Let's Talk Great Lakes Resources
How does this align with my curriculum?
AB
10
Knowledge and Employability Science 10-4 (2006)
Unit D: Investigating Matter and Energy in Environmental Systems
AB
10
Science 14 (2003, Updated 2014)
Unit D: Investigating Matter and Energy in Environmental Systems
Discover a set of resources designed to give you good background knowledge on all things Great Lakes!
The Great Lakes are five lakes in North America that are all freshwater lakes. This freshwater makes up 20 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater.
Four of these lakes are located in Ontario Canada: Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, and Lake Superior. Lake Michigan is the only great lake that is entirely in the United States of America. These lakes are extremely important for aquatic life, ecosystems, drinking water, irrigation, as well as transportation. Invasive species, pollution, habitat destruction, as well as climate change are having significant impacts on these lakes.
Let's Talk Great Lakes aims to highlight these issues, potential career opportunities associated with the Great Lakes, as well as to give hands-on opportunities to high school students in the aquatic and terrestrial fieldwork that is performed in and around these lakes.
Below are a set of resources from Let's Talk Science touching on all aspects of Let's Talk Great Lakes:
Invasive Species
How Do Introduced Species Affect Ecosystems and the Economy?
STEM Explained
When a species ends up outside of its natural zone, the consequences on other species, ecosystems and human industries can be severe. Climate change and human activities can introduce species into new zones.
Canadian Invaders!
STEM Explained
Beavers are a Canadian symbol. But in South America, they’re considered an invasive species.
Water Quality
Water Treatment
Backgrounders
Learn about how water is treated at municipal water treatment plants.
Using Mussels to Monitor the Environment
STEM Explained
Mussels are a kind of invertebrate that filter food out of the water they live in. This makes them a great tool for monitoring environmental water quality and tracking bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs.
What are the best materials to use for cleaning water?
Hands-on Activities
Water is a precious natural resource. What happens if it gets polluted? Learn how water can be cleaned with this hands-on activity?
Biodiversity
Introduction to Lakes & Ponds
Backgrounders
Learn about the geology, chemistry and ecology of lakes and ponds.
Humans and Freshwater Ecosystems
Backgrounders
Learn about how people impact the ecosystems of lakes and rivers.
Eutrophication: Why you should care about pond scum
STEM Explained
When fertilizers from agriculture get into lakes and rivers, big problems can result for aquatic ecosystems, food chains & webs!
Climate Change
Introduction to Climate Change
Backgrounders
Learn more about the causes and impacts of global climate change.
What are Greenhouse Gases?
Backgrounders
This backgrounder explains what greenhouse gases are and how they contribute to climate change.
Introduction to Green Chemistry
STEM Explained
Green chemistry is a field that looks at the sustainability of products and processes designed by people.
Careers
Careers in the Great Outdoors
Lessons
Students explore careers related to outdoors and the land and then design and build a water filter prototype.
Careers: Climatologist
Picture Collections
5 images of some work related to the scientific study of climate such as using instruments to measure changes in climates
