K-12 Programs

Living things activity

ALLARM partners with greater Carlisle elementary, middle, and high schools as well as youth-based organizations to teach students about aquatic ecosystems and connect students to their local environment. Our programs are developed for different age groups and are tailored to meet the goals of partnering organizations.

A student looks at a macroinvertebrate under the microscope

A middle school student collects water samples

ALLARM assists an AP environmental science class

In our K-12 program ALLARM works together with teachers on an individual basis to design presentations to fit seamlessly within their lesson plans. ALLARM currently has longstanding partnerships with a dozen local teachers but will also respond to ad-hoc requests throughout the year.

Here are some examples of environmental education lessons ALLARM has developed over the years:

First grade
•    Living/non-living characteristics
•    Wetland introduction
For both of these concepts, ALLARM has developed a picture based presentation highlighting distinguishing definitions and elements followed by interactive games that reinforce teaching concepts.

Fifth grade
•    Introduction to macroinvertebrates
To teach students how to identify macroinvertebrates and how they are water quality indicators, ALLARM transports a lab to the classroom with live bugs and microscopes.

Sixth to Eighth grade
•    Afternoon stream monitoring
ALLARM has worked with Envirothon clubs to offer an afternoon exposure to water quality monitoring including macroinvertebrate identification, field chemical kit analysis, and visual surveys.

Twelfth grade
•    Year-long acid rain study
For an AP environmental science class collaboration, ALLARM provides year-long support to train students on pH and alkalinity analysis, data management, and data interpretation. This includes GIS map-making and excel graphing.