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Curricula

Watershed Awareness Using Technology and Environmental Research for Sustainability (WATERS)

Stroud Water Research Center has created a free watershed science curriculum that uses Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to maximize learning outcomes. The 10-lesson middle school unit is student-centered, place-based, and accessible to those of varying abilities. The WATERS curriculum engages students in a variety of activities, including: 

  • Identifying issues in their local watershed. 
  • Conducting a schoolyard assessment to understand the impact on the watershed. 
  • Learning about conservation practices that can mitigate runoff and erosion issues. 
  • Completing a stream study (onsite or remote). 
  • Modeling improvements to their schoolyard using Model My Watershed®.
  • Working in teams to create action plans that could make a difference in the health of their watershed and community.      

Educators can preview the free 10-lesson unit and sign up for a free teacher account by accessing the online learning portal. The portal allows educators to create student accounts and logins, manage class rosters, assign lessons, monitor student progress, and provide valuable feedback.

Creek Critters Picturebook Printables

Ages 7-11. Book is available in Spanish and English.

Do you like scavenger hunts? How can you tell if creek water is clean and healthy? Join Lucas and his sister as they act like scientists looking for certain kinds of stream bugs (aquatic macroinvertebrates) that need clean, unpolluted water to survive. What will they find as they turn over rocks, pick up leaves, and sort through the mud? Read Creek Critters to discover how stream bugs are the storytellers of our streams. Enrich your storytime with these printable resources:

  • For Creative Minds: This educational section at the back of each Creek Critters book can be downloaded in Spanish and English. Includes a scavenger hunt, scientific field notebook, life cycle matching activity, and aquatic macroinvertebrate sensitivity chart.
  • Teaching Activity Guide: This 19-page supplement to Creek Critters includes important curricular extensions in Spanish and English for educators, teachers, homeschooling parents, and parents/caregivers. Includes pre-reading questions, reading comprehension activities, vocabulary, and more!

Model My Watershed

Model My Watershed is a web app that allows users to analyze real geo-data, model storms, and compare conservation or development scenarios in a watershed. Visit the WikiWatershed® website for middle/high school curricula using the Model My Water Site Storm Model and Runoff Simulation.

Trout Grow on Trees

Trout Grow on Trees® (TGOT) is an integrated set of activities designed to educate children of all ages on the important interconnections of healthy forests, healthy streams, and healthy trout populations. TGOT activities easily compliment ongoing Trout in the Classroom programs, tree planting activities, macroinvertebrate monitoring, or can stand alone.  Learn more about TGOT

Navigate a Watershed

Explore the River Continuum Concept by learning how the physical and biological systems within watersheds work together to create a continuum of resilient, interconnected ecosystems. Move from watershed to river basin to cross sections of headwaters, streams, and rivers for a look at the inner world of surface water using the tabs below the image. Click on the blinking dots for more information. Discussion questions and follow-up activities are available from KQED Science.

Life in a Pond Instructional Unit

Curriculum developed at Stroud™ Water Research Center by William Anderson of Unionville High School, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Teachers program.

Download the Life in a Pond unit

Cork Laboratory

Curriculum developed at the Stroud Center by Tim Liggett of Conestoga High School, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Teachers program.

Download the curriculum:

Stream Hydrology

Curriculum developed at the Stroud Center by Tim Liggett of Conestoga High School, supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Teachers program.

Download the curriculum: