NASA
Cleaning Water
From their sweat to the water vapor in their breath, astronauts recycle every possible drop of water while in space. After watching a short video describing the different ways materials are recycled and reused in space shuttles, young...
Foundation for Water & Energy Education
What is the Water Cycle? Activity B
Curious physical scientists follow a lesson on the properties of water with this lesson on distillation. They observe a miniature water cycle model that filters dirty water into clean water. These two lessons combined are an enriching...
Curated OER
Survival Still
Lead your class to construct a solar still on campus to demonstrate how water can be extracted from the soil. The power of solar energy is emphasized, as is the concept of how capillary water can be recovered and purified by using a...
Curated OER
Water Alchemy
After reading "Aquatic Alchemy," an article about recapturing water for reuse when in space, your class will use calcium hydroxide or hydrated lime to purify cloudy water. Geared toward high school chemistry or environmental science...
Curated OER
Building A Solar Still
Students investigate the water cycle by viewing an online video. In this drinking water lesson, students create solar stills at their campus in order to purify water that is tainted. Students view a video on their computers about...
Curated OER
What Does Earth Day Mean? - Biology Teaching Thesis
Students possible sources of water pollution, and explain the effects that water pollution can have on the food on the food chain. They Name human and other animal (i.e. fish) illnesses that can be contracted from drinking polluted...
Curated OER
Filtering Water
Students investigate the need for filtered water. In this filtered water lesson, students explore the health hazards posed from consuming unfiltered water. Students construct a water filtration device.
Curated OER
Water Quality: Water Filtration
Young scholars build a water filtration system. For this water quality lesson, students work in groups to construct water filtration units that can purify contaminated water. This lesson is part of a larger unit on water quality.
US Department of Energy
Solar Distiller
Explore the sun's ability to distill contaminated water with this simple set of classroom experiments. After filling two glass bowls, one with muddy water and the other with salt water, they are covered with plastic wrap and placed in...
Curated OER
Drinking Water
In this drinking water activity, students complete a crossword puzzle given 23 clues about drinking water purification, water content, contaminants, and softeners.
Curated OER
Do You Waste Water?
In this water usage worksheet, students will keep track of how much water is used in their home over a weekend. Students will use a chart showing the average amount of water used for different activities to calculate how much water they...
Curated OER
Water
Students create a water filter according to given criteria. I this chemistry lesson, students evaluate the importance of water in their lives. They develop a book or brochure on the water treatment process.
Curated OER
Microbiology Design Challenge
Students discover dangers to human health by researching what's in our drinking water. In this water purification lesson, students discuss the conditions of water in undeveloped countries and why it is unsafe to drink. Students work in...
Curated OER
The Dirt on Soil
Young scholars classify different soil types. In this earth science instructional activity, students explain the factors that affect groundwater quality. They design and build a water treatment plant.
PBS
Pbs News Hour: Water Recycling
PBS and the Online NewsHour have created this multimedia website about water recycling. You can see how this process is different than other waste water treatments by reading interviews, watching a slideshow or investigating a map of...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Things That Matter to Flocculants
Prior to reaching households, water is exposed to a variety of treatments designed to render it fit for human consumption and use. One of the first treatment steps is the removal of suspended solids using chemical additives called...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Flocculants: The First Step to Cleaner Water!
Students experience firsthand one of the most common water treatment types in the industry today, flocculants. They learn how the amount of suspended solids in water is measured using the basic properties of matter and light. In...
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: The Water Sourcebooks [Pdf]
This is online resource is for teachers of all grades. The Water Sourcebook contains activities grouped according to grade level. Detailed lesson plans are provided along with glossary and fact sheets.
Other
Ecological Society of America: Communicating Ecosystem Services
A large collection of resources to aid professionals, community members, and educators in communicating the role and importance of ecosystem services. Issues addressed include pollination, marine nurseries, and water purification....
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ciese: Water Purification
The lessons on this site are designed to explore the Water Purification Project. For each lesson, there is a link to the lesson itself and another link to the lesson plan for that particular lesson.
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ciese: Water Purification Project
A project through which students research the need for clean water, the technologies related to water purification, and design a component for a water purification system to be installed in a developing country.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Learn How to Disinfect Contaminated Water
Clean water is not a given everywhere in the world. In this science fair project, students will investigate whether sunlight could be used to disinfect contaminated water. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently...
Other
Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society: Value of Wetlands [Pdf]
The different kinds of wetlands and the many benefits they offer are outlined in this fact sheet. Wetlands preserve the quality of our water and irrigate neighbouring agricultural areas. The importance of preserving these ecosystems is...
Other
Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society: Water Quality/ Riparian Areas [Pdf]
The importance of riparian areas in maintaining water quality is highlighted in this fact sheet.