Teaching Resources
Teaching environmental issues in your classroom is a critical component of providing your students a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience. Discover a wealth Chesapeake Bay related books, multimedia, curriculum guides, individual lesson plans and online data sources.
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Subject
Level
- All Levels
- Early Learning
- Elementary School
- Middle School
High School
Type
Alignment
Keywords
- All Keywords
- acid rain
- adaptation
- African American
- agriculture
- air pollution and fossil fuels
- aquatic grass SAV
- beaver
- biodiversity
- blue crab
- boats, canoes and kayaks
- climate change
- culture and watermen
- development
- dissolved oxygen
- Drinking Water
- economics
- ecosystem and biomes
- erosion
- experiments and investigations
- fish
- food web
- forest
- geocaching (GIS/GPS)
- Geography
- green development
- habitat and niche
- identification
- invasive species
- John Smith and colonial times
- land use
- litter, trash and recycling
- Native American
- nitrogen and carbon cycle
- non-point source
- orienteering
- Outdoor Activity
- oyster
- photosynthesis
- point source
- pollution
- population growth
- predator prey relationships
- renewable resource
- restoration
- salinity
- schoolyard habitat
- sediment, soil and rocks
- smart growth
- stormwater
- stream study
- student action
- Temperature
- transportation
- Underground Railroad
- water and energy conservation
- water cycle and movement
- water quality
- water testing
- watershed
- weather
- wetland
- wildlife
> High School Groundwater Sourcebook
This source book contains 10 activities covering ground water issues.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Science
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
water cycle and movement, water quality
Skates Lesson
Using a rubber skate models, students will learn to identify the parts of a skate, observe the details of a skates body and skate egg case and understand the unique characteristics of a skate.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
wildlife
Seashell Homes Lesson
During this interdisciplinary lesson, students listen to a story about seashells, discuss shelled animals to gain scientific understanding and participate in a visual arts activity that reinforces the lesson's key concept that shells are made by certain marine animals called mollusks for shelter and protection.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
habitat and niche, wildlife
Salt Marsh in a Pan Activity
Students create a model of a salt marsh to discover the impact of pollution and human activities on water-based habitats including bays and the ocean. Model may also be used to demonstrate salt marsh functions, non-point source pollution and watershed concepts.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
water cycle and movement, wetland, watershed, experiments and investigations, salinity
Project Learning Tree Curriculum Guide
The Project Learning Tree Curriculum Guide is a collection of 96 hands-on interdisciplinary activities that bring the environment into your classroom. The guide is designed so you can use a single activity or many over the course of a quarter or school year. Each activity includes an overview, background content and a teachers' step-by-step guide. The guide's five main themes are diversity, interrelationships, systems, structure and scale, and patterns of change.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland,
Virginia,
New York,
West Virginia,
District of Columbia,
Delaware,
National Science Education,
Pennsylvania
Keywords:
pollution, land use, watershed, air pollution and fossil fuels, biodiversity, forest
Maryland Project WET Training and Curriculum Guide
After completion of a six hour training, educators are given a free Project WET curriculum and activity guide packed with 91 hands-on activities that cross many disciplines in the study of water and water resources - chemistry and physics, life science, earth systems, natural resource management, history and culture. During the workshop educators learn how to incorporate local issues into the lessons.
Perfect for 4-H Youth Development, Scouts, and other youth organizations as well, the goal of Project WET is to facilitate and promote the awareness, appreciation, knowledge, and stewardship of water resources through the development and dissemination of classroom ready teaching aids.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
pollution, watershed, biodiversity, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes, water quality, wildlife
Classification and Identification Lesson
During this set of activities, students explore diagrammatic and taxonomic keys and their application in the marine sciences. Following completion students will be able to: 1)Sort and classify objects and organisms based on visual attributes 2)Create their own diagrammatic key 3)Use a taxonomic key to identify objects and organisms.
Subject(s):
Art, Mathematics, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
New York
Keywords:
habitat and niche, identification, wildlife
NOAA - Turning the Tide on Trash: A Learning Guide on Marine Debris
Educators, parents, students, and researchers can use NOAA's “Turning the Tide on Trash” as they explore the serious impacts marine debris can have on wildlife, the environment, our well being, and our economy. This interdisciplinary guide can be used as a stand-alone teaching tool, or individual activities within the guide may be used to supplement work in other subject areas. Students searching for science fair projects can also adapt some of these lessons into research projects.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
litter, trash and recycling, restoration, water quality, wildlife
Puzzlemaker
This tool allows you to create your own puzzles for free. You can choose to create a wordsearch, crossword, double puzzle, fallen phrase puzzel, math squares, mazes, letter tiles, cryptograms, number blocks, or hidden messages with the information you input. Use this tool to create games on any subject for any grade level.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
identification
Sea Stories
A quarterly online journal of international ocean writing and art. It welcomes memoirs, poetry, descriptive prose, and imaginative nonfiction, as well as photographs, drawings, or other visual arts from students.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts
Type(s):
Multimedia
Level(s):
High School
Keywords:
boats, canoes and kayaks
Love Your Stream Poster
The "Love Your Stream" poster features illustrations of the top ten clean water practices for kids.
