The USGS explains the definition of a river and how a river is supplied with water. Included is a cross section of a river. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This study guide summarizes key points about streams and rivers. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.

Recognize what physical characteristics create rivers on Earth's surface. Identify where floods occur and what makes them happen.

Learn how rivers work and the importance of them by completing the five activities. Explore rivers further by clicking on one of the numerous links provided.

In this activity, explore the distinct characteristics of a river by creating a river model inside a pan with sand, pebbles, and real water.

Cut out the fact cards to make a river basin trivia game. Assign points to each of the facts and hold a class competition. Can also be downloaded from here as a PDF file that includes score cards.

A detailed description of stream formation and the erosion process that occurs.

This book was created by fifth and sixth grade students at in Amherst, Massachusetts. As part of study of the local watershed, students interviewed and worked with local scientists who were involved with studying and promoting the health...

By testing your local water quality, you will be able to compare your results with students around the world. Register your class, and follow the project instructions. Additional teacher resources, references, and Ask-an-Expert sources...

An illustrated diagram of the water cycle that students can use for study.

An introduction and overview of freshwater wetland habitats.

Brief overview of types of freshwater biomes and the plants that live in them, as well as adaptations that plants have made in order to survive there.

Ocean currents have a profound effect on the climates of the continents, especially those regions bordering on the ocean. The Gulf Stream makes northwest Europe much more temperate than any other region at the same latitude, and the...

In this activity, students will identify aquatic insects and animals that live in a stream or river, learn about the water quality based on the type of macroinvertebrates collected, and return the collected critters to the water.