Department of Water Resources Home

Water Education Materials for Educators

Education Home Water Facts and Fun Order page
Water Facts and Fun Catalog Cover Dear Educators:

Thank you for your interest in educating your students on the importance of water.

To help you develop classroom curriculum, the Department of Water Resources offers water education materials at no charge.

Our materials are limited in quantity so please review a sample copy before ordering classroom sets.

(Note: Non-California residents may receive only one free copy of each of the materials. Materials can be sent to United States addresses only.)

Teachers from the same school are encouraged to combine orders to save shipping and handling.

Again, thank you for your interest in our materials. I believe they will be useful in encouraging children to use water wisely.
Carolyn M. Tucker
Water Education Specialist
Department of Water Resources
Public Affairs Office
Telephone: (916) 653-9892
FAX: (916) 653-4684
E-Mail: carolyn@water.ca.gov

To place an order electronically, complete all items in the first section. Then scroll down the page, fill in quantities for each item ordered, and click the "Submit" button at the end.

To order by mail, print this page, fill in the appropriate information below, and mail to:

California Department of Water Resources
Publications Office, Room 338
P. O. Box 942836
Sacramento, CA 94236-0001

Teacher's Name:

School Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

(Area Code) Phone:(xxx) xxx-xxxx

E-Mail Address:(xxx@xxxx.xxx)

Grade Level(s):


Attention Fifth Grade Teachers.
If your class is participating in the Walt Disney Environmentality Challenge, please check this box:

To find out more about the Environmentality Challenge, visit www.jceckids.org

Note: Non-California residents may receive only one free copy of each of the materials. Materials can be sent to United States addresses only.

Free Water Education Materials Order Form

Student Workbooks
Cover of Water Works The California Water Works and Why It Does...
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 the end users. Guidelines for water conservation are provided as well.
Appropriate for Grades 4-8. Available in English and Spanish. (16 pages) 		Qty:     (English)
Qty:     (Spanish)
Cover of Water and Me Water And Me
A color and activity book. 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.
Appropriate for Grades K-2. (16 pages) 		Qty: 

Teachers Guide and Student Workbooks
Cover of Captain Hydro Captain Hydro
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 about the water cycle, the uses of water; and water treatment, conservation, management, and water quality testing. Teacher's guide has clear directions, and questions to direct student learning. Provides Framework reference, follow-up activities, glossary and additional references. Spanish version of prior edition, Captain Tlaloc, also available.
Appropriate for Grades 5-8. (39 pages) 		Qty:     Teacher's Guide
Qty:     Workbook (English)
Qty:     Workbook (Spanish-Original Edition)
Cover of Further Adventures Captain Hydro Further Adventures Of Captain Hydro
In the 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 A.D.) Includes a glossary of water terms and answer key.
Appropriate for Grades 6-9. (Teacher's Guide, 25 pages) 		Qty:     Teacher's Guide
Qty:     Workbook
Cover of Water Fun Water Fun
A colorfully illustrated comic book has stories, games and puzzles designed to teach about the water cycle and water conservation. Teacher's guide has spin-off ideas, background information and water vocabulary list.
Appropriate for Grades 1-4. (16 pages)

Resource Materials
Water Conservation Pledge/Stickers Water Conservation Class Pledge with Stickers
A short verse students recite pledging to use water wisely. Four sentences within a water drop. Stickers are colorful, 1 7/8" in diameter, and say "I MAKE EVERY DROP COUNT."
Appropriate for Grades K-4. 		Qty:
Cover of Video Catalog Video Catalog
DWR’s newly updated Video Catalog offers over 20 programs in four categories, Children’s Programs, Water Management. Issues & the Environment, and Flood Management. The prices have been reduced to $5.00 per video for VHS or DVD formats. DVDs include all programs in the category.
A free lending library is also available for 30 day loans. Order copies of the catalog or order programs on-line at www.publicaffairs.water.ca.gov/education/videos/ 		Qty:
Conservation Checklist Parent/Student Water Conservation Checklist
A question and answer checklist students can take home and review with their parents. Includes suggested actions and parent signature box.
Appropriate for Grades 4-8. 		Qty:
Cover of Environmental Education Compendium Environmental Education Compendium for Water Resources
Co-produced with the Department of Education and various water organizations, this publication contains references to 109 different, teacher-rated, water curriculum, 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. 		Qty:      (One Copy Per Teacher)

Hands-On Water Activities for Teachers

(One Copy Per Teacher)
Cover of All About Water All About Water, K-3 Water Activities

An AIMS style teacher's guide containing 26 hands-on lessons integrating science, math, language arts, geography, art, music drama and health. The major themes addressed are Systems and Interaction, Energy, Stability and Scale and Structure. Water topics include where water comes from, water cycle, ground water, water pollution and conservation. A storyline can be used to connect the lessons using puppets and scenery. You can download a pdf version of this teacher's guide. However, the file is quite large (19MB) so, depending on your internet connection, it may not open in your browser. To save the file to your computer, right-mouse-click on the link above and do a "Save as ..." to a folder (or Desktop) on your computer.

