MRR-logo-color-WEB-200px
Virtual Missouri River Days

Experience Virtual Science Missouri River Relief Style!

We are partnering with Columbia Public Schools to reconfigure our annual river field trip for fourth-graders into a virtual experience for teachers and students taking place during the months of April and May.

During Virtual Missouri River Days, students will leave their lab coats and pocket protectors behind while virtually investigating the mysteries behind the longest river in North America and the fish that call it home.

What Is Included in Virtual Missouri River Days?

Virtual Missouri River Days includes two 30 min. presentations hosted by Missouri River Relief staff that will run for two sessions, the first session will be April 12th-23rd, and the second session will be April 26th-May 7th, 2021.

The dark muddy waters of the Missouri River will become students' laboratory as they learn virtually learn the following outlines in the lessons below from our knowledgeable staff.

Lesson One: Are There Sharks in the Missouri River? 

Theme: Adaptations Help Fish Survive in the Missouri River

Topic: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning, and Structural Adaptations

Student Outcomes:

  • Understand that adaptations are structures that help fish survive in the Missouri River.  
  • Know whether evidence is relevant and sufficient to support a claim about the primary function of certain structures that help fish to survive in the Missouri River.
  • Be able to make a claim that is supported by evidence and reasoning on how structures help fish survive in the Missouri River.

Next Generation Science Standard: 4-LS1-1. Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.

Lesson Two: Can Some Fish in the Missouri River Really Fly?

Theme: Invasive Species Damage the Balance of the Missouri River Ecosystem

Topic: Models, Sense Receptors and Asian Carp

Student Outcomes:

  • Understand that species have different sense receptors that processes and relays information to the brain and are used to guide their survival in the Missouri River.
  • Know species' different types of sense receptors detect specific types of information in the Missouri River.
  • Be able to use a model to describe a species sense receptor that processes information to the brain and is used to guide their survival in the Missouri River.

Next Generation Science Standard: 4-LS1-2. Use a model to describe that animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways. 

Additional Lesson Option:

After the two presentations, Missouri River Relief staff will provide registered teachers with two additional pre-recorded presentations. If their students are interested in continuing learning about the river, we encourage teachers to explore these additional teaching resources.

What Makes Virtual Missouri River Days Different?

  • Inspired by Place: This program is inspired by place-based learning. Students are able to connect with the location and form learning associations with a set place in mind. This boosts interest, relevance and self-awareness in students.
  • Interdisciplinary Learning in Nature: This program takes an interdisciplinary approach to educating students by placing topics in scientific, social and historical contexts. This approach reflects real-world learning scenarios and increases engagement amongst students. 

For any questions or to sign up your school or students, please contact Kristen Schulte at kristen@riverrelief.org or 636-288-5570.

Ready for Action?

This website is created and maintained by Missouri River Relief, P.O. Box 463, Columbia, MO 65205
MRR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Federal Tax ID (EIN) 03-0425187
© 2023 Missouri River Relief | Website development and design by Pixel Jam Digital
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram