Lesson 9 - Making Your Own Sampling Tools

By Molly Malechek, Deep Portage Conservation Reserve
Mike Kennedy
©The Raptor Center

State Goals for Environmental Education ( as per the State goals for Environmental Education, Greenprint,1993).

Students will:

1. Understand the cause-and-effect relationship between human attitudes and behavior in the environment.
2. Provide experiences to assist citizens to increase their sensitivity and stewardship for the environment.

Students will:

1. Initiate a class recycling project.
2. Construct sampling equipment that will be available for continued data collection.
3. Create new sampling equipment designs and test them in the field.

Vocabulary Words

• recycle
• sampling
• macroinvertebrate
• algae
• plankton
• water quality
• food web
• food chain
• nutrients
• scientific method

(Materials for this lesson should be inexpensive and easy for your class to find.)

• Duct tape
• recycled plastic containers (white containers are nice because copepods and small creatures show up well.)

**glass containers should be avoided because of breakage possibilities*

Background Information

Science and environmental education have changed in the last 20 yrs. Labs and lectures are still important, but providing students with hands-on experiences has moved into the forefront. Many schools are developing and using school grounds and nature areas for field exercises. Fresh air, exercise, and exploration outside four walls can do wonders for a science lesson.

The tools for sampling can be expensive if you try to order everything from catalogs. 5 dip nets and a hatch kit will swallow up a budget in no time. Money is not the only concern. The more durable the equipment, the better it will serve the needs of the classroom. Equipment has to be able to withstand a lot of little hands in a year's use. There are many creative ways around the budgetary and durability concerns. In fact, you probably have all you will need to construct an aquatic sampling kit right in your own recycling bin.

Making your own sampling equipment is a fun way to institute a recycling program in your classroom. This underscores lessons you may be teaching, and is an effective way to solve equipment needs. Your class of 32 students means that you have 32 households to draw resources from. Parents and students alike enjoy the process of creating. The kids will create new designs and test these designs in the field with their friends. This program can be one that creates equipment and a feeling of community for years to come.

1. Recycling is a great environmental unit to teach young kids. Starting a recycling program for your classroom is a good way to collect materials for sampling tools. Each child should be given a sheet filled with examples of items that would be helpful in wetland sampling. The recycled containers need to be cleaned thoroughly with soap and warm water before they are brought into the classroom.

2. Construction of the different sampling tools tends to be an easy process, but it may be helpful to ask for volunteer parents to come in for the day to help. Groups of 2-3 students working on a project works well for management and participation.

Secchi Disk (Seck-key)

• lid from a large tin can (6-8 inches in diameter or larger)
• white lids are best or you can paint the lids white
• Black waterproof paint or permanent magic marker
• Nail or poking device
• Large eye bolt and nut
• heavy string
• tape measure

Put a large black X in the top of the white lid.

Punch or drill a small hole in the middle of the X and attach the string to the lid with the eye bolt and nut.

Mark off 1ft. increments along the string with permanent marker.

To use the secchi disk: gently lower the disc straight down into the water until you can no longer see the white portion of the disk. Reach down and grasp the string right at the water line. Read the marking on the string to determine the depth to which light could penetrate.

Algae Sampler (used to collect attached algae)

• 4 microscope slides
• 1 brick
• waterproof adhesive
• fishing line
• bobber
• scissors

Attach microscope slide to brick with waterproof adhesive.

There should be enough room to fit 4 slides on one side of the brick.

Tie one end of the fishing line around the brick and the other to the bobber.

To use the Algae sampler: place the brick flat on the bottom in relatively clear, shallow water. Leave the for 2 - 4 weeks before collecting. When transporting and storing the brick, don't let the slides dry out. Carry in a bucket with water from the stream and store in a cooler filled with ice. Don't store more than 24 hours.

Wire Basket Sampler (for collecting invertebrates)

• 75 centimeter x 75 centimeter piece of window screening
• tin snips
• yardstick
• wire or heavy nylon thread
• scissors
• rocks

Use tin snips to cut the screening into a cross shape. Each section should measure 10" x 10".

Fold up sides and sew together with wire or nylon thread.

Fill basket with small rocks ( 2- 3 inches)

To use the Wire Basket Sampler: place the wire cage in desired location. Leave the cage for 3 to 6 weeks. To collect the insects, put the wire basket in a bucket or tub. Open the cage and empty out the rocks. The organisms will detach from the rocks and be ready for investigation.

Water Viewer

• coffee cans
• rubber bands
• plastic food wrap
• duct tape

Remove both ends of the coffee can.

Stretch the plastic wrap tightly over one end of the can. The plastic should be taught and smooth.

Use a rubber band to hold the wrap in place and then tape it to the can.

To use the Water Viewer: Hold the viewer with the wrapped end in the water. Look through the top and you'll be able to watch what is going on underneath the surface of the water.

Sieve

• metal screening (several different sizes)
• embroidery hoop
• duct tape

Stretch metal screening on an embroidery hoop.

Secure the edges with duct tape.

To use the Sieve: Scoop mud and leaf litter into the sieve. Rinse the sieve thoroughly and organisms will appear. Try using different size mesh sieves. Pick out what looks interesting and place in observation pans.

Insect Tow Net

• nylon stockings or netting
• heavy wire like that in hangers
• old handle from brooms or rakes
• duct tape
• heavy duty needle and thread

Cut the legs off nylons. Bend the wire into a circle with a straight neck handle.

Stretch the nylons over the wire and secure to the frame by sewing.

Tape the neck of the hoop securely to the end of a broom handle or stick.

To use the Insect Tow Net: this net can be used to catch insects on land or it can be gently swept in the water to pick up other organisms.

1. Think about early cultures and the tools they constructed. Could any of the tools you have constructed be made out of natural materials from your area?

2. Are there any tools you could have made from local materials which would work in the place of the tools you have made in the lesson plan.

3. Thinking of the tools you utilize in everyday living, which ones do you need compared to the ones which are convenient?

1. Visit a local museum and study tools of earlier times.

2. See if there is a local flint knapping organization in your area. Arrange to have a representative give a demonstration to your class.

3. Arrange a visit from a water quality specialist with a private or governmental agency in your area. Do they use any of the tools similar to the tools you have constructed?

Adopting a Wetland: A Northwest Guide, Steve Yates. 1989

OBIS (Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies) Pond Guide, available from Delta Education, 1-800-442-5444

Field Manual for Water Quality Monitoring, Mark Mitchell and William Stapp, 2050 Delaware Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Science Toolbox, Making and Using the Tools of Science by Jean Stangel

The Wonders of Wetlands (Curriculum Guide) available through Environmental Concern Inc. PO Box P St. Michaels , Maryland 21663