Students
The Great Lakes Education Program introduces fourth-grade students to the unique features of the Great Lakes
through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience.
The program is designed to stimulate interest in the Great Lakes and
help students understand their role in protecting these vital freshwater
resources.
The program integrates elements of geography, history, biology and physical sciences in each
of its three components:
- Classroom introduction to Great Lakes. Students learn about concepts such as the aquatic food web, the water cycle, the roles of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the effects of exotic species.
- Field trip on the Detroit River. A two-hour educational cruise provides an opportunity for hands-on experience: students examine plankton samples, test water clarity, practice marine knot tying, take temperature readings, and more.
- Follow-up classroom experiments and discussion. Using data they've collected on the field trip, students conduct experiments and discuss what they've learned.
More than 32,000 students, teachers, adult
chaperones, and volunteers in southeast Michigan have participated
in the Great Lakes Education Program since it began in 1991. |
