Education
Science of Galveston Bay Curricula
This middle level science curriculum project offers nine independent instructional modules and one review built around ecological features associated with Galveston Bay. The intent of this project is to provide local science teachers with a curriculum that students will find relevant and interesting, and about which they have a local connection through usage or awareness. Thus, science instruction will be locally "real" rather than distant and abstract.
The science modules included in this Galveston Bay curriculum are structured around a three stage format which is a Piagetian-based, hands-on approach
to curriculum and instruction in the science classroom. The curriculum is aligned with the TEKS. The goal of each module is for learners to divide
into small groups and to develop an idea or concept about an important Galveston Bay feature. Thus, much of the instruction in these modules is
student-centered, as opposed to teacher-centered information delivery. This "point of arrival" versus "point of departure" concept learning will
stay with each student because they have personally arrived at it. Learning Cycles are typically organized into three instructional stages, the
exploration, the concept introduction, and the concept application. The disc also comes with games such as jeopardy and bird bingo. The chapters
are as follows:
Chapter 1. You are Here!
The geography and geological features of Galveston Bay (GB).
Chapter 2. Energy Flow
Energy movement through GB food webs, including bioaccumulation.
Chapter 3. Shrimp in Galveston Bay
Shrimp life cycle and the effects of runoff, salinity, and over-shrimping in GB.
Chapter 4. Salinity
Topics associated with composition and chemistry of sea water in Galveston Bay.
Chapter 5. Water Quality
Water pollution, its causes, criteria, categories, and measurements in Galveston Bay.
Chapter 6. Avian Resources
Bird species and their adaptations, habitats, and niches in Galveston Bay.
Chapter 7. Wetlands Habitat
The role of wetlands in aquatic systems and effects of man's activities.
Chapter 8. Sewage Treatment and Oyster Contamination
The relationship between oysters and human sewage.
Chapter 9. Point and Nonpoint Source Water Pollution
Causes, effects, and differences between point and nonpoint source water pollution.
Chapter 10. Galveston Bay Game
Summary of all modules in a game format.
Download Curriculum (.pdf) 11.5MB
For more information, please contact Rani Henderson, Manager of Education Programs, at rhenderson@galvbay.org or call 281.332.3381 x212.
