Readers of this journal article can learn about data sent back to Earth by NASA's Lunar Prospector spacecraft, which indicates the presence of water in the form of ice at the Moon's north and south poles. Materials presented include an estimate of how much water exists, where and in what form it might occur, and what its economic value as a resource for human exploration might be. Full description.

This article from Astrobiology Magazine reports on the discovery of water in "cold" regions of space. Using data from the European Space Agency's Infrared Space Observatory, astronomers have determined that water is abundant in these cold, or quiescent regions of space where there are no stars, and that the majority of it occurs as ice with a small amount of water vapor. It is thought that these cold ... Full description.

NASA Investigators working with Mars Odyssey data may have discovered remnants of snow packs that have created a system of gullies in crater walls and other, more unusual places such as ridge crests, sand dunes, and hilltops. Readers of this journal article can learn about the snow packs and their potential to collect and shelter water beneath themselves, possibly providing a favorable environment ... Full description.

As part of this classroom activity, students will record and graph temperature data to learn about the search for water on Mars. Using models of frozen and ice-free "soils" constructed from readily available materials (a list is provided), they will examine (by periodically measuring temperature and graphing the results) how the ice content of the Martian soil affects the rate at which a warm probe ... Full description.

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Program is an important part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) strategy to understand global climate change. The ARM Program has established three outdoor research sites around the world. Scientists gather and use the data from these sites to study the effects of sunlight, radiant energy, and clouds on temperatures, weather, and climate. This site ... Full description.

This is a web-based activity using satellite images of the Gulf of Maine and the Carribean Sea. Students are asked to examine satellite data of sea surface temperatures. From this data they are to determine the temperature scale and how temperature differences are indicated. They also examine phytoplankton density images to determine where high phytoplankton densities are. Additional activities are ... Full description.

In this lesson, students focus on the tremendous public interest in the potential of extraterrestrial life. Students read and discuss an article about the search for alien life. They then divide into small groups and discuss the issues and implications of this search. Finally, they write about the complex issues involved in this search and its implications in one of several suggested genres. Full description.

This activity examines many of the reasons why it is important to construct large dams, specifically, the three major dams across the Gunnison River leading into Black Canyon (Colorado). The importance of the dams for irrigation, electrical supply and recreation throughout history is explored. Students will learn about the different types of dam constructions, with pros and cons for each. There is ... Full description.

Ships travelling between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie use the Welland Canal. Beginning with a conversation between characters Mathise, Geo, and Trig, they explain how a lock in the canal operates by gravity alone, without pumps. The characters use mathematics to solve problems such as how long the locks take to fill and how to express the volume and flow of water in more common terms (bathtubs of water ... Full description.

This is the site of a not for profit educational initiative. The site strives to promote competency in literacy and mathematics using lessons that focus on an aquaculture themes. These lessons include Understanding Percents (through the management of classroom fish), Equivalent Fractions (use food-coloring, sugar, and a dissolved oxygen tests to determine concentrations), and Japanese Garden (where ... Full description.