This USGS Fact sheet provides an overview of water quality considerations. Each brief section contains definitions and descriptions. The topics include how to measure water quality, why there are standards and guidelines, the effect of natural processes, the effect of human activities, pathogens found in water, and links to sites in USGS with additional information. Full description.

A Texas-based task force produced this website as a public outreach and education tool about urban storm water runoff. A kids section provides games, fun facts, illustrations, and frequently asked questions. A public section offers downloadable education brochures on pesticides, fertilizers, storm water quality, and reporting illicit activity. The professional section provides handbooks and guidelines ... Full description.

Several agencies and organizations working to prevent discharges of oils into the marine and coastal environment offer educational material and special activities for children and students. The overall purpose of these efforts is to make young people familiar with the marine environment, encourage them to care about it, and understand the consequences of abusing it. Several of the educational websites ... Full description.

This lesson offers students an introduction to river ecology and the effects of human activity on watersheds. They will learn the basics of river ecology; research how dams affect the environment; and study a specific watershed in the United States. Assessment materials, extension activities, and links to related sites are inlcuded. Full description.

Visitors can access a variety of information on global warming, emissions and impacts of greenhouse gases, and what is being done to evaluate and remedy the effects of a changing climate. Interactive calculators are available online for assistance with estimating greenhouse gas emissions of specific activities and evaluating emission reduction opportunities. A searchable database by topic, information ... Full description.

In this lesson, students explore how groundwater contamination can spread through aquifers by participating in a groundwater plume simulation. Students will consider where they would look to determine the source of groundwater contamination and where they could turn for assistance; explore the possible contamination of Nevada groundwater by a major nuclear test site by reading and discussing, "Concerns ... Full description.

This is a multimedia interactive simulation that teaches students about emergency preparedness, disaster safety, and weather and storm science. In the simulation, students visit a Florida family and end up preparing for and riding out a hurricane which hits during the visit. Students can track the storm on a map, watch weather updates, prepare emergency supplies, and develop a disaster emergency plan. ... Full description.

Visitors to the ImageBank can view and download photographs, remote imagery, and slide shows. The images are related to earth and space science topics such as dinosaurs, earthquakes, volcanoes, rocks and minerals, mining and petroleum, groundwater, planets and astronomical phenomena, and others. The site contains thousands of images and is searchable by category, continent, country, or keyword. A ... Full description.

In this lesson,students will play the role of a sailboat captain in The Hamptons, an upscale vacation venue, who must schedule sailing trips to amuse tourists and make money for the company. Using Monthly Wind Speed data from 1995-2005 from MyNASAData website, students will evaluate changes in the monthly wind speed, draw conclusions about how wind speed will effect their company positively or negatively, ... Full description.

This page is part of a larger USGS project called Water Science for Schools. This section covers different water-use topics and categories of water-use. A Spanish translation is available. Full description.