In this experiment, students investigate the evaporation of water as part of a solution to a simulated mystery. They will compare rates of evaporation under different conditions, demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of evaporation, and be able to explain evaporation in the context of the water cycle. Full description.

This downloadable booklet provides an overview of wetlands for younger students. Topics include what a wetland is, plants and animals that inhabit them, the many terms (marsh, swamp, etc.) used to describe them, what to do when visiting wetlands, and what functions wetlands perform in the environment. Full description.

This lesson will help students to become familiar with public lands in the United States. Students will consider clues about the scenic, biological, and historical treasures of some of our public lands and use the clues to help identify and locate them on a map. After completing these activities students should be able to articulate the difference between public land and private land, name reasons ... Full description.

This text discusses differences in estuaries in different regions of the United States. It contrasts the fjord-like estuaries of the rocky Maine coast with the sandy barrier beaches, islands, and enclosed bays and sounds further south. The site also calls attention to the difference between the East Coast and the Northwest coast of emergence. The point is made that although they differ, all estuaries ... Full description.

This activity will help younger students learn what groundwater is and observe some of the components of a groundwater system. Students will see what groundwater looks like and learn some basic groundwater vocabulary. They will observe aquifers, surface water, water table, saturation zone, infiltration, and recharge. The activity requires common household items and can easily be done as a home project ... Full description.

Students can try their trivia skills with this list of questions concerning water. The questions deal with the physical properties of water, water sources, and consumption. Full description.

This activity is designed to demonstrate to students what an average storm drain collects during a rainfall event and how the water from storm drains can impact the water quality and aquatic environments of local streams, rivers, and bays. Students will discover how the pollutant damages the environment, that the people who are responsible for the pollutant do not want to damage the environment, and ... Full description.

This series of seven activities allows students to demonstrate knowledge about what ground water is, explain how it moves through the soil and how it interacts with surface water, and learn how it is extracted for use as drinking water. Students will discover that when water enters the saturated zone, it becomes part of the ground water, that the top of this saturated zone is called the water table, ... Full description.

In this activity, students respond to a questionnaire, score points for each question, and use their final score to calculate their ecological footprint (how much land is required to support their lifestyle). From this they can look up how many Earths would be required should every one on Earth share the same lifestyle, thus highlighting the inequality of wealth and quality-of-life distribution across ... Full description.

This activity can be used as a culmination to a module or unit on astronomy or space science. Working in small groups, students will select a site in space to visit that will be the most beneficial for exploration and they will be asked to justify their choice of destination. They are to plan their trip taking into account as many factors as possible including the length of time needed to reach their ... Full description.