Watershed in Your Hand - This 15-30 minute K-6 classroom activity requires students to create a miniature watershed, make conclusions about water flow, and see how water flows on their 3-D watershed model. The key concept of this activity is that surface water flows from high points to low points on a landscape following gravity and drains into a common body of water. 

Common Water - Water is a finite resource with unlimited demands. This activity allows students to step into the shoes of past and present water users to show how demands of multiple water users can affect water quality and quantity over time. Students will take a journey through historic periods simulating smaller water demands from the past up to today's complex water supply system. This activity shines light to the importance of recognizing how vital it is to consider each other's water needs and to share this limited source. 

Mapping Your Watershed - Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes! Smaller watersheds are typically part of a larger watershed which eventually drain into the ocean. Boundaries of watersheds are defined by the highest points of the surrounding land. These hills, mountains, ridges, and passes delineate one watershed from another. This activity guide students to discover what a watershed is, read a topographical map, locate high and low points that define watersheds, and investigate where the water in your watershed drains to. This lab is best suited for grades 4-12 and can take roughly 60 minutes. For topographic maps of your region and school, contact Erin Vruwink at erin@mfcrow.org. 

Urban Creek Observations - Have you ever wondered how you can assess the health of a creek? In this activity for grades 4-12,  students can make observations about water quality by looking at land use in the riparian zone, or area of land adjacent to the creek, by looking for erosion, runoff, sedimentation, water clarity, temperature, flow, and reduced water quality. Students will evaluate water and creek health by making observations, testing water odor and water appearance, and using a rubric to make conclusions on the overall water quality of the creek. 

Macroinvertebrate Lab - Water is life and there is so much life within water, some of that life being extremely tiny and difficult to see. This lab explore the small world of macroinvertebrates and their huge impact. Macroinvertebrates can be found in just about any lake, river, and stream and can be used as bioindicators, or species that can help scientists determine the quality of water. Using samples from local waterbodies, microscopes, and indentification charts, students can determine water quality based off what and how many macoinvertebrates they find. Contact Erin Vruwink at erin@mfcrow.org for activity resources!

• Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in the River
• Identification Guide to Freshwater Macroinvertebrates

Incredible Journey - In this activity, students learn about the movement of water through the water cycle and identify the states of water as it moves through the cycle. Students role-play as a water molecule to conceptualize the water cycle as more than a predictable two-dimensional path. This activity is best suited for Upper Elementary and Middle Schoolers. Contact Erin Vruwink at erin@mfcrow.org to borrow activity materials! 

Smart Salting with Salty Dawg - Dakota County provides resources teaching about the impact of rock salt on our environment using the help of Salty Dawg! These resources show the impacts of salt, smart salting tips, and the importance of clean water. Winter Salt Week  (January 26-30) is a week of education and action. Linked below is a Google Drive to Dakota County's Salty Dawg resources and activity book!

• Google Drive
• Smart Salting with Salty Dog Activity Book