Properties of Water

		What's the Big Idea? Water Article for grades 3 and up Did you know that all living things need water? Or that the water on Earth today is all we will ever have? Learn more about this precious resource.
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		What Is Water? Article for grades 9 through 12 A fundamental connection exists between life and liquid water. But what exactly is water? And what properties does water have that we couldn't possibly live without?
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		Supersaturated Salinity Activity for grades 3 through 8 You know that oil and water don't mix, but what about saltwater and freshwater? Find out firsthand with this kid-friendly experiment that examines both salinity and density.
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		That's Heavy! Activity for grades 3 through 12 Create the smallest of ocean currents in a glass baking dish. You'll see firsthand why saltwater is denser than freshwater and why salt sets the seas in motion.
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		Sinking Water Activity for grades 6 through 12 If you've spent even a few hours in a pool, you know that the deep end is colder than the shallow. But do you know why? Experiment with colored ice cubes for insight into water density.
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Water Conservation

		Continental Deformation: Creating the Basin and Range Article for grades 6 and up See first-hand how a team of geologists is combining traditional fieldwork with animated computer modeling to understand the geologic drama that has played out in the southwestern United States over the past 36 million years.
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		What Do You Know About Virtual Water? Activity for grades 3 and up Test your knowledge about virtual water, the water you didn’t know you were using.
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		Our Oceans, Ourselves Article for grades 6 through 12 Visit the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in the Bahamas—one of the largest no-take marine reserves in the world—to learn what the park is teaching us about restoring our global oceans.
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		Bronx River Restoration Article for grades 6 and up Watch conservation teams coax new life into the Bronx River—which was once filled with cars and motorcycles—as they restock it with native fish, lay down oyster beds, and remove invasive species along its shores.
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		Living With Biodiversity: Biodiversity and Your Water Supply Article for grades 3 through 12 As the world’s population increases, so does the pressure on its reserves of freshwater. Find out how you can help conserve this renewable resource for generations to come.
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		Be an Ocean Helper Activity for grades 3 through 8 Even if you live nowhere near the water, there are some simple ways you can help protect the oceans. What are you already doing to help? And what activities should you add?
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		Transformation of Biosphere: Damage to Soils and Fresh Waters Exhibition Materials for grades 6 through 12 It's not surprising that the larger the world's population grows, the more fresh water we consume. But what is surprising is just how much of this precious commodity we've depleted in recent years.
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		Reefs in Crisis Article for grades 9 through 12 Humans have harmlessly harvested coral reefs for thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of years. So why has our behavior in recent years suddenly put reefs at risk?
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		Restoration of the Elwha River by Dam Removal, Washington Article for grades 9 through 12 In a single century, the salmon population of Washington State's Elwha River shrunk by more than 99 percent. What caused this dramatic decline, and what can be done to turn it around?
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		Will the Fish Return? How Gear and Greed Emptied Georges Bank Article for grades 9 through 12 Georges Bank was once the richest fishing ground in the North Atlantic, but giant trawlers strip mined vast tracts of the ocean floor, and fish populations plummeted. Can the area recover?
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		Setting Rivers Free Article for grades 6 through 12 More than two million dams block virtually every waterway in America. But how many of these structures have seen their day? Learn what happens when dammed rivers are set free.
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Life in Water

		Milstein Hall of Ocean Life Exhibition Materials for all grades up to 12 More than two-thirds of the planet is covered by ocean, yet less than five percent of it has been explored. Dive in for an in-depth look at Earth's mysterious, fragile, and amazingly vital ocean.
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		What's the Big Idea? Marine Biology Article for grades 3 through 8 How is the ocean like a layer cake? What cool and spooky creatures live there? And just how important is the ocean to humans? Dive deep into marine biology with this kid-friendly introduction.
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		How Do Animals Live in Water? Article for grades 9 through 12 It's nearly impossible to imagine living in the ocean given how much paraphernalia we need to venture beneath its surface. So how do marine organisms cope?
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		Rubber Blubber Gloves Activity for grades 3 through 8 If you've ever dipped your toes in the ocean, you know the water can be downright chilly. So how do whales and walruses manage to stay warm in frigid waters? Find out with this fun hands-on activity.
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		Slowing the Flow Activity for grades 3 through 8 All mammals—dogs, sea lions, and even you—have an adaptation for surviving in cold water. Take the plunge, and learn why the mammalian diving reflex is your cold-water friend.
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		Water vs. Land Activity for grades 3 through 12 Imagine how your life would change if you lived in the water. What would you eat? And how would you get around—especially if, like a jellyfish, you didn't have a skeleton to support you?
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		Jellies Down Deep Article for grades 6 through 12 Gelatinous goo, one of the most abundant forms of ocean life, was all but invisible to science until recently. Take an in-depth look at jellies, from the microscopic to the meter-wide "Big Red."
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		Science Explorations: Investigate the Giant Squid Activity for grades 3 through 8 With unblinking eyes the size of soccer balls and a body that can stretch the length of a bowling alley, the giant squid has long fascinated humans. Investigate the largest invertebrate on Earth.
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Marine and Freshwater Habitats

