This lesson is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into the classrooms across the country. It could be used in units on the early industrial period of American history and in courses on geography or science and technology. It will help students realize the role canals played in western expansion and in the evolution of transportation by focusing on the construction ... Full description.

BASINS is a multipurpose environmental analysis system for use by regional, state, and local agencies in performing watershed and water quality based studies. This new software makes it possible to quickly assess large amounts of point source and nonpoint source data in a format that is easy to use and understand. Installed on a personal computer, BASINS allows the user to assess water quality at ... Full description.

Flowing water from rivers and streams is a valuable and plentiful energy resource that people learned to use centuries ago to operate the machinery that was important to their livelihoods. This page features diagrams (some animated) that show the three main principles of water; various types of water wheels; and the modern hydroelectric turbine. There are also animations of various types of mills ... Full description.

This community education initiative supports the efforts of Native American tribal leaders, educators, and students to develop contemporary, scientifically accurate, and culturally sensitive water education resources, programs, and networking opportunities. A traveling exhibit provides a Native American point of view on protection and conservation of water resources. A teachers' guide is provided ... Full description.

This guide to organisms and environmental issues of the Chesapeake Bay and Mid-Atlantic Coast addresses restoration and protection of bay habitats, bay grasses, harmful algae, bay monitoring efforts, and organisms that live in the bay. There is also education section that features materials for teachers, students and volunteers, frequently asked questions about the bay, and a set of links to related ... Full description.

In this lesson, students explore the roles of oil and water in the Middle East, especially in Iraq. They use maps to look at the distribution of oil in the Middle East and discuss what it means for the different countries in the region. They also examine how water has influenced the region historically and politically (for example, how Iraq's access to water is limited to one small part of its border). ... Full description.

The site offers an interactive discussion of different vantage points associated with dam building. It describes some of the engineering and environmental issues that go into the process of selecting a site for building a dam and the conditions necessary for electrical generation. Links to classroom and family activities are organized by grade level. Full description.

This website is part of National Geographics Xpeditions Hall and includes lesson plans and activities related to the topic of the value of gold. This site covers the history of how gold became a valuable resource, the gold rush of America, and mining techniques. These lesson plans were written by educators and have been tested in the classroom. Full description.

This lesson will examine the conflict between development and the environment, and the attempts for a sound compromise while still helping the earth sustain the economic growth, expansion, and pressure we are exerting on its natural resources. Using estuaries as a case study, students will be encouraged to consider the interaction between environmental and economic demands, and to seek a balance that ... Full description.

"Human footprint" is a phrase used to describe the environmental impact humans have had on the Earth's surface. Students will use the Human Footprint interactive data map to analyze the degree of human impact in their hometown and make connections between areas of human impact and geographic factors. They will also have access to the Population Density layer map displaying areas that have been affected ... Full description.