Water

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Published by the World Economic Forum, this report outlines the many links between water, energy and climate change, with a particular focus on the water requirements of energy production.

RiverWorks Discovery is an education program teaching children and their families about the commerce, culture and conservation of America's Rivers. The website offers free resources for educators including booklets and river-based activity sheets.

Each year, in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, River of Words conducts a free international poetry and art contest for youth on the theme of watersheds. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place they live and to express, through poetry and art, what they discover. Curriculum materials and other resources are available online.

Planet H2O is a public television series on the world of water. On the web site, students can watch episodes, learn about water careers, investigate water issues and more. Resources for educators include lesson plans for teaching about water and the environment, as well as a teaching guide for using Planet H2O in the classroom.