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.

Access to and control of the Shatt-al-Arab waterway has been an ongoing conflict between the countries of Iran and Iraq. This resource explores the major issues associated with this conflict; history, religion, navigation rights and trade. Full description.

In this lesson, students explore the use of storm-tracking technologies, research how natural disasters are predicted, and assess the importance of these technologies. A case study of a New England snow storm and its impacts is presented for discussion, along with suggestions for retrieving information about forecasts as well as links to weather prediction and warning sites. Full description.

The MYPond project is an investigation of the chemical reactions, biological processes and inflow/outflow balances found within a pond environment. Instrumentation has been established in two ponds near each other so that a variety of chemical and physical properties are measured at various depths at 15-minute time intervals. Data can be viewed either in real-time or accessed from an archive, and ... Full description.

These lessons help students develop a better understanding of the importance of well-managed water use while exploring the concepts of a watershed, land use, aquifers, and water engineering. The material focuses on the historical water use decision affecting the Owens River Valley in California. Materials lists, procedures, assessment recommendations, and extension ideas are provided. Links to additional ... Full description.

In this lesson students explore the impacts of concentrated development and sprawl on water quality and land use. The concept of a watershed is introduced, along with information on basins and tributaries and the impacts of growth and nitrogen loading. The students are able to develop a plan to reduce nitrogen runoff to a targeted level. Several handouts and maps are included. Full description.

This book of 19 essays, written by Earth scientists, provides insight into the dynamic processes that shape the Earth. The essays are supported by case studies describing a range of research projects (including Looking for Life in Antarctica-and Mars, Mapping Mt. Rainer, and Mapping Hot Springs on the Deep Ocean Floor) and profiles of historically significant Earth scientists (Including Inge Lehmann, ... Full description.

These quizzes are designed to inspire understanding of the physical, biological and human processes that influence our home planet and cover topics from archaeology to zoology. Several resources for discovering and revealing the meaning of image features may help new geographical detectives to solve the challenging quiz questions. A new Where on Earth...? mystery quiz appears periodically. Answers ... Full description.

El Nino is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific with important climatic consequences around the globe. This NOAA theme page features links to widely distributed information. Includes data, graphics, forecasts, historical perspectives, and in-depth analysis. It is intended to be useful to scientists, administrators, students and the general public. Links include sites ... Full description.

This live, interactive electronic field trip to a North Carolina estuary is conducted on two dates each year. Previous field trips are stored for non-interactive access. Teachers can access resources on such topics as estuarine and coastal monitoring, management, cultural traditions, invasive species, and habitat restoration. The lesson plans include grade level and standards applicable for technology, ... Full description.