In this activity, younger students enact the process by which precipitation (rain, snow, and hail) falls on an area and becomes standing water, run-off, or groundwater. They will learn general information about precipitation processes, aquifers, and the importance of clean groundwater. Full description.

This interactive tour of the water cycle allows students to follow a water molecule from a home's plumbing system as it follows different routes through the hydrologic cycle. Students learn about how water is used, treated, and returned to the natural environment where it can cycle through liquid, solid, and gas phases. Full description.

This site uses a picture of a covered swimming pool as an example of a watershed and describes real-world watersheds and their processes, including precipitation, infiltration, evaporation, transpiration, and storage. Links to an interactive rainfall calculator and to related websites are included. Full description.

This site provides a discussion of the downward movement, or infiltration, of water from the surface into soil or porous rock. Graphics illustrate the processes affecting infiltration, including precipitation, soil characteristics and saturation, land cover, slope, and evapotranspiration. Links to additional sources of information are also provided. Full description.

This USGS site contains very useful descriptions about many aspects of ground water. The major topics include Ground Water, How Ground Water Occurs, Quality of Ground Water, Appraising the Nation's Ground-Water Resources, and a Glossary. This is a non-technical site, designed for use by the general public. Several charts and diagrams are also included in this site. Full description.

This lesson enables students to explore how water moves through the hydrologic cycle, eventually making its way to their drinking glasses. They will explore the components of Earth's hydrosphere, including surface and subsurface features, and prepare a diagram illustrating the path their drinking water follows as it cycles from the place of precipitation to their own faucets or taps. Assessment materials, ... 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.

This national organization is comprised of state and regional water resource management agencies and provides a means for members to exchange information and to work with federal agencies that share water management responsibilities. Focal points cover both surface and groundwater, and include watershed management, dam safety, floodplain management, nonpoint source pollution, water quality standards, ... Full description.

This online magazine features news articles from around the world about legal, economic, and cultural factors related to water. The archives include articles from 1995-present and are searchable by topic: supply, quality, policy, conservation, litigation/rights, global resource, or by keyword. The site also provides a list of water meetings and conferences and a free sample of the Water Investment ... Full description.