Various
classroom materials focusing on water issues are available to teachers
throughout Santa Barbara County. These materials are free of charge to Santa Barbara County teachers and students,
unless otherwise noted. Most of these resources can be mailed to you from the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. To place an order, please call (805) 568-3440, download an order form or contact the number listed for each item.
Some are available to download from this site-- click on Free Downloads sections below.
If you are outside of Santa Barbara County, many materials are available through the California Department of Water Resources water education webpage.
Free Downloads-- click here to get instant classroom materials! (Some in Spanish)
Student
Workbooks
Resource Materials
Board Games
Hands-On Water Activities
Book
Bag Lending Program
Jr
High H2O On the Go Program
Flannel Board Stories
Posters
Free Downloads
Hot Days Coloring Sheet (K-2nd)
Simple worksheet to color in showing how evaporation cools us on hot days.
Kids Water News Coloring Sheet (K-2nd)
Simple worksheet to color in a newspaper format, showing all the reasons why water is important to our lives.
Ice and Heat Coloring Sheet (K-2nd)
This worksheet shows how ice melts when heated. Great for coloring!
Water Phase Change Coloring Sheet (K-4th)
Simple worksheet to color showing the relationship between evaporation and condensation, heating and cooling.
American Salad Bowl (2nd-3rd)
This activity complements the American Salad Bowl Classroom Presentation, and shows students how much water it takes to grow different types of food. Activity involves basic math and art.
Water Conservation Pledge (2nd-6th)
This pledge can be used as a memorization exercise-- kids should learn to memorize this pledge. Great idea for class performances or extra credit!
Parent Student Water Conservation Checklist (2nd-6th)
This take-home activity allows the student to evaluate water conservation in their own home alongside their parent. Click here for the Spanish version.
Water
and Me Water Activity Book (K-2nd)
Simple puzzles and matching activities teach students about water
use, the importance of clean water, the forms water takes, and includes
a 2-page illustration of the water cycle.
The
California Water Works and Why It Does...(4th-8th)
A colorful comic book character, Professor Goodwater, leads students
through the water cycle, showing them how water is delivered through
California’s built and natural water systems to end users.
Guidelines for water conservation are also provided. Available in
English and Spanish.
Water
Fun (1st-4th)
A colorfully illustrated comic book has stories, games and puzzles
designed to teach students about the water cycle and water conservation.
Teacher’s guide has spin-off ideas, background information
and water vocabulary list.
Captain
Hydro (5th-8th)
A comic book story about Captain Hydro, hero of water conservation,
who battles his relentless foe, the Water Bandit. The readings,
worksheets and projects teach students about the water cycle, uses
of water, water treatment, conservation and management. Teacher’s
guide has clear directions and suggestions for follow-up activities.
Further
Adventures of Captain Hydro (6th-9th)
In this colorful student comic book, Captain Hydro continues to
battle the Water Bandit. The teacher’s guide is a resource
of reproducible student worksheets and lessons about water in the
context of World History and Geography (Ancient Civilizations to
500 AD). Includes a glossary of water terms.
Water
Conservation Class Pledge with Sticker (K-4th)
A short verse students recite pledging to use water wisely is contained
within a water drop. Stickers are colorful, 1-7/8" in diameter,
and say “I MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT.” You can download the pledge here also.
Environmental
Education Compendium for Water Resources (K-12th)
Co-produced with the Department of Education and various water organizations,
this publication contains references to 109 different, teacher-rated,
water curricula, giving each a report card rating. Sample pages
are shown along with descriptive information on cost and how to
order materials. Unifying concepts of environmental education and
conceptual matrix for water education are included in the appendix.
One copy per teacher.
Water
Wisdom (4th-6th) (Not available through the Santa Barbara County Water Agency)
"Water Wisdom" is the second supplement to the California
State Environmental Education Guide. It consists of three instructional
units for grades 4 - 8, emphasizing science, social studies, and
cross-cultural literacy. The focus of the units is on expanding
students' thinking to view water as important, not just for human
consumption, but for the survival of all living organisms and the
planet as a whole. $14.50; 1990, 119 pages. To order, please visit
the Alameda
County Office of Education or call (510) 887-0152.
Parent/Student
Water Conservation Checklist (4th-8th)
A question and answer checklist students can take home and review
with their parents. Includes suggested actions. You can also download this directly in Spanish or English.
Discover
California’s Water Board Game (4th-6th)
Colorful 17" X 22" playing board is a map of California’s
major water systems. Players take turns moving around the state
by answering water questions. The object of the game is to land
on and check off six sources of surface water in California.
All
About Water K-3 Water Activities (K-3rd)
An AIMS style teacher’s guide containing 26 hands-on lessons
integrating science, math, language arts, geography, art, music,
drama and health. Themes addressed are Systems and Interaction,
Energy, Stability and Scale and Structure. Water topics include
water supplies, water cycle, groundwater, water pollution and conservation.
A storyline using puppets and scenery connects the lessons.
Water
is Your Best Friend (K-3rd)
A series of hands-on concrete experiments designed to 1. convey
the internal roles of water in our bodies and in plants; 2. acquaint
students with water in three different guises, solid, liquid, and
gas (water cycle); 3. introduce students to methods of collecting
and storing water, water use and conservation at home and at school,
and filtering water to clean it. Includes two black and white posters
of the water cycle and California’s water resources.
