Teaching young people about the Great Lakes just a got a little easier. Educators can now access a comprehensive online curriculum covering everything from the Great Lakes aquatic food web to wetlands and fisheries.

The dynamic lessons are part of Fisheries Learning On the Web, Project FLOW, developed by the Michigan Sea Grant at the University of Michigan. Project FLOW lessons are geared toward educators who teach upper elementary and middle school students. Each lesson features a hands-on classroom activity.

Project FLOW lessons are aligned with national and state curriculum standards for science and social studies. Unit 1 addresses the aquatic food web and the impact of invasive species. Lessons in unit 2 allow students to construct model wetlands and watersheds. Unit 3 lessons explore Great Lakes fish, biodiversity, and career options.

"One of our goals is to increase public awareness and understanding of the ecology of the Great Lakes to promote the long-term sustainability of the Great Lakes ecosystem," said Julie Bennett, assistant manager of the Great Lakes Fishery Trust. "Project FLOW is an excellent resource that will help the GLFT achieve this goal and create the next generation of Great Lakes stewards and advocates."

The FLOW Web site was named Site of the Month for November 2005 by the Great Lakes Information Network. For more information, visit: http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/flow

See the complete news release online at http://www.umich.edu/news/index.html?Releases/2005/Nov05/r111005

See Fisheries Learning on the Web: http://www.projectflow.us

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