Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Birth of the Environmental Protection Agency (Epa)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
By the late 1960s, issues of unchecked land development, urban decay, and air, noise, and water pollution came to Americans' attention. In November 1971, the newly created Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a large-scale...
Website
Other

National Environmental Education Foundation

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides environmental education on subjects including health and wellness, water purity, Public Lands Day, and environmental business concerns.
Website
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Epa's Environmental Education Center

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A collection of fact sheets, brochures, and web pages about environmental issues. Topics include acid rain and air pollution, ecosystems, human health, waste and recycling, conservation, and water-related concepts and issues.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Water on Tap: What You Need to Know

For Students 9th - 10th
Downloadable booklets with basic information about the U.S. water supply, e.g., where our drinking water comes from.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Ground Water and Drinking Water

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the safety of drinking water, find information on agencies that oversee our water, and gain access to the current drinking water standards and regulations.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Environmental Reform

For Students 5th - 8th
Environmental awareness in the United States became more focused upon the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. Read about student protests, presidential legislation, and a new desire to protect the environment.
Lesson Plan
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Tceq: Lesson Plans & Resources for Teaching Environmental Sciences [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
A large collection of lesson plans on environmental topics. The lessons are broken up into the broad categories of air, water, and waste, and look at issues around quality, pollution, conservation, and recycling. There are activities for...
Website
US Department of Agriculture

China's Agricultural Water Policy Reforms [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
"This report documents the problem of water scarcity in parts of northern China and describes China's agricultural water management policies as well as reforms underway to encourage water conservation." (USDA) (PDF Format)
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Glaciers, Water and Wind, Oh My!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This hands-on activity explores five different forms of erosion (chemical, water, wind, glacier and temperature). Students rotate through stations and model each type of erosion on rocks, soils and minerals. The students record their...
Lesson Plan
Other

Earth Day Network: Conserving Water Through Art [Pdf]

For Teachers K - 1st
A lesson challenging students to develop ways to conserve water in their homes after understanding the impact of water scarcity. A promise will be made by each student and a reminder craft created to help them keep the promises.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Natural and Urban "Stormwater" Water Cycle Models

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students apply their understanding of the natural water cycle and the urban stormwater water cycle, as well as the processes involved in both cycles to hypothesize how the flow of water is affected by altering precipitation.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Module Index

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Series of self-guided tutorials covers the topics of water quality, ecosystems, biodiversity, and energy sources including a summary of important concepts as well as a glossary.
Website
Other

Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Life in a Spring

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn all about the diverse species that live in the Florida Springs. Separate sections for fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds and mammals, insects and invertebrates, and plants.
Interactive
National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Environmental Health Services: Lead Buster Club

For Students 3rd - 8th
This resource is an interactive simulation that will challenge you to find sources of lead in your environment.
Unit Plan
Geographypods

Geographypods: Patterns in Environmental Quality and Sustainability

For Students 11th - 12th
This collection of five learning modules looks at issues related to environmental change and sustainability. Topics addressed include changes in the atmosphere, soil, water, and biodiversity, and what can be done to counteract this and...
Website
Other

Icpdr: Ships and Environment to Share Danube River

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a comprehensive analysis of the importance of the Danube River Basin and ways to balance human and ecological needs in the basin. The reason behind this study is the European Union's move to open shipping lanes in the Danube and...
Website
Columbia University

The Earth Institute at Columbia University

For Students 9th - 10th
Bringing people together to discuss Earth's environmental problems, The Earth Institute addresses climate change, environmental degradation, poverty, disease, and sustainable use of resources.
Article
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Our Responsibilities Under the Safe Drinking Water Act

For Students 9th - 10th
This 1975 article describes the legislation that was passed to regulate the safety of drinking water.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Epa Response to Bp Spill in the Gulf of Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the facts about what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is doing in response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Extramural Research Science Topics

For Students 9th - 10th
This EPA website has links to many science topics about which the Environmental Protection Agency has concerns.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Private Drinking Water Wells

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information on what to do after a flood to protect well water from contamination, the testing of private well water, and protecting private well water.
Handout
National Institutes of Health

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Let's Talk About Water

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Discover why water is so important, especially clean water. Find out where water comes from and how we can make it safe to drink and free from pollution.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Summary of the Clean Water Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a brief overview of the Clean Water Act. Includes links to its history and to information about compliance and enforcement.
Activity
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Are You a Water Waster?

For Students K - 1st
In this activity, students monitor how much water is used if the water is left running while they brush their teeth. They use that information to calculate how much the whole family would use. They learn how much water can be conserved...