UPCOMING EVENTS
View full calendarAquatic Macroinvertebrate Lesson Plans
Lessons
Bugs Don't Bug Me (Full Manual)
Teach all Bugs Don't Bug Me lessons. Experiences include learning about water quality, aquatic insects, invasive species, and adaptations through hands-on activities. Find additional printed resources, photos and a video below.
Bugs Don't Bug Me (Individual Lesson Plans)
For Grades K-6
Designed to help introduce students to aquatic macroinvertebrates and the adaptations
that allow them to live in an aquatic environment.
15 - 20 min.
Macroinvertebrate Mix and Match
This activity will introduce students to aquatic macroinvertebrates (primarily insects) and
the major segments (the head, thorax, and abdomen) and differentiation between larval,
nymph, and adult stages.
30 min
Introduces students to the adaptations of macroinvertebrates and their feeding habits.
30 min.
Macroinvertebrate Investigation 
Through collection and observation, students learn about macroinvertebrates.
30 min.
Macroinvertebrate Graphing Activity
Teaches students to describe and identify the quality of a stream site by analyzing
the aquatic macroinvertebrates that live there.
30-45 min.
Introduces students to the link between aquatic macroinvertebrates, land use activities
and water pollution.
30 min.
Teaches students the link between land use activities and water quality.
45 min.
Stream Side Science (Individual Lesson Plans)
For Grades 5-12
Students will investigate the diversity in a specific water body through observation and charting. They will collect and observe macroinvertebrates in an aquatic system. 6.4.1 SEEd Connections available.
Students make inferences about the quality of freshwater using macroinvertebrate data collected from local water systems and explain the factors that contribute to the presence or absence of a species.
Wetland vs. Stream Macroinvertebrates
To investigate various biomes through observation and comparison of the diversity of life, in particular, the specific number of species, biomass, and type of organisms.
Teaches the properties of invasive species and their effect on aquatic ecosystems.
60 min.
Pictures and Additional Printed Resources
The following printed resources are offered in pdf format (may take awhile to download):
For more information regarding macroinvertebrates, including data sheets and collection instructions, please refer to the Stream Side Science and Utah Stream Team manuals. Also see the USU Extension Aquatic Macroinvertebrate webpage.