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Teacher's Resources for Water Education

The USGS Water Science School offers many resources to help teach students all about water. 


 •  Water Science School HOME  •  Water Education 

 

The Water Science School likes to make life easier for teachers. Here we offer teacher guides with lesson plans and students worksheets complete with answers that can aid teachers in helping their students learn about water.

 

Lesson Plans

 

Water in Our World [Lesson Plan]

Water in Our World [Lesson Plan]

Building the Water Cycle Diagram [Lesson Plan]

Building the Water Cycle Diagram [Lesson Plan]

 

Classroom Teaching Guides

For more information about the Our Water, Our Lives series, visit Our Water, Our Lives: A Series of Water Units for Intermediate Elementary. More teacher guides coming soon!
 

Our Water, Our Lives: California

Our Water, Our Lives: California

Our Water, Our Lives: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Our Water, Our Lives: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Our Water, Our Lives: Floods

Our Water, Our Lives: Floods

Groundwater Activity for Grades 6-8

Groundwater Activity for Grades 6-8

Water Cycle Diagrams

We have several diagrams of the water cycle to choose from including our newest diagram, released in 2022, depicting the global water cycle, as well as how human water use affects where water is stored, how it moves, and how clean it is. Also offered are our long-standing Natural Water Cycle and Water Cycle for Kids diagrams along with an interactive format for various skill levels.

 

Scaled down copy of 2022 Water Cycle Diagram in English
NEW for 2022! Water Cycle Diagram
English  |  Español  ||  All available products
The Natural Water Cycle
Natural Water Cycle Diagram
English  |  Español  ||  All available products
The Water Cycle for Kids (JPG)
Water Cycle Diagram for Kids
English  |  Español  ||  All available products
Interactive water cycle diagram (beginner)

Interactive water cycle diagram (beginner)

Interactive water cycle diagram (intermediate)

Interactive water cycle diagram (intermediate)

Interactive water cycle diagram (advanced)

Interactive water cycle diagram (advanced)

Facts and Quizzes

Learn about what makes water unique and vital to life on Earth by visiting our page of water facts and participating in our water properties and groundwater quizzes!

 



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.

 

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste

Navigation

Navigation

Wastewater

Wastewater

Water Quality

Water Quality

Watersheds

Watersheds

Water Use

Water Use

Wetlands

Wetlands

Ocean and Coastal Hazards

Ocean and Coastal Hazards

Groundwater

Groundwater

Viewing Water from Space Poster + Game

NASA, USGS, and AmericaView collaborate each year on the creation of the Earth Science week poster. The 2021 poster features five beautiful natural-color Landsat 8 images of US rivers meandering their way through the country’s varied landscape.

On the reverse side, you will find a new game called “Rivers: Our National Water Resource.” Try your hand at cleaning our nation’s waterways, winning points for finding ways to use natural vegetation to keep water clean, learning how water is used in different places and industries, and trying to avoid disaster!

 

Image of game board for Rivers: Our National Water Resource, a NASA collaboration.
English version:
Game Board (PDF)
Game Instructions (PDF)

Spanish version:
Game Board (PDF)
Game Instructions (PDF)

 

The Story of Dryville!

In this story YOU are the main character, going into the desert to start a new town where water plays a part every step of the way. We also provide a script for a class play.

 

The Story of Dryville

The Story of Dryville

Class Play: The Story of Dryville

Class Play: The Story of Dryville

Opinion Surveys

These surveys show cumulative responses after you take the survey. Responses are shown by State and areas of the world. The results can be used to get class discussions going.

 

What will be the world's biggest water problem in the future?

What will be the world's biggest water problem in the future?

Vote for your favorite body of water

Vote for your favorite body of water

How serious are these environmental problems?

How serious are these environmental problems?

Water Shortage! How would you fix it, Mayor?

Water Shortage! How would you fix it, Mayor?

Challenge Questions

Test your knowledge or simply learn something new with our various water volume calculators.

 

How much water falls during a storm?

How much water falls during a storm?

How much water does a dripping faucet waste?

How much water does a dripping faucet waste?

How much water does it take to grow a...

How much water does it take to grow a...

Other useful resources...

Find a comprehensive selection of water terms and definitions in our Water Science Glossary. In addition, you can bring home our resources with Water Science School bookmarks! Simply email us to request FREE bookmarks for your classroom.

 

Email us for FREE bookmarks!

Email us for FREE bookmarks!

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