University of Wisconsin
Follow the Drop
Young surveyors look for patterns in water flow around campus. Using a map of the school (that you will need to create), they mark the direction of the path of water. They also perform calculations for the volume that becomes runoff. The...
Curated OER
Taking the Boat to Manaus
Fifth graders apply the concepts they know regarding mass, volume and density in the previous activities to design a boat. Student teams must make a boat which can travel the waters of the Amazon Rainforest. Each group makes a...
Curated OER
Robo-Lobster
Introduce environmental science or engineering explorers to different forms of sampling. They read an article about "Robo-lobsters," lobsters being studied to help design robots that can used to sniff out pollution in ocean waters. The...
Curated OER
Appearances Are Deceiving
Young scientists study creeks around their area to see how clean the water really is. One way to tell is by the invertebrate populations that are present. This lesson introduces a game which learners simulate a variety of species found...
Curated OER
Chemistry of Life Study Guide
Biology learners should understand a few chemistry basics. Here is a worksheet that introduces them to the concepts of chemical reactions, molecular bonding, and the unique combination of properties that make water vital to life....
Curated OER
Using Waves on the Job!
A colorful and comprehensive PowerPoint highlights this lesson on waves. Junior geophysicists pretend that they are hired to analyze seismic waves. A worksheet is provided to go along with an online article about how compact discs work...
Curated OER
Making Clouds
In collaborative groups, mini-meteorologists investigate the conditions that must be present for clouds to form: cooling air, water vapor, and condensation nuclei. In addition to procedures, a chart for observations and some follow-up...
Curated OER
Rachel's Life is in a Hole
Explore how lack of access to water impacts peoples' lives in poor countries. Through text reading and discussion, middle schoolers are presented with the story of a young girl who lives and functions with limited water resources. They...
Curated OER
Land Plan Challenge
Links to two different versions of this mapping activity are available. In "The Small Version," youngsters design a town, keeping the water supply in mind. In "The Large Version," they also design a town, but they consider services and...
University of Wisconsin
Getting the Word Out
An appropriate way to celebrate and conclude the construction of a rain garden is to share it with the community. Small groups collaborate to design an outreach product such as a PowerPoint presentation, brochure, or poster, to draw...
Curated OER
Wheeling and Dealing NPS Wheel
A collection of three worksheets create a "Wheeling and Dealing NPS Wheel" when properly cut out and fastened together, This activity would be perfect when used with any study of how our water sources get polluted.
Curated OER
Lithosphere and Groundwater
Focusing on the quality of our water sources, these slides are full of information about the aspects of our soil and groundwater that may affect pollution. The leaching of pollutants and their impact on health is explained. ...
College Board
2013 AP® Environmental Science Free-Response Questions
While well intentioned, human intervention sometimes has negative effects. Learners explore this and other environmental topics as they respond to four free response exam questions. Topics span from the implementation of bioelectric cars...
Curated OER
Water Magic
Young scholars conduct experiments with ice, water and steam to observe the water cycle. They discuss substances that water accumulates from the Earth as it moves through its cycle.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle: Revising the Drafts
Learners explore states of matter by concentrating on the ways in which water moves between its solid, liquid, and gaseous states in a variety of Earth environments familiar to the students. Learners represent these movements in dance.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle - Main Components
Present the water cycle to your middle schoolers with this lesson. After an anticipatory set, they participate in a Q & A session about the terms associated with the water cycle: evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and...
Curated OER
Water and Ice
Students explore water and ice. In this physical science lesson, students participate in a science inquiry and observe the characteristics of ice and water. Students compare the differences between a solid and liquid and record their...
Curated OER
Iceberg Ahead: How Does Temperature Affect the Density of Water?
Demonstrate how ice floats on water and get the class thinking about why icebergs are so deceiving. Investigators then experiment with mixing water of the same temperature and water of different temperatures. Make sure to explain the...
Kenan Fellows
Designing a Water Treatment Plant
How does dirty water get clean enough to drink? After viewing a PowerPoint that outlines the process water goes through at a water treatment plant, groups work together to design a chlorination chamber for a treatment plant.
Curated OER
A Comparison of Land and Water Temperature
Students examine NASA satellite observations of surface temperature and investigate the seasonal changes of land and water temperature.
Curated OER
How Clean is the Water?
Students read about and discuss water and how it is used as a resource and how engineers use technology to preserve it. In this water lesson plan, students look at a picture of water treatment and tell what is wrong with the picture.
Curated OER
Displacement of Water
To calculate the volume of a stopper by using the method of water displacement., students work with a web animation. They observe the method and then click a button to gather information about the calculations for the stopper dropped in...
Curated OER
Peace Corps Challenge—Solving the Water Quality Issue
Students create a Wanzuzu newspaper. In this Peace Corps lesson, students participate in a discussion regarding water pollution in Wanzuzu. Students conduct further research about the issue and create newspapers that detail the problems...
Curated OER
Where Does Water Come From?
Perfect for children in pre-K through 1st grade, this presentation provides simplified information about the water cycle. While no academic language is used, the water cycle is fully represented in clear and easy-to-follow slides. This...