Students from Mrs. Underhill and Mrs. Baldwin's 3rd grade classes in Bozeman traveled to the Linear Trail and Bozeman Creek on September 10, 2004. The class is studying animals and their habitats. They practiced observation skills while they drew pictures of aquatic insects (bugs that live in the water).

Students observed insect adaptations and behaviors that allow them to get the things every creature needs to survive: food, water, shelter and air. They realized that aquatic insects in rivers and streams also have to find a way to make sure they don't get washed away.

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Teachers: This lesson was designed to compliment the FOSS kit "Animal Studies." Bozeman district science curriculum uses FOSS kits as the backbone for K-6 courses. Students are raising frogs in their classroom and making observations on adaptations to live in their environment. This lesson was outdoors and used readily available aquatic insects to illustrate food collection, swimming behavior, use of gills to get air and generally to excite students about finding aquatic insects that have adaptations that allow them to live in the river in town.