Teacher Monitoring Guide
Grade 7 · Cycle 4 · Week 2 — Eutrophication & Dead Zones

Learning Goal

Students will trace the flow of nutrients from agricultural runoff to coastal waters, explain how eutrophication depletes oxygen to create dead zones, and evaluate solutions for reducing nutrient pollution.

Station Checkpoints

Station 1 — Hook & Phenomenon
Look for: Students connecting the phenomenon to prior knowledge and generating testable questions
Common misconception: More nutrients always help ecosystems grow — guide students through the feedback loop from algal bloom to decomposition to oxygen depletion
Station 2 — Investigation / Data Collection
Look for: Accurate data recording and identification of emerging patterns in the evidence
Common misconception: Dead zones only form in polluted areas near cities — show data from the Gulf of Mexico dead zone driven by Midwestern agricultural runoff
Station 3 — Sense-Making
Look for: Students revising their model based on evidence collected during investigation
Common misconception: Dead zones are permanent — discuss seasonal recovery patterns and case studies of dead zones that improved after nutrient reduction (e.g., Black Sea)

Exit Ticket Monitoring

Score Range Interpretation Next Step
18–23 pts Meeting target Extend with synthesis question
10–17 pts Developing Small group re-teach at day start
0–9 pts Needs support 1:1 intervention before next station

MTSS Tier 2 Supports

For students scoring below 10 pts on the exit ticket: use the sentence frames below during the next class's hook.