At a glance
The Fraser River is a 60 or 75 minute workshop for grades 2, 3 and 7.
In five experiments, students find out how the river formed, where it starts, whether it is fresh or salt water, the connection between Indigenous peoples and salmon, how riverbanks erode and how good the water is, from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean.
How did the Fraser River form? Where is its source? Is it fresh water or salt water?
We answer these fascinating questions together through five surprising experiments on:
- The different sizes of the lakes upstream.
- The connection between Indigenous peoples and salmon, and life in and around the river.
- The river’s salinity.
- Bank erosion.
- Water density and quality.
We sail from the mountains all the way to the Pacific Ocean on one of the busiest waterways in the world!
For 15 more minutes:
We keep exploring the Fraser by imagining what the river will look like in 50 years! Each student builds their own wind turbine.
Learning goals (elementary)
- Locate natural sources of fresh water and of salt water.
- Show why mountains and lakes matter in Canada and the United States.
- Define the words “source”, “mouth”, “upstream” and “downstream”.
- Understand how water filtration works.
- Compare the salinity zones of the Fraser River and map them.
- Put in order the steps of a method used to protect the banks of the Fraser River.
- Illustrate the density of water.
