Utah Lake Curriculum

The Utah Lake Commission

Utah Lake Curriculum

During the Summer, 2010, the Utah Lake Commission worked with fourth-grade teachers from the Alpine, Provo and Nebo school districts to create ten lesson plans that teach core concepts in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies using Utah Lake as an example. We hope that these lessons will be exciting, fun, and a beneficial resource to fourth-grade teachers all over Utah County, and instill a greater understanding and appreciation for the lake.

FREE Field Trip Opportunity!

In order to encourage teachers to use the lesson plans, the Utah Lake Commission will be sponsoring 20 field trips (approximately $150 for each class/school) to Utah Lake this spring, and we hope to do so each year.

To have your class considered, send an email to Reed Price, Executive Director of the Utah Lake Commission at rprice@utahlakecommission.org. In your email, please document:

The date the lesson was taught;
How the lesson was received by the students;
Feedback about the lesson plan, including assessment;
A description of where and what you would want to see and do on a field trip to the lake and how much it will cost.

You will be notified around March whether your class/school was selected for the field trip. We will have information that will offer suggested field trip ideas soon.

Thank you for your interest in Utah Lake! We hope you find these lesson plans useful.

Utah Lake Commission YouTube Channel

The Utah Lake Commission YouTube channel contains several clips that can be viewed as you prepare and teach your lesson. Suggested uses are linked below and in the lesson plans.

If you don't have access to YouTube in your school, please use the Utah Education Network (UEN) links that are provided below and in the lesson plans.

Lesson Plans and Materials

An electronic copy of the Utah Lake: Legacy book can be downloaded here in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. It is a 5 MB file.

Birds of Utah Lake (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Language Arts, Standards 1, 7, 8; Science, Standard 5; Social Studies, Standard 1

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs. 6-21)
Chapter 4, Utah Lake: Legacy (Entire Chapter):
Chapter 4, Utah Lake: Legacy (Part 1):
Chapter 4, Utah Lake: Legacy (Part 2):
Additional Materials (21 pgs of materials that could be used in the lesson plan including a list and pictures of 30 common birds; a list of 200 birds found in Utah County; and a copy of an informational sign used at the Utah Lake State Park)

The Business of Abusing a Lake (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Language Arts, Standard 7; Science, Standard 5; Social Studies, Standards 1, 2, 3

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs. 11-15)
Chapter 5, Utah Lake: Legacy
Chapter 7, Utah Lake: Legacy

Cultures of Utah Lake (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Language Arts, Standard 1; Social Studies, Standard 2

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs 4-9)
Chapter 2, Utah Lake: Legacy

How Does Utah Lake Measure Up? (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Mathematics, Standard 3; Science, Standard 5; Social Studies, Standard 1

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs. 6-16)
Chapter 1, Utah Lake: Legacy

Invasive Plants at Utah Lake: Phragmites and Tamarisk (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Mathematics, Standard 3; Science, Standard 5; Social Studies, Standard 1

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pg. 8)

June Sucker (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Social Studies, Standards 1, 2; Science, Standard 5

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs. 10-24)
Chapter 3, Utah Lake: Legacy
Chapter 5, Utah Lake: Legacy
Chapter 7, Utah Lake: Legacy
Utah Lake Carp Removal Video

Utah Lake Monster (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Language Arts, Standards 7, 8

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs. 4-14)

Utah Lake Resorts (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Language Arts, Standard 8; Social Studies, Standard 1

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs. 5-6)
SS Sho-Boat (8 sec. clip), Utah Lake: Legacy (For UEN access, view 5:13-5:21 of Part 2 below)
Chapter 4, Utah Lake: Legacy (Entire Chapter)
Chapter 4, Utah Lake: Legacy (Part 1):
Chapter 4, Utah Lake: Legacy (Part 2):
Additional Materials (32 pgs of materials that could be used in the lesson plan including images of Utah Lake Resorts and other activities around Utah Lake.

What Goes In, Must Come Out: Water Flow of Utah Lake? (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Mathematics, Standards 1, 3, 4, 5; Science, Standard 1

Instructional Materials (Also included at the end of the lesson plan, pgs. 6-8)
Chapter 1, Utah Lake: Legacy
Google Maps image of Utah Lake

Why is Utah Lake Murky? Water Quality (Lesson Plan)
Teaches: Science: Standards 3, 5; Social Studies: Standard 1

Chapter 5, Utah Lake: Legacy
Chapter 6, Utah Lake: Legacy

Photo courtesy of NASA

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