Librarians & Educators
The library loans a variety of education kits to formal and informal educators as well as to librarians and parents in support of Great Lakes and water science literacy. In addition to the physical kits, most of their associated curriculum is available online. We also have library lesson plans on a variety of topics below. We would love to hear about your experience using the kits or lessons. Please send us an email at askwater@aqua.wisc.edu.
You might want to explore more resources and opportunities on the education page of Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Library Lesson Plans
These library lesson plans are geared for children ages three through nine, though toddlers and older children have enjoyed the activities too. The lesson plans are interdisciplinary – they involve literacy, science, and art on a water-related theme and can also be used at home, in a preschool or in an informal learning environment.
Do-It-Yourself (Water) Science
The Wisconsin Water Library is part of a wide field of water and environmental educators, scientists, institutions, and media outlets. Many of these offer high-quality resources: for self-education, pre-K to postsecondary STEM/STEAM pedagogy, cutting-edge research, and contemporary water topics in the news. Whether you’re a budding young water scientist, a parent, librarian, teacher, lifelong learner, or just a wayward rainbow trout searching for knowledge, the following links can help you get your feet wet (har!) and do-it-yourself (water science, that is).
Climate Wisconsin—Stories from a State of Change
This interactive website put together by the Educational Communications Board features stories about the climate. The collection of beautifully produced multimedia stories includes ten videos and two interactive resources along with background essays and teaching tips.
Educator’s Resource Center
The Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education (WCEE) at UW-Stevens Point maintains an environmental education (EE) resources library for use by educators in Wisconsin. Staff has evaluated and compiled resource recommendations for various subject areas.
EEK! Environmental Education for Kids
Brought to you by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This electronic magazine is for kids in grades 4-8. Surf around and learn more about the great outdoors.
US Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Curriculum materials
The EPA leads the nation’s environmental science, research, education, and assessment efforts. The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. They have multiple resources on water for teachers and parents.
Give Water a Hand
Give Water a Hand is national watershed education program designed to involve young people in local environmental service projects. Following steps in the “Give Water a Hand Action Guide,” your youth group or class plans and completes a community service project to protect and improve water resources. This is a resource from the University of Wisconsin Extension.
Groundwater Foundation – Resources for Students and Educators
The Groundwater Foundation’s mission involves educating and motivating people to care for and about groundwater. Their “Resources for Students and Educators” page has multiple activities and educational games and tools specifically concerning groundwater.
Project WET
The mission of Project WET is to reach children, parents, educators, and communities of the world with water education. They have many educator’s guides and activity booklets on topics regarding water, from groundwater to wetlands.
Science News for Students
An award-winning online resource that provides age-appropriate, topical science news to learners, parents, and educators. It’s part of the Science News Media Group, which has published its flagship magazine since 1922. SNS is a program of the Society for Science & the Public (SSP), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to public engagement in scientific research and education.
Think Like a Scientist
A scientist is someone who…
- Observes and wonders
- Asks questions
- Listens to the ideas of others
- Conducts experiments
- Shares their ideas and discoveries
- Explores the world around them
- Uses tools to solve problems
A scientist says…
- I agree with you because…
- I disagree with you because…
- Why do you think that?
- So, what you’re saying is…
- Can you tell me more?
- Can you give me an example?
- How could we test that?
- That reminds me of…
Simplified Scientific Method
- Ask a question
- Form a hypothesis
- Perform a test
- Record your results