Classroom Lessons
River Learning
1. Science & Ecology
2. Chicago-Calumet River History
3. GIS Mapping & Environmental Justice
4. Climate Education
5. Litter Free
6. Crayfish
Friends of the Chicago River has many lesson plans to teach about the river, most developed in partnership with teachers. Integrate these lessons into your curriculum to contextualize and focus your students’ learning on a local natural resource. If you are a new teacher, Friends can assist you with an in-class presentation. You can even create your own river unit with these lessons by teaching them before and after a field trip.
Lessons are organized by subject and then by grade. If you don't see what you are looking for here, we might have something similar or we could work with you to create it. Contact our education staff for more information.
What is a River? (K-2)
Erosion: Natural or Unnatural? (5-8)
Building an Ecosystem (6-8)
What is a Watershed? (6-12)
Field Guide for the River (6-12)
Biodiversity Matters (6-12)
Biodiversity in Nature (6-12)
Who Lives in the River? (7-12)
Water Quality Tests Explained (7-12)
What Does Stream Flow Tell Us? (9-12)
Monitoring Floristic Quality (9-12)
Oh Deer (5-8) Project WILD
How Many Bears Can Live in The Forest (5-8) Project WILD
Project WET Online Resources:
Educator Guides
Student Activity Booklets
Lesson & Activity Packets
Rivers through Time (3-4)
Combined Sewer Overflow, Oh NO! (4-12)
Backward Goes It Does (5-8)
Getting a Sense of Time (7-8)
Backward Goes It Does (9-12)
GIS Mapping & Environmental Justice
Basic Map Skills (3-5)
This lesson includes resources that you will need to download separately:
Exploring Community Maps (6-8)
This lesson includes resources that you will need to download separately:
- Link to the Natural Solutions Tool
- Tree Canopy Cover Map
- Daytime Heat Island Map
- Impervious Surface Map
Mapping Environmental Justice (9-12)
This lesson includes resources that you will need to download separately:
- Link to the Natural Solutions Tool
- Chicago River Main Stem Map
- Big Marsh Park Case Study by Ben Schulman
- Crawford Coal Plant Case Study by Tanya Joshi
- General Iron Case Study by Gina Ramirez
- On the Fence by Helen Wei
Illinois Climate Education Hub
A hub of trusted resources, vetted by scientists and reviewed by teachers, to help Illinois educators bring climate and sustainability literacy to students across the state. The Illinois Climate Education Hub is a free, one-stop website designed to support educators in bringing climate and sustainability topics into their classrooms with confidence. You do not need to be a climate expert. The Hub offers trusted, high-quality resources that are easy to integrate into existing instruction. All grades, all subjects, all students.
Creating a Litter Free Chicago/Calumet River System
The Litter Free Chicago-Calumet River initiative reduces the amount of trash harming our waterways by working with community and government leaders to develop strong public policy and comprehensive litter reduction programs. This multi-pronged approach includes litter research and engaging residents and local companies in local cleanup efforts to keep our rivers clean for all.
Sum of the Parts (4-8) Project WET
Who Polluted the River (4-12)
Link to Litter Free Activities for a field trip
Plastic Pollution Curriculum and Activity Guide (K-12)
Microplastics in Illinois Environment Illinois Research & Education Center
A Guide to Testing Your Local Waterways for Microplastics (or download the PDF)
Investigating Crayfish and Freshwater Ecosystems
Available on the Invasive Crayfish Collaborative website.
The use of live crayfish in classrooms has been identified as a pathway for the introduction of invasive crayfish into our local waterways. To address this issue, this curriculum was developed to teach students about Great Lakes ecosystems, the significance of native crayfish, and the ecological threats posed by invasive crayfish. It contains nine engaging lesson plans. The curriculum is best suited for students in grades 6–12 but offers numerous adaptations/extensions to meet the divergent needs of students in grades 2–5.
Have your students gather research data at Great Lakes Crayfish on iNaturalist.
Educators and their students can help protect freshwater ecosystems by participating in crayfish sampling and reporting efforts. By catching, identifying, and reporting the crayfish species you find in your area, you play an active role in helping resource managers understand where native and invasive crayfish live and how their populations are changing. Invasive crayfish like red swamp and rusty crayfishes are putting pressure on native populations. Monitoring freshwater habitats for crayfish can help detect new populations and support fast management.
Checking to see what's in the net - maybe a crayfish? A student from Drummond Elementary School samples water quality.
“Being a part of the Chicago River Schools Network has given me a fun, interactive way to teach students about their natural surroundings and to create projects that combine the arts and sciences.”
Amy Andrews, Mozart School