		Dive Into Worlds Within the Sea Activity for grades 3 through 8 Which squirmy little creatures does the spiny lobster eat? Can you spot the weird greenish glow on the belly of the cookie-cutter shark? Show off your good thinking with a game of good linking.
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		Spectrum of Habitats Exhibition Materials for grades 6 through 12 Did you know that the world's deserts keep expanding each year? Or that islands have the highest animal extinction rate—75 percent? Take a closer look at the major habitats found on Earth.
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		Mangroves: The Ocean’s Most Productive Ecosystem Article for grades 9 through 12 Seawater contains enough salt to kill almost all flowering plants. Yet the ingenious mangrove "wades right into the ocean" and thrives in the niche between the land and the sea.
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		Work the System Article for grades 3 through 8 Did you know that forests with leaves above the water can grow in the ocean? Grab the magical magnifying glass, and see how many different plants and animals you can find in this virtual mangrove swamp.
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		Coral: Cities in the Sea Article for grades 9 through 12 In otherwise open water, coral reefs provide hard surfaces for animals to cling to and countless nooks and crannies for others to live in. Explore their fragile and dazzling beauty.
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		Create a Coral Reef Activity for grades 3 through 8 Did you know that, at their core, coral reefs are the skeletons of thousands of dead coral? Make your own coral reef diorama—with pasta, Play-Doh™, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, and hair curlers.
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		Antarctic Photo Gallery Article for grades 6 through 12 Working in the extreme environment of Antarctica calls for supreme gear and machines—that is, unless you're naturally outfitted, like an emperor penguin or elephant seal.
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Climate Change

		Living on Ice Activity for grades 3 and up Can you solve these four chilly puzzles about how people and animals live in the Arctic? Put your story telling skills to the test and collect new OLogy trading cards.
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		Arctic Story Puzzles Activity for grades Kindergarten and up Life in the icy Arctic isn't so hard if you're prepared! Solve the puzzle of how people and polar bears live in a land of ice.
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		Melting Glaciers: Clues to Climate Change Article for grades 6 through 12 Travel to the Peruvian Andes with a team of glaciologists, who are racing to observe the world's largest tropical ice cap—before global warming melts it away.
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		Melting Ice, Rising Seas Article for grades 6 and up Travel to the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet to find out what could happen if global warming melts it and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
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		Earth Viz: Sea Ice Article for grades 6 through 12 Over the past few decades, the amount of sea ice in the Arctic has gradually been dwindling. Investigate how this effect contributes to a trend toward warmer global temperatures.
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		Earth Viz: Arctic Sea Ice 1997-2005 Article for grades 6 through 12 The distribution of Arctic sea ice has been steadily declining over the past few decades. Explore how a positive feedback loop is contributing to warmer global temperatures.
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The Ocean and Climate

		How Did the Oceans Form? Article for grades 9 through 12 Seventy percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Where did it come from? Why has it persisted? For answers to these questions, you need to go back to the planet's beginnings.
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		The Ocean's Role in the Climate System Article for grades 6 through 12 The ocean has a huge capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. To combat global warming, should we modify the ocean's chemistry to increase its uptake rates?
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		Video Gallery: Atmospheric Circulation Article for grades 6 through 12 The atmosphere is a very complicated place with many variables. Not surprisingly, modeling it requires complex programming and sophisticated computers. Take a behind-the-scenes look at this work.
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		Video Gallery: Global Ocean Circulation Article for grades 6 through 12 What drives ocean circulation? How does the ocean's movement influence global climate? See firsthand how computer models are helping scientists answer these questions.
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		Just Add Water! Activity for grades 3 through 12 Mountain ridges, plateaus, rivers, and canyons ... Bet your first thought wasn't the bottom of the ocean! Create a model for a hands-on look at the "flooded land" that is the ocean.
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		NAO: Driving Climate Across the Atlantic Article for grades 9 through 12 The fickle Nordic sister of El Niño, the North Atlantic Oscillation regularly stirs up trouble in Europe, Canada, and the eastern US. Take an in-depth look at the little-known, yet significant, NAO.
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		The Path to El Niño Article for grades 3 through 8 Every two to seven years, wind, cloud, and sea level patterns change in the Pacific Ocean near the equator. Learn about this hard-to-predict climate change; then see if you can create your own El Niño.
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		Tsunami Science: Reducing the Risk Article for grades 6 through 12 Meet a mathematician who can craft a computerized tsunami. Then see how researchers are trying to get ahead of the next big wave to reduce the scope of its death and destruction.
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Reference Lists

		Water: H2O = Life Books for Kids Reference List for grades Kindergarten and up From the day in the life of a pond to a trip through the NYC water supply system, examine the world’s most precious resource with these kid-friendly titles.
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		Water: H2O = Life Books for Educators & Young Adults Reference List for grades 9 and up From a natural history of water to a look at the truth and lies about the global water crisis, take a closer look at the issues covered in the Water: H2O = Life exhibit.
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		Water: H2O = Life Online Resources for Kids Reference List for grades 3 and up Continue exploring the many ways water shapes our planets and our lives with this collection of kid-friendly Web sites.
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		Water: H2O = Life Online Resources for Educators Reference List for grades Kindergarten and up Help students dive deeper into water issues with the games, activities, tools, video, and other resources in these educational Web sites.
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