US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: What Is the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement?
This site details the signing and revision of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement by the United States and Canada. Includes a copy of the revised agreement of 1978.
Other
Wisconsin Historical Society: Wisconsin's Great Lakes Shipwrecks
This dramatic interactive delves into the depths to explore the many shipwrecks which have taken place off the coast of Michigan's Great Lakes. Each of the four main topics opens into additional extensive and detailed information. Click...
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Africa: Explore the Regions: Great Lakes
Explore the diverse and unique African Region of the Great Lakes. Within this region, you will learn about the countries, people, and economy. Uncover the beauty and diversity of this incredible region.
University of Michigan
Michigan Sea Grant: Teaching Great Lakes Science: Fish Identification
In this activity, students examine the physical characteristics of fish that live in the Great Lakes and identify common features that help species to survive in that environment. Downloadable resources include a fish poster, fish family...
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Federation: Great Lakes
Visit this resource to briefly explore the geography and history, meet the wildlife, and understand the threats to the Great Lakes basin.
University of Chicago
University of Chicago: The Great Lakes: Our Legacy, Our Future
This 2001 exhibit focused on the EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office's work to ensure the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes in the areas of chemical contamination and habitat loss.
Other
Current Great Lakes St. Lawrence Water Levels
This page has a map showing the Great Lakes and the gauging stations located on the various lakes.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What's So Great About the Great Lakes?
The North American Great Lakes- Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior- are so big that they border 8 states and contain 23 quadrillion liters of water. They span forest, grassland, and wetland habitats, supporting a region that's...
Read Works
Read Works: Great Lakes? Not for Long
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about problems in the Great Lakes including: toxic substances, over fishing, invasive species, and more. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading...
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Contaminated Sediment in the Great Lakes
Provides an overview of the issue of sediment contamination in the Great Lakes, how the problem is assessed, causes of contamination, and remedial efforts. Includes links to more in-depth information.
Other
Glin: Habitats of the Great Lakes Region
This site profiles the elements of the Great Lakes' ecosystems and habitats.
Read Works
Read Works: Great Lakes
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about environmental issues causing problems for the Great Lakes. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in drawing conclusions.
Other
Glfc: Sea Lamprey Control in the Great Lakes: A Remarkable Success!
Good article from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission about the ongoing battle with the sea lamprey, an invasive species, in the Great Lakes Region of the U.S.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: How Does the Temperature of the Great Lakes Change Over Time?
This activity allows students to use water surface temperature, bathymetric data, and weather data to look at trends in the water temperature of the Great Lakes.
Environmental Education for Kids
Eek!: Lake Superior
This site provides facts, illustrations, and more about the largest Great Lake. Includes descriptions of wildlife and industry. For grades 4-8.
Other
Environment Canada: Native Peoples Great Lakes Region
This site provides information on the Indians that inhabited the Great Lakes Region upon settlement by Europeans.
Other
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Ctr.: Exploring Energy Transformations in Plants
This set of lessons has students investigate how plants obtain energy from different sources to support their growth and development. Students conduct investigations, make predictions, and construct scientific explanations of the...
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin: Paradise Lost?: Teaching Climate Change in the Great Lakes Region
This website is designed as a resource for high school and middle school teachers on the topic of climate change. The emphasis of this site is on providing hands-on activities. Includes activities that involve language arts, social...
Curated OER
Cbc News: Acid Rain Has Lingering Impact on Canadian Lakes: A Study
Have the Great Lakes been cleaned up? Is there no longer any fear for its future? The answer is no. Recent studies reveal that problems still exist, and these are addressed in the article.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan: The Great Lakes: An Environmental History [Pdf]
The University of Michigan provides a PowerPoint presentation on the environmental history of the Great Lakes. Provides aerial shots of the Great Lakes from a satellite, various geographical maps over the Great Lake Region, and pictures...
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: The Rover Boys on the Great Lakes by Edward Stratemeyer
Classic Reader provides numerous classic works from famous authors. One work is The Rover Boys on the Great Lakes, the fifth book from the late 1800's through the early 1900's series, "The Rover Boys." This book is from the first series...
Other
Great Lakes Recycle: Recycled Products Showcase
This Great Lakes Recycle site allows you see pictures and descriptions of many items created from recycled goods.
Library of Congress
Loc: Summer on the Lakes E Text
Here is a short biography and a analysis of "Summer on the Lakes" by Margaret Fuller. It also contains links to the online text for this essay describing her trip to the Great Lakes in 1843. Text can be viewed on a page-by-page basis in...