Education & Community - CT
Lesson Plans
For K-8 classrooms, science fairs and the home
Water is one of our most precious natural resources, and today's young people are key to conserving and maintaining clean and abundant water supplies for tomorrow.
Aquarion has developed a broad educational program focusing on water science that can help students and the public at large understand this resource and how human activity affects its health. Offered at no charge, these materials help encourage the understanding of water as an essential resource, and the need for all of society to be careful stewards of our planet’s finite water supply.
Free downloads
The Returning Raindrop: Are you drinking the same water that fell as rain when dinosaurs walked the earth? How does the water get into the clouds? Your students will answer these and many more questions as they explore the water cycle. Building a terrarium, they can watch the water cycle as it operates on a small scale of groundwater, evaporation, condensation, and precipitation and transpiration.
The Rain Gauge: Students make a rain gauge to use in classroom or home observations as a follow-up to instruction and discussion about weather, pollution monitoring and how statistical data affects our lives.
Filter in a Bottle: By building a small-scale water filter in a two-liter bottle, students learn how a filter works, as well as the importance of filtering drinking water. The lesson explores problems caused by pollution and improper hazardous waste disposal as they relate to the environment and water treatment.
Water Connections: How many drops of water can you fit on the head of a penny? Can you make a paperclip float on water? Can you make a soap boat? To answer these questions, students investigate the properties of water molecules using a variety of resources.
Wandering Water/Wear-Away Water: This lesson allows students to explore how objects can change the direction of water, how water follows the path of least resistance, and how waterways have influenced both our geography and the growth of civilization.
A Drip in the Bucket: Though the earth may look like Planet Water from space, less than one percent of the water on earth is available for us to drink. Students will begin to explore the relative scarcity of potable water and draw conclusions about the need for water conservation.
A Drip in Time Saves Nine: Did you ever wonder what would happen if you didn't repair a dripping faucet? Students will learn how a small leak can add up to thousands of gallons of wasted water. From there students will see how small leaks in homes across a water system can result in massive waste of water – and why water conservation is so important.
Water Bingo: A game that will reinforce lessons in water conservation and water source protection. One version is suitable for students in grades K-3; the other is designed for grades 4-8.
Water Conservation Wheels: Students are asked to create a water conservation wheel, identifying five different ways that they could save water. Using a conservation fact sheet, students will see how a permanent water shortage could change their lives.
Water Water Everywhere: Young students will determine how we protect water as a precious resource. Using sponges, water and creative handouts, students will develop and list ways to conserve water as a vital resource is important.
Water for Life Posters: A set of 8-1/2 x 11 posters you can download and print to illustrate the key role water plays in human health and fitness.
Water Word Scramble: A fun game students can do on their own to reinforce key words in their water vocabulary.
Conservation Matters Fact Sheet: A handy guide to saving water throughout the home
“The Wonders of Water” Video and Guide: A 27-minute video about water usage, conservation, watershed protection and other key topics, plus a 165-page program guide with a history of drinking water, dozens of hands-on science lessons and more.
Additional Reading Resources
Take advantage of our partnership with the Stamford Museum and Nature Center
Water quality experts from Aquarion have teamed up with nature educators from the Stamford Museum & Nature Center to visit elementary school classrooms as part of a joint program to teach students about wetland ecology, water quality and watershed protection. Developed to support the Connecticut State Core Curriculum Frameworks, the program can include field trips to the museum’s 118-acre property to learn first-hand about the topics. To find out more, please click here.
For more information
Please contact us at: WaterLesson@aquarionwater.com.
