Great Lakes Teacher Resources

Learn about French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier de La Salle. He established Fort Frontenac on the Great Lakes. He then traveled across the Great Lakes and explored the length of the Mississippi River, establishing Louisiana Territory at...

Study the great oral tradition of the Chippewa Tribe in the Great Lakes regions through their music collected by Frances Densmore. For classroom activities and lesson enhancements click on the link, "Chippewa Songs Activities."

Following the War of 1812, Canada realized it needed to find a water route between Montreal and the Great Lakes that was safer than using the St. Lawrence River. As a result, Ottawa's Rideau Canal and its 47 lock system were developed....

Learn about the Hudson River and the role it played in the westward and northward expansion of America (to the Great Lakes regions and to Canada) in the nineteenth century. Useful for understanding the importance of rivers as means of...

BackStory audio includes several stories organized around the theme Islands. The American History guys explore U.S. history by focussing on an alternative perspective of the island, from Hawaii to the Great Lakes, through the Caribbean...

For this lesson unit, students learn about transportation systems, including the Great Lakes canal system, and how modes of transportation has changed over time with advancements in technology. There is a large student research component...

Hamilton Harbour is home to the largest and most contaminated site within the Canadian side of the Great Lakes - Randle Reef. The site contains approximately 695,000 cubic meters of sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic...

Though written for grades 3-5, this lesson plan can be easily changed to help students of all ages learn about the Chippewa people. Additional resources provide historical, cultural, and geographical facts concerning this Native American...

High levels of mercury exposure can cause birth defects, permanent brain or kidney damage, and/or death. This resource focuses on the impacts of mercury in the environment. Learn how mercury can reap havoc on lakes and other aquatic...

The National Geophysical Data Center has transformed extensive ocean research into colorful video, 3D maps, charts posters and more! This site starts off with a film clip of a dive into the Marianas trench and then lead you to other...

A color coded map of North America which contains the regions inhabited by different aboriginal nations.

Detailed information about the hydrology and the geography of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Discusses water quality, aquatic species, and some of the ecoregions that surround the St. Lawrence Seaway, including lowlands and forests....

This resource provides statistical evidence, backgrounders, FAQs, climate impact reports, and suggested solutions to the global problem.

Track the history of exploration, settlement, fishing, and recreation on Lake Superior in this lengthy description of one of our Great Lakes.

A summary of Jean Nicolet's expedition to the western Great Lakes. The information is from an account written by a Jesuit priest who was a friend of Nicolet. Read the primary source by clicking on "Read this Document."

Discover the beauty of the Karner blue butterfly found in the Great Lakes region and the northeast United States.

Choose from a collection of games that tests your ability to put words in alphabetical order. Also includes additional games that let you perform other ordering tasks, such as putting presidents in order from most recent to earliest or...

Learn about the sea lamprey, an invasive species that lives in the Great Lakes. Understand how to recognize them, the damage they are doing, and what is being done to combat them.

This illustrated website features facts about lakes and ponds and their special place in geography, natural history, and as a biome.

This site provides a brief introduction to the river system and canals of Ohio. Includes a history of the canal system, details and maps of the drainage throughout the state, and how the river systems are used today.

A set of illustrated fact pages and activity sheets on different wetlands ecosystems, e.g. the Florida Everglades and Chesapeake Bay.

This site looks at the history, locks, dimensions, ecology, international trade, and tourism related to the St. Lawrence Seaway in Canada.

Kids learn about the major lakes of the United States including the Great Lakes, the Great Salt Lake, Crater, and Tahoe. Geography of the US.

On this site investigate the geography of the world's lakes such as Baikal, the Great Lakes, and the Caspian Sea.