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.

This site presents two lessons that work together to help students understand who and what pollutes our water systems, as well as what may be done to try to clean it up. The activities are interdisciplinary in nature and involve the use of critical thinking and analysis to solve a problem. Full description.

This distance learning course is a 28-session videotape series that explores wildlife conservation and management in the United States and throughout the world. The videotapes include lectures by professors from Oregon State University, Eastern Oregon University, and by specialists from state and federal natural resource agencies. The course is divided into four parts: 1) social and political aspects ... Full description.

Users can search this site for information on environmental pollution in the areas where they live. The materials presented here include a pollution ranking that shows regions and companies with the worst environmental records, environmental justice analyses that identify which ethnic or income groups bear more than their share of environmental burdens, and a searchable listing of toxic chemicals. Full description.

In this lesson, students create a community service advertising campaign that raises awareness about the importance of keeping trash out of the marine ecosystem. Students work in teams to create different ad campaigns geared toward particular target audiences and produce posters promoting their messages. Links to additional information and resources are also provided. Full description.

These curriculum materials are from The Water Sourcebook series, a popular set of hands-on water environment activities. The activities, arranged by grade level, range from construction of a big book about water in the life of a fish for younger students to the exploration of the physics of artesian flow for older learners. Topics include the water cycle, conservation, consumption, contamination, ... Full description.

This site focuses on children's water education and activities, offering several opportunities to investigate various topics about water use, treatment, and conservation. The site emphasizes New Jersey water issues however, the concepts are broad enough to extend to all states. There are handouts and visuals on fun facts about water, the water cycle, and the process of water treatment and distribution. ... Full description.

The site offers virtual tours of a hydroelectric project, a fish passage, and a generator. It shows how dams operate, the equipment necessary for electrical generation, explains the electrical generation process, and touches on some environmental issues. Other materials presented here include a timeline about the discovery of electricity and power generation, a glossary, and links to newspaper articles ... Full description.

The Stream Study provides a method to determine the water quality of a stream based on the collection and identification of stream-bottom macroinvertebrates. This is a multi-chapter activity designed for teachers, parents, and students. Specific sections of this site include the following: why it is important to study stream-bottom macroinvertebrates, identification of stream-bottom macroinvertebrates, ... 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.