Education
The Water Resources Mission Area provides educational resources for everyone from K-12 students and educators to water-resource professionals. Below are some of the educational materials and training resources we offer.
Water Science School
An educational website where people of all ages can learn about water. Explore data, pictures, resources for educators, and more.
Water Cycle Diagrams
Our newest diagram depicts the global water cycle, as well as how human water use affects where water is stored, how it moves, and how clean it is.
Our Water Our Lives: Floods
This Teacher Guide includes background information, lesson plans, and examples of student answers for four lessons about floods. The Student Worksheet includes student activities and questions. This can be downloaded and printed or transferred to a digital classroom document.
Our Water, Our Lives: California
This Teacher Guide includes background information, lesson plans, and examples of student answers for four lessons about water resources in California. The Student Worksheet includes student activities and questions. It can be downloaded and printed or transferred to a digital classroom document.
Our Water, Our Lives: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed
This Teacher Guide includes background information, lesson plans, and examples of student answers for three lessons about the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Student Worksheet includes student activities and questions. This can be downloaded and printed or transferred to a digital classroom document.
USGS On The Road
Watch all episodes of USGS On The Road, a web-series about USGS scientists and water science from all corners of Maryland, Delaware, and DC.
Season 1 received the 2023 Shoemaker Award for Communications Product Excellence for Social Media.
Karst Interest Group (KIG) Workshop
The Karst Interest Group’s (KIG) mission is to encourage and support collaboration and technology transfer among scientists working in karst areas. The KIG encourages cooperative studies between USGS Programs and Water Science Centers, and between USGS and other Federal agencies, State and local agencies, and universities.
The 9th USGS KIG Workshop will be October 22-24, 2024 in Nashville, TN.
Sound Sediment Science
A training course to augment USGS Course H-17-037, Acoustic Index Method for Estimating Fluvial Suspended Sediment and USGS Techniques and Methods Report 3C-5
Principal Aquifers
An aquifer is a geologic formation, a group of formations, or a part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs. This site explains the geology of aquifers and provides a general overview and maps of the principal aquifers of the United states.
Water education posters
Our Water Education Posters present nine different water-related topics drawn in a unique and creative cartoon format. These downloadable posters include additional information and activities appropriate for students in elementary and middle school.
Science in Your Watershed
The Science in Your Watershed website helps you find scientific information organized on a watershed basis. This information, coupled with observations and measurements made by the watershed groups, provides a powerful foundation for characterizing, assessing, analyzing, and maintaining the status and health of a watershed.