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Explore the intersection of hydropower and river ecosystems to support reliable energy generation, healthy waterways, and thriving communities.
SO-FiSH classroom curriculum
The SO-FiSH Curriculum is a three-unit lesson plan designed for high school teachers and mapped to national Next Generation Science Standards. The lessons can also be adapted for younger learners and community events. Each unit focuses on a different aspect of rivers and how they intersect with our lives.
Unit 1: River Processes This unit teaches students about the natural processes of rivers, including how water and sediment are transported, how river flows change, and how rivers are part of the Earth's geomorphology. It also explores the ecology of river systems, including food webs and aquatic organisms. Students will engage in a hands-on activity to create their own simplified mini stream table to demonstrate erosion, sediment transport, and deposition.
Unit 2: Rivers and Humans This unit investigates the historical and present-day relationship between humans and rivers, focusing on why communities are built near them. Students will analyze the impacts of human activities like installing dams on river systems and energy production. A role playing activity puts students in the seat of engineers, emergency management officials, biologists and more to analyze data and present perspectives on how dams affect rivers and communities.
Unit 3: The Energy Within Rivers This unit explores the role of hydropower. Students will learn about different types of hydropower and evaluate technological solutions designed to reduce their environmental impact. The unit includes a case study analysis where groups investigate real-world hydropower sites and present on the various solutions that support a strong balance between energy generation and positive environmental outcomes.
The curriculum was developed in partnership with Friends of the Mississippi River, University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Lab, and Natel Energy, with illustration and design from Background Stories. The full curriculum will be available for download and classroom use for the Spring 2026 semester.
SO-FiSH stream table
The SO-FISH project's unique stream table created by the University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) is an interactive model designed to demonstrate how water infrastructure, including dams and hydropower sites, intersects with river ecology. This hands-on tool allows learners to see firsthand how changes to infrastructure impact river systems and energy generation. The stream table is a standalone educational exhibit, permanently housed at SAFL, that can be used in classrooms or at community events. Video segments featuring the stream table to illustrate river and energy processes will be available to support the SO-FiSH curriculum and informal classroom outreach in October 2025.
Use SO-FiSH to become a classroom speaker!
Share your expertise and inspire the next generation by becoming a classroom guest speaker! With the SO-FiSH program's curriculum assets, you will be able to easily create and deliver an engaging 20-60 minute presentation for K-12 students. Our ready-made resources will include a pre-populated slide presentation and video content that explains the fundamentals of hydropower, its role in communities, and its connection to river ecology. You can easily customize the presentation to share details about your own job, bringing a personal and impactful perspective to the classroom. This is a powerful way to educate students about the hydropower industry, river ecology and a career in STEM.