 Qty: 
Cover of Water is Your Best Friend Water is Your Best Friend
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.
Appropriate for Grades K-3. 		Qty:      Teacher's Guide
Cover of Hands-On Water Activities Teachers Guide for Hands-On Water Activities by Gil Yee
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 eye dropper inside. Students can make a Solo© cup rain gauge.
Appropriate for Grades 1-6. 		Qty: 
Cover of Water Precious Water Sample lessons from Water Precious Water developed by AIMS
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.
Appropriate for Grades 4-6. 		Qty: 

Flannel Board Stories
Cover of Water is Your Best Friend Water Is Your Best Friend, A Flannel Board Story
Designed to aid teachers explain the basic concepts of water to K-2 grade students. It teaches the importance of water, where it comes from, and why we should use it wisely using the illustrated story of Willy the Water Droplet and his friend Peter as they explore the nature and uses of water.
 Qty: 
Cover of Peter's Magical Water Journey Peter's Magical Water Journey, A Flannel Board Story
Designed to aid teachers explain the basic concepts of water to 2-4 grade students. Covers the water cycle, water uses and conservation in more detail using an older Peter and more illustrations than the K-2 version.
 Qty: 

Colored Wall Posters

(All Titles In This Section: One Copy Per Teacher)
Water Supply and Uses Poster Water Supply and Uses
This 26” by 26” colorful poster illustrates how water travels from mountain top to ocean and is used for many purposes along the way. (Click the image to see an enlargement.)
Appropriate for all grades. 		Qty: 
Groundwater Poster Groundwater Diagram
A cut away diagram illustrating groundwater and surface water with listings of the Department of Water Resources groundwater websites.
11” by 17” in size.
Appropriate for Grades 3rd to adult. 		Qty: 
How We Can Save Water Poster How We Can Save Water
Colorful 24" by 15 1/2" poster illustrating ways we can save water at home.
Appropriate for all Grades . 		Qty: 
Wear a Life Jacket Poster Albert and Einstein Life Jacket Poster
This 25" by 17" poster features Albert and Einstein showing objects that can be life preservers.
Appropriate for Grades K-6. 		Qty:
Water Cycle Poster The Water Cycle
Colorful 17" by 16 1/2" storybook illustration of the water cycle.
Appropriate for Grades K-3. 		Qty:
California Waterways Poster California Waterways Map
Map of California showing topography and the major natural and built water systems (Federal, State, and local). Provides an an overview of the State Water Project (SWP) and indicates various SWP facilities, including visitors centers.
Appropriate for all Grades 4 and up. 		Qty:

Special Offers

(for California Teachers only)
Storm Water Discover Storm Water
A student activity book that explains what storm water is, where it comes from, how it can get polluted and can affect the environment, and what we can do to prevent storm water pollution.
Appropriate for Grades 4-6. 		Qty:
Hamburger Activity Sheet - click to see full sheet Hamburger Activity Sheet
8.5 x 11 sheet (click the image to see the full sheet) containing an activity to teach children how much water goes into making the parts -- bun, lettuce, tomato, cheese, hamburger -- of a hamburger sandwich. The sheet includes an illustration of the hamburger sandwich parts and the amounts of water that correspond to each part. The activity consist of matching the corresponding amount of water to sandwich part.
Answers are at the bottom of the page. The reverse side is in Spanish.
Appropriate for all grades. Downloadable PDF Versions: English Spanish
 Qty:
CA Water Units California Water Units - Teacher's Guide
Includes three Teacher’s Guides for 4th and 5th grades.
Unit #1
California's Water, addresses water supplies, geography, and rainfall.
Unit #2
Water Sources, looks at surface and groundwater and the role reservoirs, canals and aqueducts play.
Unit #3
Water Use, covers how water supplies are divided among urban, agricultural and environmental users.
Lessons are correlated to the California State Subject Area Standards. Includes pre and post assessment tools, teacher information, student handouts, worksheet masters and California Waterways Poster Map. 		Qty:    Unit 1
Qty:    Unit 2
Qty:    Unit 3
Delta Book Cover--click for enlargement California’s Amazing Delta - Book Cover
No other single area in California is quite as crucial to the state’s overall water picture as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This two-sided book cover has activities that teach students about the importance of the Delta and the plants and animals that make up this diverse ecosystem. (Click the image to see an enlargement.)
Appropriate for all grades. 		Qty:
Delta Book Cover--click for enlargement California’s Amazing Delta - Book Marks
Two sided, 2.5 X 8 inch, black and white, bookmarks with artwork and information on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem, taken from the Delta Book Cover. Co-produced with the CA Bay Delta Authority. Packaged in sets of 40, of 10 each of four different versions. (Click the image to see an enlargement.)
Appropriate for all grades. 		Qty:    (Package of 40)
3 in 1 Video 3 in 1 Video and Video Activity Packets
This video includes "Water, Who Needs It?" and "The Water Cycle" along with the Albert & Einstein, Aqueduct Safety PSA. Both videos use Jr. Scientists to conduct activities demonstrating various water concepts. Activity packets are available to accompany the program and enhance student learning. Available in VHS or DVD.
Limited to one packet per school.
Appropriate for Grades K-6. 		Qty:    VHS Format (One per School)
Qty:    DVD Format (One per School)
Cover of Project WET Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Curriculum and Activity Guide
Available free from DWR when you schedule a Project WET workshop with the California Project WET Coordinator, Judy Maben at (916) 444 6240 or e-mail jmaben@watereducation.org. Books will be provided at the workshop. Project WET lessons are correlated to California Department of Education Standards for Science, History/Social Science and English/Language Arts. Project WET is approved by the State Water Resources Control Board as meeting the education Best Management Practices component for stormwater discharge NPDES permits.
Lessons available for all age groups
     Use of the Erase Input button will blank all fields you have filled in. If you wish to change a few entries it is best to just change those entries manually.