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.
Begin by choosing the criteria for your search. It is only necessary to include the criteria you wish to use to limit your search. The more specific your search the more focused and narrow the results.
If you know of a great teaching resource that is not included in the Bay Backpack please let us know by suggesting a resource.
Subject
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- Art
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
Social Studies- Technology
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
> Early Learning The Water Sourcebook: Grade Level K-2
This environmental education program from the US EPA explains the water management cycle using a balanced approach showing how it affects all aspects of the environment.All activities contain hands-on investigations, fact sheets, reference materials, and a glossary of terms. Activities are organized by objectives, materials needed, background information, advance preparation, procedures, and resources. This resource is divided into five chapters: Introduction to Water, Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment, Surface Water Resources, Ground Water Resources, and Wetlands and Coastal Waters.
Subject(s):
Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide, Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Keywords:
water cycle and movement, watershed, stormwater, water and energy conservation, water quality, salinity, Drinking Water
A Teachers Guide to Delaware State Parks: Field Trips and Outreach Opportunities
Delaware State Parks are great places for students and teachers to explore nature and history. With 16 parks, five historic sites and many natural areas, Delaware State Parks offer you a comprehensive view of our state’s natural and historical heritage. This resource contains an overview of Delaware State Park field trip and outreach programs, as a printable PDF.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Delaware
Keywords:
land use, watershed, wildlife, Outdoor Activity
Virginia's Natural Resource Education Guide: Virginia's Public Policy & Environmental Management
Check out these great lesson plans! This information and activity packet discusses the environmental quality and pollution, and the management and public policies that seek to address them. Two lesson plans are also included. In the "Pollution Prevention Audit Activity," students predict types of waste produced and analyze ways to
decrease it. In the "Sum of the Parts: From the James River to the Chesapeake Bay" lesson plan, students will map and collate different land uses in a simulation “puzzle” exercise that shows the cumulative effects of each land use on water quality.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Virginia
Keywords:
pollution, land use, watershed, air pollution and fossil fuels, litter, trash and recycling, renewable resource, water quality, economics
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
Being a Forest Steward Lesson
In this lesson children will learn that a forest is made up of many different working parts, will discover that forest stewardship is the responsible use and planning of forestland management, and will realize that they can be a forest "friend" or steward.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Pennsylvania
Keywords:
water and energy conservation, forest, habitat and niche, identification, renewable resource
Build-A-Horseshoe Crab Lesson
Following completion of this lesson, students will be able to: 1)identify and describe three main parts of a horseshoe crab 2)begin to know the history and habits of the horseshoe crab 3)state several reasons why horseshoe crabs are important 4)understand how to properly handle real horseshoe crabs.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School
Keywords:
habitat and niche, identification, wildlife
Discover the Chesapeake
This portion of the Chesapeake Bay Program's website is one of the best Chesapeake Bay-related informational resources around. It features Bay 101 video clips, a Bay FAQ, a Bay glossary and provides information on the Bay ecosystem, history, and watershed. The website also includes one of the most comprehensive Field Guides to the Chesapeake Bay, completely available online!
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Multimedia, Books and Publications
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
watershed, blue crab, development, biodiversity, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes, habitat and niche, John Smith and colonial times, restoration, water quality, wildlife, fish
Wetlands Reading List Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12
The Wetlands Reading List is an annotated list of printed material that will supplement lesson plans and provide students with suggestions for independent reading on wetlands. This is a great resource to help you find the wetlands book you are looking for!
Subject(s):
Language Arts, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Books and Publications
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
pollution, wetland, watershed, culture and watermen, John Smith and colonial times, restoration, 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
Waterways: Roads in the Water
In this lesson, students will create a model waterway and observe ways that they can modify the waterway to allow a boat to travel more easily along the water.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Keywords:
boats, canoes and kayaks, land use, watershed, transportation
Protect the Water
In this lesson, students will learn about the CWA and develop a list of goals to help keep local water clean and healthy. You may wish to conduct some additional research before teaching this lesson to learn about any state or local laws (such as setbacks or zoning) designed to help keep water clean. A good resource to start with is your state's Clean Marinas webpage.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Keywords:
pollution, point source, water quality, student action
Float Your Boat
In this lesson, students will explore how different boats move in natural bodies of water by constructing simple boat models and observing how they move in a tub of water. They will use their observations to create diagrams that explain how the shape of a boat is related to the way it moves through the water.
Subject(s):
Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Keywords:
boats, canoes and kayaks
Keep it Clean!
This lesson helps students make the connection between their own preference for clean environments and that of fish for clean environments.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
West Virginia
Keywords:
pollution, ecosystem and biomes, litter, trash and recycling, student action
Bay-B-C's Guide
This booklet is a compilation of Bay related activities and lesson plans for K to 3rd grade students.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Technology
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide, Lessons and Activities, Books and Publications
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School
Keywords:
pollution, wetland, watershed, habitat and niche, restoration, water quality, wildlife
What Is Gyotaku Lesson
Students learn about gyotaku (fish printing) and the history of gyotaku and where Japan is located. Students will then learn the external anatomy of a fish.
Subject(s):
Art, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Pennsylvania
Keywords:
identification, fish
Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children Activity Guide
Growing Up WILD is an early childhood education program that builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. Through a wide range of activities and experiences, Growing Up WILD provides an early foundation for developing positive impressions about the natural world and lifelong social and academic skills.
Subject(s):
Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning
Aligned with the following standard(s):
National Science Education
Keywords:
ecosystem and biomes, habitat and niche, wildlife
Virginia Indian Heritage Guide
A Guide to Virginia Indian Heritage Sites created in partnership with the VA Council on Indians.
Subject(s):
Social Studies
Type(s):
Books and Publications
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Virginia
Keywords:
Native American
Maryland Environmental Education ToolKit
This Environmental Education Toolkit provides grade-specific resources for PreK-8 teachers. The toolkit links you to lessons connected to Maryland State Standards. Topics cover a wide range of environmental subjects.
Subject(s):
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Curriculum Guide
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
Maryland
Keywords:
pollution, water cycle and movement, climate change, population growth, wetland, land use, food web, watershed, agriculture, development, biodiversity, culture and watermen, ecosystem and biomes, experiments and investigations, habitat and niche, renewable resource, water quality, wildlife
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
Educating Young People About Water
Educating Young People About Water (EYPAW) guides and water curricula database provide assistance for developing a community-based, youth water education program.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Multimedia
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
water cycle and movement, watershed, water quality
Bay Trippers Website
Use this site to search for lesson plans, take a virtual sailing trip around the bay, or explore way's you can help the Bay.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Multimedia
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Keywords:
water and energy conservation, habitat and niche, restoration
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Timeline of Change, a Model for Change Lesson
From Captain John Smith's explorations of Native American settlements to present day populations in the Bay watershed, examine the interrelationships between people and places make connections and consider how to shape the future course of both the Chesapeake Bay and your community.
Subject(s):
Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
National Science Education
Keywords:
population growth, culture and watermen, John Smith and colonial times, Native American
Getting to Know the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Lesson
Using the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States and its watershed as a model, this lesson will focus on how the sciences can identify clues about the health of the environment and the ways in which geography can help make connections between human actions and environmental conditions. Students will be introduced to the Chesapeake Bay watershed through the use of online resources and hands-on experiences. They will then apply what they learn to their local watershed.
Subject(s):
Science, Social Studies
Type(s):
Lessons and Activities
Level(s):
Early Learning, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Aligned with the following standard(s):
National Science Education
Keywords:
pollution, watershed, water quality
