Water: H₂O = Life Online Resources for Educators

From the American Museum of Natural History

• Water for Educators
  amnh.org/education/water
  Use these free online resources to help teach water-related topics, including the properties of water, the importance of water to living things, climate and Earth processes, and the conservation of marine and freshwater habitats.

• Science Bulletins
  amnh.org/sciencebulletins
  Investigate current research about water through videos and interactives. Look for the Earth Features such as "Melting Ice, Rising seas" and Bio Features such as "Bronx River Restoration" and "Our Oceans, Ourselves."

• OLogy
  ology.amnh.org/water
  At the Museum's website for kids, students can take a quiz on virtual water (the water we didn't know we're using), play a game to explore how ocean creatures survive under water, find out how we can protect freshwater and marine habitats, and more!

• Your Water On Tap
  amnh.org/education/waterontap
  Students can explore how drinking water is delivered and treated, and how wastewater and storm water is processed.

Additional Web Links

• Environmental Kids Club
  epa.gov/kids/
  This EPA's environmental education site illustrates the different steps of the water treatment process, a "pollution drawing gallery," and an interactive "what's wrong with this picture?"

• EPA Water Teaching Resources
  epa.gov/teachers/water.htm
  This is a comprehensive list of water-related teaching resources for all grades, assembled by the Environmental Protection Agency.

• Create a Wetland Scene Lesson Plan
  nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/16/g35/freshwater35.html
  Correlating with Geography Standard 16, this lesson plan from National Geographic explains the importance of wetlands and asks student groups to research and report upon various types of wetlands. Includes assessment, extensions, and links.

• Down the Drain: How Much Water Do You Use?
  k12science.org/curriculum/drainproj/index.html
  Developed by the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, this collaborative project explains how kids can figure out their daily water use, collect date from other places around the world, and consider conservation strategies. Includes lesson plan and activities.

• H₂O Conserve
  h2oconserve.org
  Learn how to make water conservation a part of your every life. You'll find a water calculator, water saving tips, glossary, and information on a wide variety of water-related topics.

• Know H2O
  knowh2o.org
  Take the interactive water quiz to see how much you know about water, and explore how you can make a difference. Educators can download free lesson plans.

• NWF Water Calculator
  nwf.org/water/watercalculator.cfm
  Designed by the National Wildlife Federation, this site enables students to calculate personal water usage and compare it to the state average. Part of a five-part water education and conservation resource.

• USGS Water Calculator
  ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sq3.html
  With this calculator produced by the US Geological Survey, students can find out how much water they use at home on a typical day. Then explore other topics such as Earth's water and the water cycle.

• USGS Water Science for Schools
  water.usgs.gov/droplet
  The US Geological Survey's Water Science for Schools site will grab kids' attention with graphics, activities, quizzes, and fun facts about the properties of water.

• Voices of Youth
  unicef.org/voy/explore/wes/explore_wes.php
  Voices of youth speak out about water issues (in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic) on this UNICEF-sponsored site. Includes games, real-life stories, fact sheets, and links.

• Water Cycle Lesson Plan
  sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?BenchmarkID=4&DocID=393
  This well-conceived lesson is designed to help students in grades 3-5 understand how water changes form over the course of the water cycle.

• Water Facts and Figures
  unesco.org/water/wwap/facts_figures/
  Sponsored by UNESCO, this multilingual site compares the way water is priced around the world and its value in different cultures. Links to a wide range of international water-related initiatives and resources.

• Water Footprint
  waterfootprint.org
  This site explains the concept of a water footprint (the amount of water used to produce the goods and services consumed by an individual, business, or nation) and explores the implications through a water footprint calculator, a photo gallery of products, case studies, research, and links.

• Wondrous Water Lesson Plan
  nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20070710tuesday.html
  Based on The New York Times article "Small, Yes, but Mighty: The Molecule Called Water", this lesson plan provides experiments and activities that investigate the properties of water, and gets students to reflect on its importance. Includes a range of extension activities.

 

© 2007 American Museum of Natural History. All rights reserved.