Students

The Great Lakes Education Program introduces fourth-grade students to the unique features of the Great Lakes through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience. The program is designed to stimulate interest in the Great Lakes and help students understand their role in protecting these vital freshwater resources.

The program integrates elements of geography, history, biology and physical sciences in each of its three components:

• Classroom introduction to Great Lakes. Students learn about concepts such as the aquatic food web, the water cycle, the roles of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the effects of exotic species.
• Field trip on the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair. A two and one half hour educational cruise provides an opportunity for hands-on experience: students examine plankton samples, test water clarity, practice marine knot tying, take temperature readings, and more.
• Follow-up classroom experiments and discussion. Using data they've collected on the field trip, students conduct experiments and discuss what they've learned.

More than 32,000 students, teachers, adult chaperones, and volunteers in southeast Michigan have participated in the Great Lakes Education Program since it began in 1991.