Water Education Database
Water Conservation
Water Issues
Water Quality
Water Recycling
Water Research
Water Science
Planning Water Curriculum
Water Education Database
Water Education Toolkit
What is it about?
This site is a database that is easy to search and allows educators to find many resources on various water topics. This database has hundreds of water education resources conveniently categorised into national, state, territory, regional and urban water resources.
How you could use it?
Use the guided key concept search to find great ideas for lessons and student research. Use it to find games about water conservation or lesson plans about water issues such as pollution.
Water Education Resources Directory
What is it about?
The Water Education Resources Directory is a public online searchable database of water-related education resources and programs in Australia. It is maintained by the NSW Government and has information about Australian curriculum links.
How you could use it?
Teachers could use the database as a way to find specific topics that they want to teach about or activities and games.
Water Conservation
ABC Science - Explore Environment and Nature
What is it about?
Up to the minute information about a wide range of environmental science topics including news articles, videos, news casts and forums.
How you could use it?
This site would be a good one for students to research the latest ideas – very student friendly language and great visuals.
Sustainable and Attainable
What is it about?
This is a Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) resource booklet about water. It includes a case study booklet detailing the water-saving initiatives in South Australian schools.
How you could use it?
Find out how to assess your school water usage by doing a water audit. Also a resource to develop a School Environment Management Plan (SEMP).There are some great quick facts here and also some ideas about what other schools have been able to achieve.
Save Water
What is it about?
A website aimed at a wide variety of age groups detailing water saving products, local information, and areas around the house and garden we can look to use less water. A very student friendly site but has limitations as it is local to the Yarra Valley.
How you could use it?
Great for Resource Based Learning and also includes an online interactive kid’s water saving game, competitions and prizes to be won.
Water Issues
A Picture Tells a Thousand Words
What is it about?
Report on Hayes Springs – a natural waterhole surviving in the remote community of Santa Teresa, on the edge of the Simpson Desert. It is still owned by the traditional Aboriginal inhabitants. Water studies have been conducted there, and the site features videos, picture slide shows and maps.
How you could use it?
The video and podcast help students to see how water is important to the Aboriginal people and how scientists are working with the indigenous people to find out about the quality of the water and what animals are using the water holes. Issues arising include the impact of feral animals and the difficulty of getting clean water when you live in a remote area.
Water Quality
Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
What is it about?
This is the reference that details all of the guidelines for water quality in Australia. Provides the Australian community and the water supply industry with guidance on what constitutes good quality drinking water.
How you could use it?
Useful for providing reference information. Could be used as a resource for chemistry students of senior secondary and university level.
Water Science for Schools
What is it about?
United States Geological Survey website with information regarding ground water quality, including detailed diagrams and definitions. A good resource for senior school or higher education students working independently.
How you could use it?
Useful for providing reference material. Some easy to read tables showing health impacts of various groundwater contaminants.
Water Quality: HSC Chemistry
What is it about?
An online resource for high school students studying chemistry, with particular relation to aspects of water quality; includes diagrams, definitions, and links to other relevant resources. A resource developed by NSW education for the NSW curriculum.
How you could use it?
This would be an ideal starting point for a student Research Project in the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). Students using this resource can learn about the role of a chemist in the context of providing safe drinking water for human use and protecting the habitats of other organisms. It gives guidance for taking water samples and investigating the water supplied to your area.
Water Recycling
Water Recycling
What is it about?
A video report from Catalyst regarding the treatment process of wastewater as it is recycled into drinking water to be re-used.
How you could use it?
Background information for teachers or useful for middle school students. Introduce the issue with a debate around the statement: Cities should recycle wastewater for drinking.
Urban Water
What is it about?
Covering a wide range of topics regarding the recycling of water including catchment and stormwater. Also provides specific information to organisations and communities including planning for future developments using water sensitive urban design.
How you could use it?
Senior student research projects would find many useful resources on this site. Also a catchment audit template and information for engineers, environmental educators and land use planners.
Water Research
Water Quality Research Australia
What is it about?
Publications available as PDF documents grouped into topics under the broad theme of water quality. Fact sheets and annual report also available.
How you could use it?
Senior student research projects might benefit from the occasional paper series. Teachers might use this site for specific inquiries or current details and information about water quality research.
CSIRO Water research
What is it about?
Managing water resources, rivers and urban water are all covered in this website detailing the CSIRO perspective on water research.
How you could use it?
Useful for senior science students interested in science, or a career in water research. Could be an engaging starting point / context for a unit on water for senior students.
Water Science
Molo – Molecular Logic
What is it about?
List of articles and activities relating to water molecules; their structure, formation and properties. Ideal for high school students.
How you could use it?
Animations help to bring some science concepts to life.
Question Bank
What is it about?
List of general questions relating to water and their answers within a New Zealand context so many of the answers use New Zealand examples. It includes pictures, diagrams and links to related information of interest. Other tabs lead to teacher resources and ideas for innovative lesson plans.
How you could use it?
A very useful site for resource based learning and independent studies. Also a good place to find some good ideas for lesson plans and student activities.
Planning Water Curriculum
Victorian water education
What is it about?
Water- Learn it! Live it! (Water – LiLi) is a comprehensive water education program delivered by Melbourne’s state government owned water businesses (City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne Water). It includes the option of schools becoming accredited and recognised for their commitment to water conservation.
How you could use it?
All resources are available from the website. These are very useful for devising lesson plans and water education curriculum.
Melbourne Water/ Education
What is it about?
Links to a large variety of water education resources supplied by Melbourne Water. It includes a wonderful game ‘The Waterworks Adventure’ in which students make decisions about water catchment, treatment, stormwater, and wastewater.
How you could use it?
A great resource, especially to enable students to understand the complexities of water management.
NSW water education
What is it about?
An education website designed by NSW Government is designed as a ‘one-stop-shop’ on everything to do with water education for the community. It will be regularly updated and contains a range of useful tools, resources, events and professional learning opportunities.
How you could use it?
Anyone from experienced practitioners through to first-timers can use it to design, run and evaluate an education project.
Sydney Water Education
What is it about?
Education resources for Sydney Water, including a comprehensive definitions list, diagrams, pictures, and information for specific year levels and teacher packs.
How you could use it?
This site has recently been updated. It could be used as a great place to start if you were planning a unit on water use. Some lovely visuals of the water system on the education home page.
Qld water education
What is it about?
Qld waterwise website Water : Learn it for Life. Features downloadable water wise information for targeted year levels. Based on the 5 E’s inquiry model. The character of “Whizzy” is used on the website, and also features in many books, games and other resources which are also available.
How you could use it?
Borrow the big book “Whizzy’s incredible journeys” a pick a path book, to introduce the water cycle to young students. This book is available for teachers to borrow from the SA Water Library.
WA water education
What is it about?
Western Australia Water education tools page with specific resources for both teachers and students. Provides clear information for specifically targeted age groups.
How you could use it?
Great for helping with planning units of work and curriculum design.
New Zealand water education
What is it about?
This site's resources and their related content are grouped into related resources about H2O On the Go, and a printable context overview to assist teachers to plan lessons and units of work. Situated in a very comprehensive science website.
How you could use it?
The Connections tool is a visual interactive pathway to discovering the resources and related content for H2O On the Go. Very easy to use.