This presentation describes the steps to teaching your students about the field of urban ecology.

1. How Muddy is the Muddy River?
Patreka J. Wood-Blain
Boston Public Schools

2. What is Urban Ecology?
• Relatively new area of science
• Focuses on the affects of urbanization on
the health of the ecosystems
• The Urban Ecology Institute educates
students about their environment through
hands-on exploration of the unique
ecology at each field site.

3. The Muddy River
• Encompasses 5.6 square miles
• Flows through Boston, Brookline & Newton
• Part of the Charles River Watershed

4. Muddy River Restoration Project

5. Exploring Your Field Site
• Scavenger Hunt
• Social Ecology Site
Survey
• Mapping Your Field
Site

6. Water Quality Test Kits
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Nitrates
• Salinity
• pH
• Water Quality Data
Sheets

7. Developing a Research Question
• What Makes a Good Research Question?
• Card Sort Game
• Finding a Good Question
• Designing Your Study

8. Gathering Data
• Site Survey Data Sheets
• UEI Database

9. Sharing Research
• The Student Urban Research Gathering
on Ecology (SURGE!) conference in
March
• The Annual Student Research Conference
in May allow students to showcase their
work for fellow students

10. For More Information
• www.muddyriver.wikispaces.com
• Visit www.urbaneco.org
• Email pwood2@boston.k12.ma.us