The Conservation Foundation, the DuPage River Coalition's parent organization, provides conservation education programs for youth through adulthood in Northeastern Illinois, both in the classroom and at the 60-acre McDonald Farm in Naperville.  Click here to see if any of their education programs are a good fit for your purposes.

Teacher Resources

There are a variety of resources for education on water topics. Below are direct links to some on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website and others we have found.

Project Learning Tree® is an award winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK-grade 12. PLT, a program of the American Forest Foundation, is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad. PLT continues to set the standard for environmental education excellence. PLT helps students learn how to think, not what to think, about the environment.

Darby Duck and the Aquatic Crusaders (Grades K-5)
Become an Aquatic Crusader and join Darby Duck in the fight against water pollution!

Excuse Me, Is This The Way to the Drainpipe? (Grades K-6)

This story and corresponding exercises explains where drinking water comes from and where wastewater goes once it leaves the home. It also explains how the water we use fits into the water cycle.

Groundwater Primer (Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12)
This computer program presents the basic concepts of ground water, the contaminants that can affect water quality along with the risks they pose, activities that an individual or community can do to help protect and conserve ground water, and programs that are now in place to help protect ground water.

E-Field Trips (Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12)
Teachers can sign in to take their class on virtual field trips to a variety of National Parks and other nature sites. These visits are free, and include worksheets for students and the possibility of Q&A and scheduled chats.

The Global Water Sampling Project (Grades 9-12)
Collaborative project that allows the participant to compare water quality of local water streams, lakes, etc. with other fresh water sources around the world.

Virtual Watershed Tour (Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12)
Learn about watersheds on this informative virtual tour.  Though it is specific to a river in Ohio, it still communicates the basic concepts of what a watershed is nicely.

Stream Corridor Project
Provides an explanation of the structure of streams and their role in the environment. Also discusses stream restoration.

What's Wrong with this Picture? (Grades K-5 )
This exercise builds awareness of Nonpoint Source Pollution

Nonpoint Source Pollution Awareness Word Search Puzzle (Grades 6-9)

Ducks Unlimited for Educators (Teachers )
Teacher guide and curriculum for teaching about wetlands. A wide variety of activities geared to particular age groups.

National Teacher Enhancement Project – Simply Prairie (Grades 5-8)

SIMply Prairie is a two-week interdisciplinary project for grades 5-8 and includes science, language arts, math and social studies. This project is best conducted in the fall when the prairie plants are more easily identified. It might also be conducted in May. Access to a prairie habitat and Internet access are required.

Project WET (Teachers)
Project WET is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. They are a great resources for teaching materials, ideas, trainings and activity booklets.

Discover Storm Water (Kids Activity Booklets, ages 8-12)

Pull on your rain boots and try to imagine what your town would be like without storm drains. Readers can calculate runoff on permeable and impermeable surfaces, follow the maze of point and nonpoint source pollution, and apply best management practices

Watershed Protection (Kids Activity Booklets, ages 8-12)

What is a watershed? How can you protect a watershed using simple, everyday actions? Who manages a watershed? What watershed habitats support different plants and animals? Learn the answers to these questions and more through this interactive booklet. Kids can even become a certified Watershed Hero!

Water Every Drop Counts (Kids Activity Booklets, ages 8-12)

An activity booklet packed with fun and engaging activities about where water comes from, where it goes, and how important it is to our lives. Kids will explore the hydrologic cycle, worldwide water quantity, basic water quality issues, water and personal health and how water connects people worldwide. All activities reinforce the message that when it comes to water, every drop counts!

National Audubon Society

Educators: http://www.audubon.org/educate/educators/

Kids: http://www.audubon.org/educate/kids/

Family Time: http://www.audubon.org/educate/family/