Water Challenges (6th – 12th Grade)

Here are some great water challenges for students in the 6th through 12th grades.

Mercury Audit

Where is mercury in your school? Complete the Mercury Audit [PDF 76KB] and learn about the element mercury. Students will inventory possible locations in their school where mercury may be stored or used. Students then prepare an action plan to determine what steps they can take to remove the mercury. This audit is part of the Wisconsin Green Schools Household Water program being developed by the Department of Natural Resources. For more information, visit Green Schools.

Where does it Come From?...Where Does it Go?

Who takes care of your community's water supply? How are local households charged for the water they use? In the Groundwater Study Guide’s Household Water page 1 [PDF 283KB] and Household Water page 2 [PDF 236KB], have a thoughtful discussion and investigation of the drinking water to wastewater connection.

How Septic Systems Work

When is the last time you thought about your septic tank? Lamented over your leachate. Even scum and sludge deserve attention when it comes to making sure your septic system is doing it's job. In the Groundwater Study Guide’s How Septic Systems Work page 1 [PDF 394KB] and How Septic Systems Work page 2 [PDF 285KB], you can make your own septic tank and leach field to demonstrate how a properly maintained septic system can prevent pollution.

Stream Monitoring

Citizen groups and school classes throughout Wisconsin are using Water Action Volunteers sampling protocols to monitor the health of their hometown streams and rivers and record their findings in a data base which anyone can access. Become a Citizen Stream Monitor [exit DNR] and use their methods [exit DNR] and data sheets [exit DNR] for monitoring these six different variables having to do with stream water quality.

Storm Drain Stenciling

Storm drains almost always lead directly to local waterways without being treated to remove pollutants. When people throw contaminants like oil, antifreeze, gasoline, soil, litter, pet waste, yard care chemicals, and yard waste in the street, those materials eventually get washed down storm drains. Help prevent this pollution by participating in the Water Action Volunteers' Storm Drain Stenciling Program [exit DNR].

Watershed in a Box

Learn from the Water Action Volunteers' how to build a simple runoff model [exit DNR] to demonstrate how non-point source pollution can affect surface water. Check out DNR's on–line Groundwater Animation Video located at the bottom of the Groundwater Publication page.

Shoreland Homes

As we develop shorelands for human habitation, what happens to fish, wildlife, and water quality? Find out in the Angler Education Program's Shoreland Homes [PDF 526KB] activity.

Hook into Healthy Fish

Learn what you can do to decrease the amounts of contaminants entering the food web in our Aquatic Education program's Hook into Healthy Fish [PDF 402KB]. Also, check out the fish consumption advisory that covers PCB and mercury.

Unfair Advantage

Explore the beach for zebra mussel shells and find out how they live, grow, take over a habitat, and what gives them an Unfair Advantage [PDF 242KB]. This activity is one of many you will find in the Great Lakes Park Packs (GLPP).

Purple Invaders

Educators, do you have purple loosestrife invading your local wetlands? Your students can help find and report its locations while learning how to make and use maps. This is truly goal–directed, hands–on, real–life problem solving — what better venue is there for effective teaching? Is Our School In Loosestrife Land? [PDF 750KB] comes from See Cella Chow! A Purple Loosestrife Control Manual for Teachers. It's one of 15 action–packed activities based on students setting up biological control of purple loosestrife in local wetlands. Check it out!

Exotic Aquatics on the Move

Students research a problem with a Great Lakes invader, then design an experiment to test their hypothesis in Sea Grant’s How Do Scientists Use the Scientific Method to Study the Invaders of the Great Lakes?. [PDF 159KB]

More About Water

Learn more about Watersheds and basins or Wisconsin Watersheds. Learn about water cycles and groundwater on EEK!, DNR's environmental education site for kids and teachers. Check out our Groundwater Education site.

Angler Education Program Activities

These activities are taken from Wisconsin's Angler Education program materials. Teachers, youth leaders, and fishing club leaders can gain access to the complete set of materials, loaner fishing gear and other support materials by attending a volunteer instructor-training workshop. Find out more about Wisconsin's Angler Education program.

GLPP – Great Lakes Parks Packs Activities

The Great Lakes are so big — you can see them from outer space! But, the cool thing is, they are right in Wisconsin's backyard — close enough to visit and explore. Next time you visit a state park or forest that borders Lake Michigan or Lake Superior, ask to borrow the new Great Lakes Park Packs. Each pack takes a unique look at the Great Lakes through books, exploring tools, field guides, games, and other materials. Through the activities, kids will discover the lakes, splash in the water, and find out how to be responsible caretakers of this great resource. For more information about ParkPacks, contact Beth Mittermaier.