Our World of Watersheds
Review the water cycle and learn more about the watersheds of Southwestern Pennsylvania and their connection to river health.
Virtual STEM Programs
Plankton Lab
Discover the world of freshwater plankton and practice your plankton identification skills through our virtual plankton samples collected from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh. The Plankton Data Sheets can be printed out for use at home or school or just used as an example—especially if students are maintaining their own science journals. Watch videos on how plankton is collected from the rivers and how to make a wet mount slide
Phytoplankton Key & Zooplankton Key
Rivers of Steel’s freshwater plankton identification charts.
Plankton Data Sheets
Classroom Worksheet
Plankton Tow Procedures
How to use a plankton net to acquire plankton to look at under a microscope.
How to Mount a Wet Slide
Instructional video on how to make a wet mount slide.
Macroinvertebrate Lab
Visit our virtual river and collect macroinvertebrates to learn what these indicator species can tell us about the health of our rivers.
2020 North Shore Mayfly Hatch
Watch as adult mayflies complete metamorphosis and “hatch” from the Ohio River.
Water Chemistry Lab
Discover the world of water chemistry, from understanding pH and dissolved oxygen to measuring temperature and turbidity. These chemical indicators help students understand the true health of their water sources!
Water Chemistry: Dissolved Oxygen
Learn more about dissolved oxygen, one of the chemical indicators tested by students on Explorer. The slideshow includes an introduction to dissolved oxygen as well as links to videos demonstrating the dissolved oxygen meter and test kit.
Water Chemistry: pH
Learn more about pH, one of the chemical indicators tested by students on Explorer. The slideshow includes an introduction to pH as well as links to videos demonstrating the pH meter and test kit.
Water Chemistry: Turbidity
Learn more about turbidity, one of the chemical indicators tested by students on Explorer. The slideshow includes an introduction to turbidity as well as links to videos demonstrating the secchi disk and test kit.
Water Chemistry: Temperature
Learn more about water temperature, one of the chemical indicators tested by students on Explorer. The slideshow includes an introduction to water temperature as well as links to videos demonstrating how river water temperature is tested.
River Food Web Worksheet
Decide how aquatic organisms are related by predator-prey and consumer-resource interactions in this sample river food web.
Pittsburgh River Birds and Their Adaptations
Learn which birds are common in and around Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers and use adaptation clues for identifying them.
How to Use Binoculars
Find out how to use binoculars to investigate birds in your backyard or local park.
Engine Room Tour
Join Captain Ryan for a virtual tour of Explorer’s engine room. Docked on Pittsburgh’s North Shore near the headwaters of the Ohio River, the Explorer was designed and built to LEED standards to host the award-winning STEM student education programs now led by Rivers of Steel. Explorer’s propulsion system is a hybrid diesel electric type. Through power can be drawn directly from either generators or large battery banks and the propulsion of the boat is run by electricity.
Book early! Contact us to schedule
a learning experience for your students with Rivers of Steel.
