Skip to content
National Geographic logo National Geographic logo
  • Donate
  • account icon
    Account
  • Menu
  • Close
  • Account
  • Impact
    • Our Programs
    • Our Explorers
  • Education
    • Classroom Resources
      • Resource Library
      • Mapping
      • Explorer Magazine
    • Professional Development
      • Online Courses
      • Educator Community
      • Grants for Educators
      • Grosvenor Teacher Fellowships
    • Blog
    • Student Experiences
      • GeoChallenge
      • Explorer Classroom
      • Student Matinees
  • Events
    • Visit the Museum
      • Contributing Membership
      • Group Sales
      • Museum Store
    • Browse All Events
      • Watch Past Events
    • Host an Exhibition
  • Funding Opportunities
    • Grants Program
    • Support Our Work

National Geographic Headquarters
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

ABOUT
  • National Geographic Society
  • National Geographic Partners
  • News and Impact
  • Contact
EXPLORE
  • Our Explorers
  • Our Projects
  • Resources for Educators
  • Museum and Events
  • Technology and Innovation
JOIN US
  • Ways to Give
  • Apply for a Grant
  • Careers
Donate Get Updates
Connect
Connect

National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. © 1996 - 2021 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.
Privacy Notice |  Sustainability Policy |  Terms of Service |  Code of Ethics

Resource Library | Video

Resource Library
Video

Lazy River Drifters

Lazy River Drifters

National Geographic Explorer, Gabby Corradino squelches through the mud of the Anacostia River to show us how many plankton live in Washington, D.C., United States, and why they are so cool. Plankton are responsible for most of the oxygen we breathe, but that is only one of many reasons to appreciate these tiny organisms. Gabby also teaches us how to collect plankton in our own backyards, so we can get up close and personal with our tiny neighbors.

Grades

5 - 8

Subjects

Biology, Ecology, Earth Science

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Google Classroom
  • Email
  • Print
  • Credits

    Media Credits

    The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

    Web Producer

    Andre Gabrielli, National Geographic Society

  • User Permissions

    For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. She or he will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

    Media

    If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

    Text

    Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

    Interactives

    Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources
  • Geography in America's Capital

    As "The Geographer" at the National Geographic Society, it's Alex Tait's job to know a lot about maps. Alex guides us through the streets of Washington, D.C., United States, using geography to show the evolution of our nation's capital. From boundary stones placed in the 1790s marking off the city's distinctive diamond outline to the modern-day Metro system, Alex shows us why Washington, D.C., looks and feels the way it does today.

    View Video
  • Backyard Birding

    National Geographic Explorer Pete Marra is an ornithologist, which is a fancy title for someone who studies birds. He started "birding" at six years old and has since dedicated his career to studying birds and figuring out why and how they migrate thousands of kilometers a year. Pete shows us just how many birds fly through Washington, D.C., United States, and even catches a couple in his backyard—giving us an intimate look at our feathered friends.

    View Video
Related Resources
  • Geography in America's Capital

    As "The Geographer" at the National Geographic Society, it's Alex Tait's job to know a lot about maps. Alex guides us through the streets of Washington, D.C., United States, using geography to show the evolution of our nation's capital. From boundary stones placed in the 1790s marking off the city's distinctive diamond outline to the modern-day Metro system, Alex shows us why Washington, D.C., looks and feels the way it does today.

    View Video
  • Backyard Birding

    National Geographic Explorer Pete Marra is an ornithologist, which is a fancy title for someone who studies birds. He started "birding" at six years old and has since dedicated his career to studying birds and figuring out why and how they migrate thousands of kilometers a year. Pete shows us just how many birds fly through Washington, D.C., United States, and even catches a couple in his backyard—giving us an intimate look at our feathered friends.

    View Video

National Geographic Headquarters
1145 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036

ABOUT
  • National Geographic Society
  • National Geographic Partners
  • News and Impact
  • Contact
EXPLORE
  • Our Explorers
  • Our Projects
  • Resources for Educators
  • Museum and Events
  • Technology and Innovation
JOIN US
  • Ways to Give
  • Apply for a Grant
  • Careers
Donate Get Updates
Connect
Connect

National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. © 1996 - 2021 National Geographic Society. All rights reserved.
Privacy Notice |  Sustainability Policy |  Terms of Service |  Code of Ethics

Educational Resources in Your Inbox

Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.

sign up

Educational Resources in Your Inbox

Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.
sign up