The use of live crayfish in classrooms has been identified as a pathway for the introduction of invasive crayfish into our local waterways. To address this issue, the Investigating Crayfish and Freshwater Ecosystems curriculum was developed to teach students about Great Lakes ecosystems, the significance of native crayfish, and the ecological threats posed by invasive crayfish. It contains nine lesson plans aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards, and Center for Great Lakes Literacy Principles. The curriculum is best suited for students in grades 6-12 but offers numerous adaptations/extensions to meet the divergent needs of students in grades 2–5.

This document is available on the Invasive Crayfish Collaborative website: https://invasivecrayfish.org/crayfish-curriculum/

Water level variability in Lake Michigan, such as the rapid 6 ft rise between record lows in 2013 to near highs in 2020, had substantial impacts along the southern Lake Michigan coast, forcing communities to quickly respond and plan for future changes. To help address this challenge, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) hosted a series of four virtual workshops in October 2020, focused on improving communication about water level variability along the Lake Michigan coast of Illinois and Indiana. This factsheet summarizes the need, goals, and outcomes of the workshop series, and highlights key resources developed by IISG to address prioritized datasets and outreach products identified in the workshops.

References:

1. V.M. Fall and C.J. Foley. 2020. Virtual Workshop Series: Improving Communication About Changing Lake Michigan Water Levels in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, Workshop Summary. 25 pp. URL: https://iiseagrant.org/publications/virtual-lake-levels-workshop-report/
2. V.M. Fall and A. Milicia. 2021. Ready for Lake Michigan Highs and Lows: Strategies and Case Studies, Storymap. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Publication Number IISG21-RCE-WEB-049. URL: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/356d9776b3db4dabb23d624d9e2b6837
3. Fall, Veronica and Allison Milicia. Increasing Illinois and Indiana Shoreline Resilience: Information A to Z. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Report Number IISG21-RCE-RSM-058. https://iiseagrant.org/publications/increasing-illinois-and-indiana-shoreline-resilience-information-a-to-z.
4. US Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District Website. Great Lakes Water Level Data. URL: https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/Great-Lakes-Information-2/Water-Level-Data/