Lessons from the Bay
About this project
As part of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, the states of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, along with the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, reaffirmed their long-term commitment to "protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem."
A major part of this commitment was "to engage everyone – individuals, businesses, schools and universities, communities and governments" in the effort "to work toward a shared vision – a system with abundant, diverse populations of living resources, fed by healthy streams and rivers, sustaining strong local and regional economies, and our unique quality of life."
In co-signing this document, Virginia agreed to accomplish specific goals, including the following regarding public education:
- Beginning with the class of 2005, provide a meaningful Bay or stream outdoor experience for every school student in the watershed before graduation from high school.
- Provide students and teachers alike with opportunities to directly participate in local restoration and protection projects and to support stewardship efforts in schools and on school property.
How teachers can use this site
The purpose of Lessons from the Bay is to help Virginia school teachers of grades 3 through 6 incorporate into their classrooms a variety of activities and projects related to protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed, in keeping with the state's commitment in the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement.
To accomplish this purpose, Lessons from the Bay offers five sections of instructional resources.
- Process Model – Suggested steps and graphic organizers for planning indoor and outdoor activities designed to give students hands-on experience in the process of scientific inquiry.
- About the Watershed: Instructional Framework – An outline that provides the teacher with basic background information on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, along with related Web resources.
- Lesson Plans – A series of 16 lessons about various aspects of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, each including background information, a materials list, classroom activities and procedures, handouts, related Standards of Learning (grades 3–6), and resources for the student and teacher. The teacher should evaluate each lesson and emphasize the instruction and activities that are most appropriate for the students' grade level.
- Project Action Guide – A roadmap for teachers and administrators planning extended activities and long-term projects related to the watershed, along with instructions for several specific projects, including information about organizing student teams, selecting a project, and teaching skills related to project success (keeping records, doing research, connecting with businesses, and promoting a project). Adapted from Virginia Institute of Marine Science's Rally Round publication.
- Glossary of Wetland Terms – Alphabetical listing of defined terms related to the study and exploration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Other Resources for Lessons from the Bay
- Glossary
- Lessons from the Bay Watershed Gallery Some images © 2003–2004 www.clipart.com.
- User Tips
- Acknowledgments
View VDOE's Expenses