RiverWatch's Guide to the Red River
Student Worksheet
Download a pdf copy (232k)

The Red River is an exciting place to learn. RiverWatch invites you to take a safari of the river using our student activity sheet and teachers' guide.

The activity sheet takes students on a journey, using their scientific curiosity to explore the Red River, the creatures that call it home, and its rich history. The activity sheet gives students an opportunity to use their scientific curiosity to discover important facts as they read about rivers and search for key words in a word search. As well, students can study amazing facts about the development of trade and cities in the history of the Red River Valley and discover how to save their favorite leaves from the river banks, their backyard or local park.

Teacher's Guide
Download a pdf copy (164k)

The RiverWatch web site supports the student activity sheet. Students can learn more about the history of the river and cities along it. And they can learn more about the animals and plants that live and grow in and near the Red River through our interactive safari web site.

Our companion teacher's guide provides activities to help students discover how glacier activity helped form the Red River Valley, and test their knowledge of the Red River and cities along the Red River and preserve leaves with wax or glycerine and water.

If you would like to order student activity sheets call Hope Deutscher or Steve Wennblom at 800-359-6900.

Thank you for your interest and participation in this RiverWatch project. Teachers: Tell us how you have used this worksheet in class.

 

Here is one of the activities found in the guide:

Preserve Leaves Found Along The Red River
Save a bit of this autumn by preserving the leaves of your favorite trees.
Here are two methods you can use to preserve the leaves you pick:

Method one: preserve leaves with glycerine and water
Materials: A variety of colorful fall leaves, newspaper, lightweight hammer, large jar, glycerine (available from drug stores), and hot water.
An adult should supervise the process.
Collect and identify colorful leaves and small leafy branches.
Break apart the ends of the branches and stem by smashing them with a pliers. This allow the stems to absorb the water and glycerine solution.
Stir together in a jar one part glycerine and three parts hot water. Add leaves and branches to the jar.
In one week, the leaves will change in color and texture. Remove the leaves from the water mixture when they have become pliable, and use in decorations.

 Method two: preserve leaves with wax
Materials: A variety of colorful fall leaves, wax paper, iron and ironing board, newspaper.
An adult should supervise the hot iron.
Collect and identify colorful leaves.
Cover the ironing board with several layers of newspaper to protect the surface.
Place a sheet of wax paper on top of the newspapers.
Arrange the leaves on the wax paper and cover them with a second sheet of wax paper.
Cover with another layer of newspaper and place iron (set a medium heat) on top.
Hold iron in place for 30 seconds.
Lift off the newspaper and top layer of wax paper.
Remove the leaves.
They should be waxed enough to retain their shape for decorations.







Financial support for RiverWatch is provided by a grant from the Bremer Banks and the Otto Bremer Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota.