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Books on Water & Wetlands
These books and resources on water and wetland are recommended to educators using Project WET and other lessons. Items marked with * are part of the NNREC Members Lending Library. Linked ISBNs below go to Acorn Naturalists, Amazon or Project WET.
Children's Literature
* Water Dance, Thomas Locker. Winner of the Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, this beautifully illustrated book celebrates sparkling, glistening, whooshing, surging, roaring, trickling, and calming water. Vignettes depict water as rain, a mountain stream, a waterfall, lake, river, the sea, mist, clouds, a storm, a rainbow and more. Perfect for children ages 5-10. ISBN: 0-15-201284-2.
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The Rainstick: A Fable, Chisholm Robinson. Based upon a West African tale, The Rainstick tells the story of a young boy’s quest for rain. As the boy journeys from the parched landscape of his village to the dense rain forest, the reader is treated to colorful illustrations that follow his travels. Includes instructions for creating a rainstick, the history and cultural significance of rainsticks. Ages 6-10. ISBN: 1-56044-284-0.
* Spring Waters: Gathering Places, Five short, beautifully illustrated stories chronicle the use of spring waters by the animal world, native culture, civil war, Oklahoma pioneers, and Teddy Roosevelt. Three sections follow with lessons about the water cycle, the creation of springs, and our bodies' dependence on healthy water. ISBN: 1-888631-05-8.
* All the Way to the Ocean, Joel Harper. All the Way to the Ocean is an uplifting story about two best friends, Isaac and James, and their discovery of the cause and effect relationship between our cities' storm drains and the world's oceans, lakes and rivers. It is sure to inspire both young and adult readers alike and teach a timeless life lesson -- If we all do our part, a cleaner, safer environment is indeed within our reach. ISBN: 0-9714254-1-8. http://allthewaytotheocean.com/
* Salamander Rain: A Lake and Pond Journal, Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini. Through the journal of a young pond naturalist-explorer, learn about salamanders, frogs, minnows, cattails, and dozens of other water-loving plants and animals. Children ages 6-12 will be enthralled by the daily drama that is so beautifully illustrated in this book by Kristen Joy Pratt-Serafini who wrote and illustrated the now classic book A Walk in the Rainforest at age 15. ISBN: 1-58469-017-8.
* River of Words, Images and Poetry in Praise of Water, Pamela Michael. A heartening collection of art and poetry about water created by children participating in the River of Words annual contest. Children, through their teachers, are encouraged to explore and savor their local watersheds and to write and paint about them with inspiration and passion. This approach allows one to view the environment through the joy, yearning, wisdom and boundless creativity of young people. Ages 11-17. ISBN: 1-890771-65-1.
* A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History, Lynne Cherry. Award-winning children's book selected from the American Bookseller’s Pick of the List. True story about the Nashua river as pristine (1600's and before) to polluted (1960's) and eventually restored to health (1980's). Offers an undercurrent of hope, showing how dedicated people can effect positive change. Ages 8-12. ISBN: 0-15-200542-0.
* Let the River Run Silver Again, Burk. An environmental conservation success story that follows students from one elementary school in Maryland as they take part, over a period of nine years, in a major regional conservation initiative to restore populations of an important fish, the American shad, to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The narrative of the students’ projects is presented in an energetic style and at a level that will both engage and inform student readers. Perfect supplemental curriculum piece for environmental education, water monitoring, or restoration programs for ages 10-16. ISBN: 0-939923-95-5.
* Crawdad Creek, Scott Russell Sanders. National Geographic book for children ages 5-9 reveals life in a creek as seen through the eyes of two young explorers. There are rocks filled with fossils, an old arrowhead stuck in the mud, a crawdad hiding under a stone, and beetles, frogs, turtles and fish. Beautiful under and above water illustrations lend a sense of mystery and discovery, revealing a quiet and beautiful world that becomes more intriguing at each closer look. ISBN: 0-613-97725-4.
