For myself, as an informal educator, there’s nothing quite as powerful as seeing students connect the dots between the natural environment and science in action. Recently, I had the opportunity to present at the Mississippi Science Teachers Association annual conference in Biloxi, Mississippi. We discussed the intricacies of watersheds and explored the ways we manipulate and use the land around us impacts them. Through this presentation and information adapted from “A Classroom Course in Community Resilience” curriculum, this presentation gave teachers the tools to make environmental science a tangible and exciting part of their curriculum!
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to practice my presentation at local Ocean Springs, Mississippi, brewery, Hops and Growlers. The owner along with the Marine and Estuarine Graduate Student Association (MEGSA) put on a bi-weekly event on Thursdays called “Science on Tap”. It is a family-friendly event that gives community members a chance to hear about what the science community is studying! It also serves as sort of a “practice round” for presenters allowing them to give their talk to an unbiased audience.
Watersheds carry good and bad downstream
One of the main focuses of the session was understanding watersheds. Imagining a watershed as an interconnected system where each component has a role. Watersheds are connected and can be disrupted by natural features like divides, and man-made features like dams. These have real affects for both the environment and communities. Water carries numerous important elements for the environment like sediment that deposits along banks, and nutrients that control the algal growth. But it can also carry various forms of pollution like trash, fertilizers and pesticides that counteract the good that flows with it.
Teaching this concept in the classroom offers students a chance to see the ripple effect of human actions on the environment. Interactive classroom activities, such as building watershed models, allow students to experiment with different scenarios. They can observe firsthand how pollution travels through a watershed, affecting ecosystems and communities downstream. It's an impactful way to show them that what happens upstream doesn’t stay upstream — it has downstream impacts on water quality, wildlife and even our own health.
Disruptions have effects
The lesson expanded further with a look at the Mississippi River watershed and recent environmental events. The Bonnet Carré Spillway, for instance, made headlines for its impact on the Mississippi Sound. When this spillway was opened, a flood of freshwater entered our Mississippi Sound, causing significant disruption to the ecosystem.
Wildlife and fish populations were decimated, demonstrating the profound impact that watershed management can have on marine life and even greater, our local economy.
This event serves as a powerful example that teachers can bring into their classrooms to discuss the direct impact of watershed disruptions.
Stewardship extends beyond classrooms
Teaching about watersheds and their role in our environment isn’t just about conveying facts — it’s about fostering stewardship and responsibility. Students gain insight into the causes and solutions of complex environmental issues, developing critical thinking skills that they can apply beyond the classroom. By helping students draw these connections, they begin to see that local actions and environmental policies influence entire ecosystems. They might be inspired to advocate for changes in their communities, knowing that even small efforts to reduce pollution can contribute to healthier waterways.
The "Source to Sea" concept can be a springboard for a variety of lessons across disciplines, from biology and geography to engineering and ethics. When students see the connections between science and their everyday environment, they understand that environmental science is not just a subject to study; it's a lens through which we can better understand, appreciate and protect our world! This approach to environmental education brings complex topics to life, helping students see themselves as part of a larger system and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
Meet the author
Lacy Lindsey
Marine Education Specialist, USM Marine Education Center
Lacy Lindsey works as a marine educator at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Lab's Marine Education Center. She creates and implements educational programming that includes... Read more
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