Stream Invertebrates Resources

Teacher Resources Stream Habitats Resources

Lesson plan, student guide and resources for learning about stream habitats, the invertebrates that live there, and their role in water quality.

Macroinvertebrate Lunch!

This ArtStream multimedia collaboration with West Plains Middle School students produced a Flash movie presentation on stream habitats and water quality. The students created artwork and clay sculptures of macroinvertebrates which were then animated by Flash designer Mark Giles. The movie also includes sound effects and narration recorded by the students.

The Flash Player is required to view the movie. Click the button to go to the download site. Follow the instructions for downloading and installation.

Meet the Macroinvertebrates

The cast of characters from the movie.
Clay sculptures are linked to macroinvertebrate photos by Missouri Department of Conservation biologists.

Teacher Guide

A step by step guide to using the movie for classroom study of stream invertebrates and water quality.

Student Guide
Printable handout. Student worksheet.

These guides are in PDF format ready for printing. For more information on PDF files: How to download a PDF file

Play a game: Stoneflies & Aquatic Worms

After classroom work with the Macroinvertebrate Lunch movie, play this active game to review the concepts presented.

Stream Insects Identification Key

Used in the lesson plan. The text and illustrations are from Save Our Streams, by the Izaak Walton League of America.

Macroinvertebrate Count Sheet

Used in the lesson plan. From the Missouri Stream Team water quality monitoring program materials.

Stream Study Word Matching Exercise
Vocabulary from the Stream Days Activity Booklet. Preview the worksheet, download the PDF.
Teachers: email us for the answer key.

Stream Days

Stream Days are field days for experiencing water quality monitoring and other streamside activities.

Stream Teams

Stream Team Does Critters Stream Team Does Critters
Photo story of a stream team in action on Bryant Creek

Background information on how a stream team samples a stream and identifies the macroinvertebrates present.

Howell Creek Stream Team

Middle school students and the City of West Plains team up to clean the creek that runs through town.

Water Quality Monitoring Demo
Missouri Stream Team staffers give a demonstration showing how stream teams monitor water quality by sampling for stream invertebrates.

Learn more about polluted runoff and what you can do about it:

Nonpoint Source Pollution: What To Do

The development of content for this project has been funded through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VII, through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, has provided partial funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

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