The Water Transparency Project is an initiative that uses water clarity as an anchoring phenomenon that leads to investigation and exploration of erosion, geology, and water quality. Learn more at www.watertransparencyproject.org.
STEM Kits bring hands-on learning about water into the classroom. These kits will enrich and extend your water education. For more information about these kits including how to request one, please go to STEM Kit Library.
Aquatic Habitats Grades 2-6
Student groups set up models of a living pond in the classroom. Then they use hands-on activities to study the dynamic interaction of plants and animals. Donor: Carolina Biological Supply
Environmental Detectives Grades 4-8
After learning that fish and other wildlife near Synchrony City and its rural surroundings have been dying, students become environmental detectives. Once armed with the appropriate chemical and biological tests, they try to figure out if chlorine, oil pollution, acid rain, erosion-or just what-is causing the wildlife deaths. Kit contains for prepaid delivery of perishable materials. Return coupon at least two weeks prior to requested delivery date to ensure prompt arrival of materials.
Ocean Currents Grades 4-8
What causes ocean currents? What impact do they have have on Earth’s environment? How have they influenced human history? Students gain fascinating insights into our ocean planet through these innovative activities. They learn how wind, temperature, salinity, and density set water into motion, and they make an “in-depth” investigation of the key physical science concept of density. They model how pollution dumped in one location can spread throughout the ocean. Learn is place in a real world context as students predict and analyze routes taken by shipwrecked sailors in the 1990 Nike shoe spill, the raft Kon Tiki and other voyages. In “Message in a Bottle”, students create stories to show what they’ve learned over the course of the unit.
Only One Ocean Grades 5-8
As its title suggests, this GEMS guide is designed to help students understand the tremendous environmental importance of the ocean. The unit begins with a revealing hands-on activity, “Apples and Oceans” that focuses on the vast proportion of the Earth that is ocean and the much smaller slices where the ocean resources are concentrated. Students dissect real squids, gaining insight into the adaptations of squids to their open ocean habitat. Students then launch an intensive investigation of species-threatening issues related to key ocean fisheries and the increasing scarcity of ocean resources.
River Cutters Grades 6-8
Creating river models using a dripper system and diatomaceous earth, students acquire geological terminology and begin to understand rivers as dynamic, ever-changing systems. They investigate the concepts of erosion, pollution, toxic waste, and human manipulation of rivers, and gain understanding of controlled experimentation. This unit is an ideal springboard for the full-scale independent student investigations strongly urged by the National Standards. With the GEMS guides Acid Rain and Global Warming & the Greenhouse Effect, River Cutters can be used to good advantage in a unit on environmental issues and human impact.
Lakes and Streams Trunk Grades 3-5
This trunk was developed by the East Dakota Water Development District and is available to borrow through the SD Discovery Center. The kit provides posters, videos, books, puppets and more. Read more about the trunk contents.
Incredible Journey Kit Grade 3-6
Map your way through the water cycle with this Project WET activity. Students simulate being a water drop, cycling through the earth systems, collecting beads as they go. Kit includes beads, fuzzy sticks, and both large and small spinners.
Earth Echo Water Challenge Grades 3-8
The Earth Echo Water Challenge is an international project dedicated to building awareness of water quality through citizen monitoring. The 319 I&E Project supports Earth Echo Water Challenge by providing monitoring kits to schools, Scout groups, 4H clubs and other youth organization. Fill out this form to request kits. In filling out the form, you agree to respond to a short follow up survey, describing how the kits were used.