wolf ridge class links

Get Outside!

Frozen Lake Study

Class Description:

In this aquatic ecology class, students will examine the ecosystem of Wolf Lake under the ice. Working in groups, they will explore the lake through holes drilled in the ice, from inside ice houses, and by sampling the ice itself. Studies will include ice depth and structure, lake bottom structure, plankton sampling, and possible catch and release ice fishing opportunities.

One adult monitor from the school must attend the class to assist with activity management.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Frozen Lake Study class students will be able to:

Understand and evaluate safe lake ice conditions.
Use a sonar and interpret its readings.
Determine the "livability" of the underwater environment in winter.
Understand how ice block cutting provided refrigeration before modern refrigerators came into use.
Examine a block of ice and interpret its history.
Understand where plankton belong in a food pyramid.
Give an example of how pollution enters an aquatic food chain.

Minnesota Graduation Standards

Wolf Ridge has aligned the Center's entire curriculum to Minnesota Department of Education Academic Standards. As the primary student audience at Wolf Ridge is from 4th-12th grade, the matrices address these grade levels. Teachers may request that their students focus upon a specific benchmark while attending Wolf Ridge. The Wolf Ridge Curriculum Standards Matrix addresses benchmarks in

Science
Math
History and Social Science
Language Arts
Arts

Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts

There is life in every niche found on earth.
Energy flows from one organism to another in a complex food web in Wolf Lake.
A rich habitat will support a greater number of species than a poor habitat.
The carrying capacity of a habitat is determined by availability of food, water, shelter, oxygen and space.
Awareness, knowledge and appreciation lead to an understanding our impact on an ecosystem.
See entire Wolf Ridge Curriculum Framework