Adult fall run Chinook salmon swimming in a stream.
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, CC BY 2.0
Pathway Summary
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
This pathway on the decline in salmon populations begins with students examining videos, maps, and population data about resident orca populations in the Pacific Northwest. They observe that the Southern Resident Orca population along the coast of Oregon has drastically declined over the past few decades, while the Northern Resident population has increased. Through investigating the orcas’ diets, students discover that Southern Residents rely more heavily on Chinook salmon than Northern Residents—and that the Chinook salmon population is also declining. Students then develop an initial model to explain the relationship between the decline in Chinook salmon and the decline in the Southern Resident Orca population. From there, they create a Driving Question Board and identify key Ideas for Investigation, which guide their learning throughout the Salmon Storyline Unit.
Investigate lessons
Through three investigation lessons, students gather evidence about the salmon life cycle, Pacific Northwest salmonid migration patterns, and factors affecting local water quality. They also explore other factors they identified in their initial model that could be causing the decline in salmon, including dams and sea lions.
Synthesize lesson
Students organize the evidence they’ve collected to explain why salmon populations are declining and how this impacts the Southern Resident Orca population. They determine that rising temperatures and dammed streams are key contributors to the decline. This realization leads them to wonder whether temperatures are rising everywhere and what is causing the change.
Culminating task
The culminating task challenges students to help restore the local Chinook salmon population. Working in teams with a local landowner and area experts, students design, plan, and implement a restoration strategy for their local watershed. As part of this work, they write newspaper articles to share their plan with the broader school community, design informational signage, and plant locally sourced native trees.
Phenomenon
Chinook salmon populations are decreasing in the Pacific Northwest.
Community
Cottage Grove is a rural community located about 50 miles from the Pacific coast in the Northwest United States.The community is located near a tributary of the Willamette River that has historically been a chinook salmon run. Community organizations have been working towards restoring riparian habitat throughout the city.
Materials Available
Anchoring phenomenon lesson
3 investigation lessons
1 synthesize lesson
Key Features
Coastal
Rural
Family connection
Fieldwork
Educator Insight
Teacher: Brian Vollmer-Buhl
Why I chose this phenomenon
For years I’ve been trying to develop a really strong curriculum that addresses climate change. I want it to be a curriculum that kids feel they understand and can be part of the solution. I want it to be something they don’t feel threatened by. I want them to be engaged because they feel like it's something that’s going to impact their lives and that they can help solve. As a teacher, I strive to build relevance into what I teach.
How my students responded
My students are seeing how something they can do locally is benefiting not only them, their community, and their state, but also the entire Earth.
