Salt
Lake District
Science Research on The Great Salt Lake
An Exciting Place To Work With
Scientists!!
SLCSD Superintendent McKell Withers helps Hillside
Middle School students collect Brine shrimp from the Great Salt
Lake.
The University of Utah
and Salt Lake City School District with help from the USGS have
put together an amazing opportunity for students. Project based
learning is the overarching focus and students getting a chance
to work side by side scientists is something they will remember
for a lifetime.
The trip began on the lake shore. Students were encouraged
to explore the shore, capturing brine
shrimp and observing their
differences. Students were also keyed into the reason the lake
has a distinct
smell. Scientists from the University of Utah were there answering
countless questions. Students were then asked to turn and observe
the mountains to the south. This particular group of mountains
has distinct characteristics that allowed the students to recognize
the ancient shoreline of Lake
Bonneville. (more
on the lake)
As the boat pulled away from
shore scientists began discussion with all of the students about
different aspects of the lake. This was also a time to explain to
them that there will be “discovery centers” on different
parts of the boat. The centers included reading maps of the Great
Salt Lake specifically using the legend and estimating distances.
There
was an opportunity for students to measure the depth of the lake
at different points. Other students were becoming acquainted with
the GPS system on board. They were actually able to follow their
journey in real time on a computer screen.
There were opportunities for
students to measure the depth that sun light was reaching at different
points along their journey. The black and white disc called secchi
disc will tell scientists how deep algae will grow. Food webs and
bird watching were also integrated into the experience.
A large net was used to collect
brine shrimp along the journey. Students made careful observations
and drawings of the shrimp. Each student received a small vile with
brine shrimp to take home.