* Song of the Water Boatman, Joyce Sidman. From spring’s first thaw to autumn’s chill, the world of the pond is a dramatic place. Their denizens, from peepers to painted turtles, duckweed to diving beetles, lead fascinating lives. A unique blend of science, poetry and art, this intriguing book invites a closer look at pond and wetland ecology for children ages 6-11. ISBN: 0-618-13547-2.
Natural History
* Pond Life, George Reid. In print for two decades and still one of the best introductory guides to common pond plants and animals. Includes chapters on physical and chemical characteristics of water, habitats, food webs, community changes, observation and collection, and descriptions of common pond animals from protozoa to mammals. ISBN: 1-582-38130-5.
* Swamp (One Small Square), Donald Silver. Up-close encounter with denizens of shallow, murky waters. Look for millipedes chomping on rotting ferns, dragonflies snaring mosquitoes, snapping turtles catching fish, or plants luring flies. Activities, picture field guide and safety tips are included in this engaging introduction to swamps. Ages 6-10. ISBN: 0-07-057926-1.
* Pond (One Small Square), Donald Silver. Children ages 6-10 will enjoy this engaging book based on the biological study of quadrants (taking a given measured area and describing all of the plants, animals and interactions observed). Learn how to build an underwater observation viewer, study microscopic aquatic life, document seasonal changes, and create your own pond. ISBN: 0-07-057932-6.
* America's Wetlands, Guide to the Plants and Animals, Marianne Wallace. Fourth in a series of beautiful, highly informative books by renown educator, author and illustrator Marianne Wallace. Full-color illustrations and lively descriptions help identify wetland types (swamp, marsh, or pond) along with typical plants and animals. Also helps reader distinguish common wetland animal tracks and sign. Includes a list of common and scientific names, detailed species information, maps, resource list, and glossary. Ages 7-13. ISBN: 1-55591-484-5.
KIDs (Kids in Discovery Series) from Project WET
Note: there are 28 titles in the series, some of which are in Spanish.
* Discover the Waters of Nevada (KIDs), Rick Newby. Nevada is the most arid state in the U.S., and learning about its valuable water resources is fascinating and fun with this colorful 32-page booklet. Students investigate all aspects of water in Nevada, from ecosystems and cultural history to infrastructure and management. Through engaging illustrations and challenging activities, the spirit of Nevada comes to life on these pages. ISBN: 1-888631-38-4.
* Discover the Colorado River (KIDs), Peter Grosshauer. This colorful inexpensive 16-page booklet for eight through twelve-year-olds provides a fun, informative introduction to the Colorado watershed. Learners play geography games, do salinity experiments, create hydrographs, use reading and drawing skills, and practice higher-level thinking. Topics include Colorado Basin cultures, history, art, hydrology, water management and conservation, and geography. ISBN: 1-888631-18-X.
* Discover Storm Water (KIDs), John Etgen. Pull on your rain boots and try to imagine what your town would be like without storm drains. Readers can calculate runoff on permeable and impermeable surfaces, follow the maze of point and nonpoint source pollution, and apply best management practices. For students age 8-12. ISBN 1-888631-45-7.
* Discovering Drought (KIDs), Elisabeth Howe. How can there be a drought in a rain forest--or in the desert? What exactly is a drought? Learn these answers and more, such as the roles of snowpack and ground water, droughts around the world and throughout history, predicting and planning for drought, plant and animal adaptations, and dendrochronology. For students age 8-12. ISBN 1-888631-36-8.
* Discover Ground Water & Springs (KIDs), Peter Grosshauser. Interactive lessons such as filling glasses with sand, gravel, and clay show readers principles related to water flow. Watershed animals, hot and cold springs, and everyday ground water uses are vividly illustrated and demonstrated. For students ages eight through twelve. ISBN: 1-888631-09-0.
* Health Water Healthy People (KIDs), John Etgen. This colorful, fully illustrated 16-page activity booklet is for fourth through seventh grade students. Through informative text, activities, investigations, and experiments, the Healthy Water, Healthy People KIDs booklet is designed to illustrate water quality topics and issues and make them intriguing, relevant, and fun for kids. ISBN: 1-888631-08-2.
* Agua Saludable Gente Saludable (KIDs), John Etgen. The Spanish language version of Healthy Water Healthy People. ISBN: 1-888631-40-6.
* Celebrate Wetlands (KIDs), Peter Grosshauer. ISBN: 1-888631-25-2.
* Conserve Water (KIDs), Peter Grosshauer. ISBN: 1-888631-14-7.
* Every Drop Counts (KIDs), Peter Grosshauer. ISBN: 1-888631-35-X.
* the Water Story (KIDs), Susan Higgins. ISBN: 1-888631-31-7.
* Water Every Drop Counts (KIDs), Peter Grosshauer. ISBN: 1-888631-35-X.
* Big Rivers (KIDs), Peter Grosshauer. ISBN: ?
* Native Waters: Sharing the Source (KIDs), Bonnie Sachatello-Sawyer. ISBN: 1-888631-24-4.
Watershed Protection (KIDs), Michael Sette. ISBN: 1-888631-29-5.
Educator Books
* Project WET K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide. The centerpiece of the Project WET program is the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide. This 561-page guide is a collection of multidisciplinary water-related activities for ages 5 through 18 that are hands-on, easy to use, and fun! The lessons incorporate a variety of formats, such as large and small group learning, whole-body activities, laboratory investigations, discussion of local and global topics, and community service projects. The guide also features cross-reference and planning charts, a glossary, and background material on activity development and field-testing. Note: The guide is only available through workshops.
* Discover a Watershed: Watershed Manager Educator's Guide, Anne Taylor. Outlines the common issues and elements of watersheds and guides the student, educator, or community member to increased awareness of and participation in exploring watershed issues. Activities are correlated with the National Education Standards in science and other disciplines. Formal and nonformal K-12 educators can use this guide alone or as a supplement to curricula in the natural and social sciences, art, history, ecology or civics. Activities cover watershed patterns and influences, data collection and extrapolation, attitudes and values, water uses and regulations, cultural issues, and future scenarios. ISBN: 1-888631-11-2.
* Discover a Watershed: The Colorado, Elisabeth Howe. This colorful, informative Educators Guide provides detailed background information about the Colorado Watershed through an engaging narrative. The reference section complements twenty-five science-based, multidisciplinary, and hands-on activities that teach about the watershed’s hydrology, geography, geology, ecology, tribes, history, cultures, economics, management issues, and resource stewardship. Activities are internationally relevant and classroom-tested by educators from the U.S., Mexico, and several tribes. The curriculum is correlated to National Science Standards (U.S. and Mexican) and other disciplines in easy-to-use cross-reference charts. An in-depth glossary, index, and ten pages of detailed watershed maps make this guide highly useful to educators and resource managers. A special feature of the guide is its “River Voices,” written by people from throughout the watershed to offer diverse, personal perspectives of the basin. ISBN 1-888631-19-8.
* Healthy Water, Healthy People, Water Quality Educators Guide, The Watercourse. Superb 250-page activity guide for educators of students in grades 6-college. Designed to help educators meet science standards through 25 interactive water quality activities that link water quality issues to the daily lives of students. Very useful appendix links all activities to the national science content standards for each grade level, making it easy for teachers to integrate these lessons into their science curriculum. Students will also appreciate learning about something as vital and basic to life on earth as water. As an added benefit, some may choose to pursue water quality as a career - a field offering multiple opportunities for gainful employment. ISBN: 1-888631-12-0.
* River of Words Educators Guide. This revised and expanded edition offers a multidisciplinary approach to bringing nature and art into the classroom. Now over 260 pages in length, the Watershed Explorer Curriculum offers many new activities and areas of exploration, covering: birds, mapping, classroom gardening, naturalists and much more, plus lots of additional support for teaching poetry. We’ve also added more activities that serve the needs of urban children who often don’t have access to outdoor resources. It is designed to help educators assist children in discovering their “ ecological address. ISBN: none.
* WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands: An Educator's Guide. K-12 teachers will enjoy using this guide; it features 70 pages of background material followed by more than 40 cross-referenced activities. Every page is thoughtfully laid out with core text, great photographs, side bars, maps, and illustrations to make information clear and quick to use. Activities are organized into five sections: wetlands definitions, wetlands plants and animals, water quality and supply issues, soils, and people. The appendix offers instructions for planning and developing a schoolyard wetland habitat. ISBN: 1-888631-00-7.
* Conserve Water Educators Guide. Provides teachers of middle school and high school students with the ins and outs of water conservation. Background information offers a hydrologic primer; past, present, and future water conservation issues; and case studies ranging from a rancher in west Texas to an ice cream factory in Massachusetts. These real-life examples encourage students to use critical thinking skills to examine different sides of each situation. ISBN: 1-888631-04-X.
Watershed Dynamics, William Carlsen. This resource guide offers numerous ways to refine or extend student research into local water quality and land use issues. Classroom-ready materials include detailed background information, sample assessment tasks and frameworks, and guidelines for integrating peer review into classroom science. Provides an overview of the basic principles of watershed science, including biological, chemical and physical properties of rivers and streams. Also contains instructions for using field work and remote sensing to collect land-use and management data in your watershed. Mathematical models can be used to simulate the effects of watershed land uses on surface water quality and quantity. Forms guide students through each step of research, providing both structure and flexibility in designing and conducting experiments. Student edition also available - type WTR-12603 into the search function at the top of each page to locate the Student Edition. Grades 9-12. ISBN: 0-87355-205-9.
The Indoor River Book: The Complete Guide of Integrated Activities for Building and Maintaining a Model Watershed in Your Classroom, Jim Higgins. Shows how to create a working model of your watershed. Activities in science, math, social studies, language arts, creative arts, and technology. Brings students in grades 4-8 out into the community where they conduct research on the local waterways. Projects can continue over many seasons, creating a focal point for students and teachers to discuss changes and improvements. ISBN: 0-7872-3602-0.
* Wading Into Wetlands, National Wildlife Federation. Kids and teachers wade into bags, swamps, and marshes to show firsthand why wetlands are so important to wildlife and people. Kids in grades K-8 learn about the characteristics of fresh and saltwater wetlands and how to protect them, while joining in 20 thrilling indoor activities that reveal such wonders as gator holes, meat-eating plants, and quakin' and shakin' bogs. ISBN: 0-7910-4837-3 (out of print).
GEMS - Great Explorations in Math and Science
* River Cutters (GEMS), Cary Sneider. Geologic time is collapsed into observable, tabletop evolution in this unit on the dynamic life of river systems. 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. Grades 6-8. ISBN: 0-924886-32-3.
Aquatic Habitats (GEMS), Katharine Barrett. Creating and expanding their own little aquatic worlds over a period of weeks, student groups learn to observe, record, predict, and draw inferences; these are the mainstreams in Aquatic Habitats. In this compelling and unique series of life-science activities for a variety of age groups, desktop model ponds develop and change over time, allowing students to discover firsthand some of the complex interactions within a typical pond ecosystem. Grades 2-6. ISBN: 0-924886-01-3.
Environmental Detectives (GEMS), Kevin Beals. Children love to solve mysteries, and this latest GEMS guide has students in grades 5-8 utilize their reasoning skills to find out what is causing various problems, from chlorine pollution to acid rain, erosion and sediment pollution, algal blooms and water pollution. Students become aware of the complexity of environmental problems and how major impacts can be triggered by seemingly small changes. As with all the GEMS guides, activities are multi-disciplinary and can be easily modified to fit individual classroom needs. ISBN: 0-924886-23-4.