Subject(s):
Art, Science
Type(s):
Posters and Maps
Level(s):
Early Learning, High School
Keywords:
water and energy conservation, green development, restoration, stream study, water quality
Create a Community Tree Tour Activity
Students will create a tree tour booklet focusing on five trees near their school.
Subject(s):
Art, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Pennsylvania
Keywords:
forest, identification, schoolyard habitat, student action
Networking at Early James Fort Lesson
Pottery excavated at Historic Jamestowne includes examples made in several different countries. Ceramics from Germany, Italy, Spain, as well as from China have been discovered. This excercise will encourage students to examine the complexities of the world's trade networks in the early-17th century.
Subject(s):
Art, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Virginia
Keywords:
John Smith and colonial times
Art or Artifact Lesson
John White was one of the original colonists to settle on Roanoke Island in 1585. His watercolors and sketches of the native people of Virginia were the first of their kind to reach European audiences. This exercise encourages students to look at White's artwork with a critical eye and decide what, if anything, could have influenced his hand.
Subject(s):
Art, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Virginia
Keywords:
John Smith and colonial times, Native American
Storm Drain Stenciling Information
This information will help start a storm drain stenciling program at your school.
Subject(s):
Art, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
pollution, land use, watershed, stormwater, green development
Storm Drain Stenciling GPS Activity
Help to increase community watershed awareness by stenciling the message "Don't Dump, Chesapeake Bay Drainage" onto storm drains in your neighborhood. Students can use the data sheet below to observe and record the storm drain coordinates while assessing the quality of the storm drain and its surroundings.
Subject(s):
Art, Science, Technology
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
stormwater, water and energy conservation, geocaching (GIS/GPS), schoolyard habitat
Surface Water Sourcebook
Offers 16 activities on surface water from showing students how to construct a dam diagram to a rain water run-off experiment.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Science
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
pollution, stormwater, green development
Project WILD Curriculum Guide
The Project WILD Curriculum Guide emphasizes aquatic wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. Each Project WILD Aquatic activity contains all the information needed to conduct that activity including objectives, method, background information, a list of materials needed, procedures, evaluation suggestions, recommended grade levels, subject areas, duration, group size, setting, and key terms.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland,
Virginia,
New York,
West Virginia,
District of Columbia,
Delaware,
National Science Education,
Pennsylvania
Keywords:
adaptation, biodiversity, water and energy conservation, habitat and niche, predator prey relationships, schoolyard habitat, wildlife
Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide
The Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide is a collection of over 90 science-based, interdisciplinary activities and lesson plans that emphasizes the importance of our water resources. These activities and lessons are teacher-tested and classroom ready for K-12 students.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland,
Virginia,
New York,
West Virginia,
District of Columbia,
Delaware,
National Science Education,
Pennsylvania
Keywords:
pollution, watershed, biodiversity, ecosystem and biomes, habitat and niche, water quality, wildlife
Taking Care of Our Oceans Lesson
In this lesson, students will consider why so many people live near the coast and learn about the impacts of this trend on ocean animals. They will make posters to educate coastal residents and visitors about human impacts on marine life.
Subject(s):
Art, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
New York
Keywords:
population growth
Fragile Fringe Curriculum Guide
A guide of six lessons for Teaching about coastal wetlands.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
wetland
Where are the Wetlands Lesson
Students will identify one or more types of wetlands and then collect, dry and press wetlands plants.
Subject(s):
Art, Science
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
wetland
Eastern Native Wildflowers Poster
The Native Wildflowers poster is a beautifully illustrated field guide of wildflowers painted by an award winning artist and naturalist.
Subject(s):
Art, Science
Type(s):
Posters and Maps
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
water and energy conservation, forest, schoolyard habitat
Conserve Water Educators Guide
This Project WET publication, the Conserve Water Educators Guide provides teachers of middle school and high school students with the ins and outs of water conservation. Background information offers a hydrologic primer; past, present, and future water conservation issues; and case studies ranging from a rancher in west Texas to an ice cream factory in Massachusetts. These real-life examples encourage students to use critical thinking skills to examine different sides of each situation.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Books and Publications
Level(s):
High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
water cycle and movement, watershed, water and energy conservation, water quality, wildlife
Chesapeake Bay Map
This map of the Chesapeake Bay is made for printing and copying and can be customized as basic or detailed.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Posters and Maps
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
watershed, ecosystem and biomes, habitat and niche
