Montana Ecology Lessons
Connecting with Monitoring Montana Waters
Have you ever wondered what's happening in Montana's streams? Take a closer look at stream data from across Montana and the United States to learn more about the importance of river ecosystems.
Detecting AIS with eDNA
In this lesson, students will be introduced to how scientists detect and monitor Aquatic Invasive Species by comparing visual AIS detection with the processes of eDNA sampling, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and DNA Sequencing.
Resources Available Include*:
- Lesson Plan: Detecting AIS with eDNA
- Presentation: Detecting AIS with eDNA
- Supplement: Search and Find Locations
- Supplement: DNA Strips
*Teachers to obtain these resources please contact us
Discovering Data
Learn how to access public stream data from the Montana State University Extension Water Quality Program website and the National Water Quality Monitoring Council's Water Quality Portal.
Additionally, you can find instructions on how to access lake, weather, and tributary data collected by Flathead Lake Biological Station scientists.
Food Web Dynamics (K-5)
Learn what all plants and animals have in common and what they both need to survive. Students will build a lake food chain and food web, as well as learn how all organisms in the lake ecosystem are interconnected.
Food Web Dynamics (6-12)
Students build a lake food web, learn how all organisms in the lake ecosystem are interconnected, and explain the roles phytoplankton and zooplankton play in the lake ecosystem as primary producers and consumers.
Water Cycle Unit (5th to 8th grade)
This unit was designed to introduce students to the water cycle from both a local and global perspective, as well as, participate in hands-on inquiry stations, an online water cycle exploration activity, and a teacher-led presentation that will aid vocabulary acquisition and use. Students demonstrate their understanding of the water cycle by building a 3-D model that represents how the water cycles through a specific biome found on Earth. If interested in this unit, please contact us.