CFWEP | Clark Fork Education Portal
CFWEP | Clark Fork Watershed Education Program
What is the Clark Fork Watershed?
The Clark Fork River and its tributaries drain most of western Montana. The upper river and headwaters were heavily impacted by wastes from over a century of mining. Today, the area is the largest Superfund environmental clean-up site in the nation.

CFWEP Site Updates
Teacher Professional Development (SMSP):

-Human Impacts Module: Nov. 13, 8am-5pm; click here for more.

-Snow Module: Dec. 4, 8am-5pm; click here for more.


CFWEP Site Updates
Fall 2010
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Clark Fork Education Portal > Lessons & Activities > Grades 5-8 Physical Science
Physical Science-related lesson plans for grades 5-8 are listed below. Montana Standards & Benchmarks addressed by each lesson are included in lesson plans. Click on a lesson plan to view or download a copy. Please note that some lesson plans require a username and password for access. If you are interested in a restricted-access lesson, please email the CFWEP Webmaster.

Grades 5-8: Physical Science Lessons
Communicating Science: Collecting and Interpreting Data
Developed by CFWEP, this lesson covers:
  • Science processes
  • Quantitative and qualitative data
  • Methods of qualitative data collection
  • Nature Field Photography, with examples
  • Nature Field Journaling, with examples
  • Nature Field Sketching, with examples
  • Basic interviewing practices
Powerpoint Presentation
Nature Journal Worksheet (doc)
Nature Journal Worksheet (pdf)
Nature Sketch Worksheet (doc)
Nature Sketch Worksheet (pdf)
Interview Worksheet (doc)
Interview Worksheet (pdf)
Download All Lesson Materials as a .zip file
Copper Solution: What is the difference between an acid and a base? How is Berkley Pit water mined for Copper?
Developed by CFWEP and Montana Tech science faculty, this lesson covers:
  • The differences between acids and bases and examples of common household acids and bases
  • How copper can be removed from solution
  • Historic information about the discovery of copper removal from solution
  • Historic information about the use of the copper removal from solution process in Butte mining
 Lesson Plan (doc)
Lesson Plan (pdf)
Student Worksheet (doc)
Student Worksheet (pdf)
Opportunity, Montana: A Brief Historical Introduction to the BP-Arco Waste Repository
Developed by CFWEP, this presentation includes:
  • Current and historical photos of the Opportunity Ponds/BP-Arco Waste Repository
  • Historical information about the Opportunity Ponds, Butte mines, Milltown Dam and Anaconda smelter
  • A step-by-step description of the copper milling, smelting and reduction process
  • An overview of Upper Clark Fork Superfund sites and environmental impacts
 Powerpoint Presentation
What is a Part Per Million?
Developed by CFWEP, this lesson covers:
  • Concentration measurements “parts per million” and “parts per billion”
  • The definition of “concentration” and connections to everyday concentrated products
  • Healthy drinking water standards
 What is a Part Per Million? Lesson Plan (doc format)
What is a Part Per Million? Lesson Plan (pdf format)
What is a Part Per Million? Student Worksheet (doc format)
What is a Part Per Million? Student Worksheet (pdf format)

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