Lesson Plan
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TE Lesson: How Clean is that Water?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the factors the affect water quality, and allow for animals and plants to live. They look at how engineers apply water quality information when making stream modifications in order to ensure drinking water quality. They...
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Is Our Water Healthy?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students test water for a least one chemical characteristic. They hypothesize how a storm event might change the chemical characteristics of a stream. Students collect water samples and use the chemical test to test the water.
Lesson Plan
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The Great Water Hunt

For Teachers K
Students examine a globe to locate the bodies of water present and create a representation of those bodies of water for further exploration of the concept. Extensions of their observations are made at school, home, and the community.
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Surface Water and Groundwater

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine distribution of water and minerals. In this surface and groundwater instructional activity, students conduct an experiment with fresh and salt water making hypothesis and drawing conclusions about minerals. 
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What's Dancing in the Water?

For Teachers K - 6th
Students learn about watershed, as well as the different forms and uses of water. In this water forms lesson, students brainstorm water sources and uses. Students read the book Water Dance and discuss water examples. Students complete a...
Lesson Plan
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Freshwater Fish Water Quality

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders work together to complete an experiment about the quality of freshwater. In groups, they collect fresh water samples from a variety of sources and test the pH levels. After completing a KWL chart, they test the amout of...
Lesson Plan
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Air and Water in the Environment

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the traits of water condensation and evaporation. In this water cycle lesson plan, students develop an awareness of the importance of water for sustaining life. Students participate in a hands-on activity in which water...
Lesson Plan
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Living Organisms as Indicators of Pollutants in Fresh Water Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students observe the effects of pollution on living organisms. In this pollution lesson plan, students observe fresh water Hydra and look at their structures and movement. They place samples of pond and lake water on the Hydra and...
Lesson Plan
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Water Cycle Terrariums

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore the water cycle. They build a model of the water cycle in the form of a terrarium and explain how it demonstrates the water cycle. In addition, they draw a representation of the water cycle demonstrated in the terrarium.
Lesson Plan
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Go to the Source- Your Town's Tap Water

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners investigate their town's tap water. In this water quality lesson plan, students complete a simple taste-testing experiment and online research to investigate tap water.
Lesson Plan
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Point- vs. Non-point Pollution

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Learners differentiate between point and non-point pollution and determine how the different types of pollution are harmful to aquatic ecosystems. They complete a series of tests on a sample of "polluted" water and a sample of "pure" water.
Lesson Plan
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Water: Naturally Cleaned

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use stream trays covered in different types of rocks or soil to investigate infiltrates and runoff. In this water pollution lesson, students work in groups with stream trays that have different substrates. They write a paragraph...
Lesson Plan
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Stream Watch

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars discuss why it is important to take care of streams, what is non-point source and point source pollution, what are some causes of pollution in streams, and what can we do to prevent some of these causes of pollution? They...
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Groundwater as Part of the Water Cycle

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study the effects of soil and rocks on filtering groundwater.  In this groundwater lesson students complete a lab activity that includes sources of contamination. 
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The Great Water Hunt

For Teachers K
Students create a model of the land to water ratio in a large group and search for all the places water is used at their school while on a Great Water Hunt. They identify where water can be found and compare how much of world is covered...
Lesson Plan
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Water Exploration Station

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the characteristics of water. In this water exploration lesson plan, students participate in various learning centers to inquire how water drains and how to increase the flow of water. Students use estimation and...
Lesson Plan
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Let the River Run

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the environment by reading a story in class. For this water formation lesson, students define environmental terms such as rivers, streams, gulf, oceans and lakes. Students read the story A River Ran Wild and discuss the...
Lesson Plan
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The Water in Our Lives: Kit Practice

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine a local water source using testing kits to determine water qualitiy. They identify the pollutants and contaminants in each sample. They determine if samples fall within an acceptable range for drinking water.
Lesson Plan
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Sediment Sleuths

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Are you looking for a good, solid lesson on sedimentary rocks? This one, produced by the Illinois State Museum, is just such a lesson. Middle schoolers identify common rocks and minerals by analyzing sediments from local water sources....
Lesson Plan
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Erosion Lab

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore variables that influence the rate of erosion due to the 4 major agents. They work as a group and practice conducting experiments according to the scientific method. Students comprehend that communicating ideas...
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What Is a Watershed?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of water pollution. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students discover what watersheds are and consider how to protect them.
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"Tri-County" Project--Water Cycle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students analyze the parts of the water cycle through research and experimentation. Particular attention is paid to the processes of evaporation and condensation.
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To Protect Your Streams, Protect Your Mountains

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students build and experiment with a watershed to understand the effects of pollution. In this movement of water lesson, students work in groups creating rock formations and change the viscosity of the liquids falling down the mountain....
Lesson Plan
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Water filtration with Plants

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explain how soil and plants effect contaminated water in nature.  In this filtration lesson, 6th graders work in groups to test biofiltration units. Students determine which biofiltration units work best and how they...