The Wisconsin Water Library is part of a wide field of water and environmental educators, scientists, institutions and media outlets. So many of these offer high quality resources: for self-education, pr-K to post secondary STEM/STEAM pedagogy, cutting-edge research and contemporary water topics in the news. Whether you’re a budding young water scientist, a parent, librarian, teacher, lifelong learner, or just a wayward rainbow trout searching for knowledge, the following links can help you get your feet wet (har!) and do-it-yourself (water science, that is).
If you have new or favorite resources you think we should list here, or have questions, please email us at askwater@aqua.wisc.edu.
Climate Wisconsin – Stories From a State of Change This interactive website put together by the Educational Communications Board features stories about the rapidly changing climate. The collection of beautifully produced multimedia stories includes ten videos and two interactive resources along with background essays and teaching tips.
Educator’s Resource Corner The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) maintains an environmental education (EE) resources library for use by educators in Wisconsin. It is centrally located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in the Learning Resources Center of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Looking for recommended resources? The WCEE staff has evaluated and compiled resource recommendations for various subject areas. These can be found in the monthly Educator’s Resource Corner online at EEinWisconsin.org. Read summaries of the latest activity guides, DVDs, books, and web resources on dozens of topics. In addition, the WCEE maintains an extensive list of bibliographies on a wide range of environmental education topics.
EEK! Environmental Education for Kids Brought to you by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This electronic magazine is for kids in grades 4-8. Surf around and learn more about the great outdoors.
Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Curriculum materials The EPA leads the nation’s environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. They have multiple resources on water for teachers and parents.
Give Water a Hand Give Water a Hand is national watershed education program designed to involve young people in local environmental service projects. Following steps in the Give Water a Hand Action Guide, your youth group or class plans and completes a community service project to protect and improve water resources. This is a resource from the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Groundwater Foundation Kids’ Corner The Groundwater Foundation’s mission involves educating and motivating people to care for and about groundwater. Their Kids Corner has multiple activities and educational games and tools specifically concerning groundwater.
Nab the Invader A fun way to learn about aquatic invaders from The Sea Grant Nonindigenous Species Site (SGNIS), a project of the National Sea Grant College Program, produced by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network. By using this site you can check out lots of unusual species that create real problems in the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Great Lakes regions.
Project WET The mission of Project WET is to reach children, parents, educators, and communities of the world with water education. They have many educator’s guides and activity booklets on topics regarding water, from groundwater to wetlands.
Science News for Students An award-winning online resource that provides age-appropriate, topical science news to learners, parents and educators. It’s part of the Science News Media Group, which has published its flagship magazine since 1922. SNS is a program of the Society for Science & the Public (SSP), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education.
Steve Spangler Science Activities and kits that are “teacher-developed and kid-tested” by a teacher, science toy designer, speaker, author and Emmy award-winning television personality. Resources were developed through visits to “some 65,000 students in 120 schools each year to share the activities featured.”