages: 31-35
(click on “4 – Eutrophication”)
Topics to Cover
- Start on page 32~ How pollution can affect oxygen levels in the water Eutrophication animation
- Students answer overarching question asked in the beginning of the unit: “How does your watershed impact the ocean?”
Lesson 8 (Classroom)
[1 class period]
Review of Eutrophication
Topics to Cover
- Class discussion of Eutrophication
- Extension: Reading and quiz: The Pollution Solution
- Extension: Reading and quiz: Dead Zones
- Extension: Reading and quiz: NJ Dead Zones
Lesson 9 (Classroom)
[2 class periods]
Student Final Project
Student creates essay, children’s book, diorama, informational poster, cartoon strip illustration, etc., to describe what they have learned in this unit, specifically what happens when river water meets the ocean and the impact this has on the marine environment (possibly creating the conditions for eutrophication to occur: delineating the steps and its consequences).
Time Planning
| Lesson | Concept | Type of Activity | Class Periods | Extensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro to Hudson River Watershed and the Hudson Plume | Computer | 2 | Google Earth Hudson River Tour |
| 2 | Build a Watershed | LAB in classroom | 1 | |
| 3 | Create a Plume | LAB in classroom | 1 | |
| 4 | Explanation of density and the Hudson River Plume characteristics | Computer | 1 | Find That Plume Real-time Data: Plumes in SST Reading: About Water |
| 5 | Density and density currents | LAB in classroom | 2 | |
| 6 | Human Impacts on the Watershed | Computer | 1 | |
| 7 | Explanation of Eutrophication | Computer | 1 | COSEE Eutrophication Tanks: Teacher Guide and Student Workbook |
| 8 | Review of Eutrophication | Classroom discussion | 1 | Reading: Pollution Solution Reading: Dead Zones Reading: NJ Dead Zone |
| 9 | Student Application of Watershed and Eutrophication knowledge | Classroom student project | 2 | Literature Connection: Paddle to the Sea |