Teachers
Guide for Hands-On Water Activities (1st-6th)
Four hands-on water science activities developed by teacher Gil
Yee. A water tape measure illustrates the world’s distribution
of water. Water polo activity teaches water surface tension. Cartesian
diver demonstrates how pressure to a plastic bottle of water affects
a floating eyedropper inside. Students can make a solo cup rain
gauge.
The
Water Sourcebook (3rd-5th) (Not available through the Santa Barbara County Water Agency)
This supplemental activity guide offers 61 hands-on water activities
designed to support existing curricula. The five chapters cover
surface, ground, and wetlands/coastal waters, as well as drinking
and waste water treatment. To download, please visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/wsb/.
Aquatic
Science Education Materials (3rd-8th) (Not available through the Santa Barbara County Water Agency)
A series of Spanish/English activities from the California Aquatic Science Education
Consortium (CASEC). For more information, click here.
- Water
Inspectors: Examining H2O
Hands-on learning activities on the characteristics of water,
such as salinity, temperature, clarity, hardness and taste.
Available in Spanish; 49 pages; $5.00.
- Fresh
Water Guardians: Defending Our Precious Supply
Hands-on learning activities on water pollution topics, such as
urban run-off, hazardous materials disposal, water treatment,
and oil spills. Available in Spanish; 55 pages; $5.00.
- Wetlands
Protectors: Guarding Our Wild and Watery Lands
Hands-on learning activities on wetlands topics, such as bird
migration, animal tracking, mud creatures, flood control, and
wetlands plants. Available in Spanish; 86 pages; $7.00.
- Creek
Watchers: Exploring the World of Creeks and Streams
Hands-on learning activities on creeks and stream topics, such
as urban creeks, watersheds, erosion, riparian trees, and adopting
a creek. Available in Spanish; 122 pages; $7.00.
- Plastic
Eliminators: Protecting California Shorelines
Hands-on learning activities on the perils of plastic trash in
the ocean. Available in Spanish; 79 pages; $7.00.
Sample
Lessons from Water Precious Water (4th-6th)
Includes a cooperative learning lesson in which students are exposed
to a variety of interesting facts about water and a series of four
activities that deal with some of the properties of water.
Mountains to Sea Curriculum by Project Clean Water (4th-8th)
This curriculum guide provides a comprehensive look at local watersheds.
It includes activities on defining watersheds, creek health and
value, pollution sources, and keeping creeks and the ocean clean. Contact Project Clean Water for availibility (568-3546).
Water
Activities Manual for Santa Barbara County (6th-8th)
This manual is designed especially for Santa Barbara County with
general information about water and specialized information on our
unique water supply situation. Activities, worksheets, experiments,
maps, tables and field trip suggestions complement reading units.
Layperson's
Guides (9th-12th) (Not available through the Santa Barbara County Water Agency)
This series comprises in-depth, easy-to-understand guides providing
background and perspective on topics and regions of importance in
the management of California's water resources. These guides are
an excellent supplement to any water curriculum. The fifteen titles
include California Water, Drinking Water, Water Conservation, and
Water Pollution. $7.00 each or $95.00 for set of fifteen. To order,
please visit the Water
Education Foundation website or call (916) 444-6240.
Book
Bag Lending Program
A
collection of books focusing on water issues (water treatment, wastewater
treatment, water conservation, water quality, aquatic habitats,
etc.) are available for use by any teacher, and are a great preparatory
tool for any upcoming water units or presentations. Books are grade
specific and are housed in canvas bags and lent out to teachers
for a 2-week period. Book bags are currently available for grades
K-2, 3-5, and Junior High. County staff will deliver and pickup
book bags to schools in Santa Barbara County. To reserve a bag of books for your classroom, please
call (805) 568-3440.
Jr.
High "H2O On the Go" Program
The “H2O On the Go” program
consists of a number of water-themed books that will travel from
school to school, residing for 2-3 weeks at each location. Books
cover topics such as water conservation, water supply, climatology,
chemistry and suggested experiments. A
total of 10 sets of books are available for travel to Jr. High science
classes located in service the areas of the sponsors listed below.
Free classroom presentations and print materials will be offered
in conjunction with the traveling library and display board in Santa Barbara County schools. To
schedule a visit to your classroom, please call (805) 568-3440.
H2O
On the Go: List of Books
Where
Does Your Water Come From? – The Drinking Water Source Book
Water
Conservation
Prentice
Hall Science Explorers: Earth's Waters
Designs
in Science: Water
H20
On the Go Sponsors
- Golden State Water Company
- Carpinteria Valley Water District
- City of Buellton
- City of Santa Barbara
- Cuyama CSD
- Goleta Water District
- La Cumbre Mutual Water Co.
- Los Alamos CSD
- Montecito Water District
- Santa Ynez River WCD, ID#1
- Vandenberg Village CSD
Water
is Your Best Friend (K-2nd)
Helps teachers explain the basic concepts of water. Teaches the
importance of water, where it comes from, and why we should use
it wisely with the illustrated story of Willey the Water Droplet
and his friend Peter as they explore the world of water.
Peter’s
Magical Water Journey (2nd-4th)
Designed to help teachers explain the basic concepts of water. Covers
the water cycle, water uses and conservation in more detail using
an older Peter and more illustrations than the K-2 version.
The
Water Cycle (K-3rd)
Colorful 17" X 16 1/2" poster illustrates the water
cycle.
How
We Can Save Water (K-12th)
Colorful 24" X 15 1/2" poster illustrating ways to
save water at home.
Storm
Drains Lead to the Ocean (K-12th)
This colorful poster makes the connection between storm water pollution
and the ocean.
