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Wetlands: A World in Our Backyard

Wetlands: A World in Our Backyard is a guide developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Comission that provides information and activities about wetlands for middle school educators and students. Each of the guide's chapters can be downloaded online.

Wetlands Education

Wetlands Education is a website from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that contains numerous activities, curricula, programs, teaching tools, videos and links all about wetlands and their importance.

Water - Use It Wisely

This website all about water conservation offers 100 water-saving tips, as well as a kids page with games and interactive online activities, and links to a variety of national and state-based organizations that focus on water conservation. Visitors may also download a home water audit in English or Spanish.

Water: H2O = Life

The Water: H2O = Life site is a companion to the American Museum of Natural History's exhibit of the same name. The site and exhibit explore the relationship between water and life, water's physical and chemical properties, how water is used by humans, and the importance of preventing water pollution. You will find excellent information and graphics on water issues, educator resources, lesson plans, and articles for all grade levels, and games and web activities for students. The exhibit will be on an international tour through September 2011.

Water Footprint

People use lots of water for drinking, cooking and washing, but even more for producing things such as food, paper, cotton clothes, etc. The water footprint is an indicator of water use that looks at both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business.

Water Conservation at DoSomething.org

DoSomething.org encourages teens to find the cause they care about and get the facts so they can take action. Resources for learning about water issues, a video on world water usage, articles on ways to make a difference, and water conservation tips are all found on their Water Conservation page.

Water and Wildlife from the National Wildlife Federation

People and wildlife depend on water to live, but if we don't make efforts to conserve and protect this valuable resource, we may be putting all living beings at risk. This feature from the National Wildlife Federation provides tips and information to help visitors learn why and how to conserve water and includes a personal water calculator.

USGS Water Science for Schools

Water Science for Schools, created by the U.S. Geological Survey, offers information on a variety of water-related subjects including pictures, data, and maps. The site provides an interactive center where students can voice opinions and test their water knowledge. Portions of the website are available in Spanish and Chinese, and The Water Cycle diagram is available in over 60 languages.

Texas Water Development Board K-12 Educational Resources

Provides a series of interactive presentations of different water related topics, including the water cycle, ground and surface water and using water wisely. Printable resources include coloring books and lesson plans for elementary, middle and high school levels titled "Raising Your Water IQ." The lesson plans address water issues in Texas but also include the study of groundwater, surface water, watersheds, water conservation and water availability.

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