Water on the Go! outreach programs bring freshwater education into Michigan classrooms. Programs engage students in fun presentations and hands-on learning about water science and protecting the Great Lakes.
Water on the Go! programs are available to 5th, 6th and 7th grade classrooms within the following sponsorship service areas in the 2011 - 2012 academic year free of charge:
- Consumers Energy Foundation supports free Water on the Go! programs in the Saginaw Bay watershed.
Now accepting registrations for the 2012/13 school year for the CMS Energy Foundation funded programs in the Saginaw Bay service area. Please email water@cranbrook.edu to reserve a spot for your classes. Reservations taken on a first-come, first-served basis.
Outreach Programs
Watershed Education Outreach Programs are available for a fee in the Metro Detroit area, please Download Water on the Go pricing for more details.
View a map on our homepage to see where Water on the Go! has been. We are pleased to be a part of public watershed education efforts to protect the waters of the Great Lakes and its tributaries.
Our programs follow Michigan GLCE guidelines and integrate Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support (MEECS) developed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Download Water on the Go_GLCEs
Program Details:
- Programs are presented one classroom at a time and can be repeated multiple times in a day to reach all of your students.
- Pre and Post surveys evaluate the program by measuring student learning.
- How We Use Water is designed for 5th grade, I Live in a Watershed is for 6th grade, and Groundwater Pollution is for 7th grade; however, programs can be scheduled differently based on educator discretion. Please let us know the program that best fits your classroom.
Educator Feedback on Water on the Go! presentations:
- “Great presentation. Hands on activities - grade level appropriate! Thank you!”
- “This was a terrific program. I loved the hands-on activities and the variety of activities done.”
- “Thanks for such a positive educational learning and reinforcement. It was well worth the time! “
To schedule a program, contact us for timing and availability:
Email: water@cranbrook.edu
Phone: (248) 645-3008
Fax: (248) 645-3050
Mailing address:
Watershed Education
Cranbrook Institute of Science
PO Box 801
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
We look forward to serving you!
Program Descriptions
How We Use Water is a one-hour, hands-on lesson that engages students in learning about the water cycle and water conservation. Through interactive demonstrations and games, students learn about the Great Lakes as a unique, global freshwater system. They will share ways they can help conserve water in their own lives to help keep the Great Lakes GREAT!
The presentation will:
- Review the hydrologic cycle.
- Determine the distribution and availability of freshwater and saltwater on Earth.
- Help students identify their own uses of water and understand how water is essential to Michigan’s environment and economy.
How We Use Water Supporting Documents:
Suggested Activities to Extend Learning:
Pre-activity:
- Students assess how much water they use daily prior to the program. Online water use calculator.
Post-activity:
- Students collect data about how much water they use daily after implementing water conservation measures for a week. Have students compare and contrast water use before and after water conservation measures.
Related Lessons and Resources:
Thirstin’s Water Cycle is a fun and interactive water cycle game.
Down the Drain: How much water do you use?
H2O Conserve – What is your water footprint?
USGS Water Science for Schools
I Live in a Watershed is a one-hour, hands-on lesson that engages students in learning about their local watershed. Working together in groups, students build their own watershed models to understand the impact of non-point source pollution on water quality. They will learn about best management practices that prevent storm water pollution.
The presentation will:
- Model the impact of non-point source pollution in a watershed.
- Use maps to better understand local watersheds and their connection to the environment.
- Show how individual actions can affect the health of the Great Lakes.
I Live in a Watershed Supporting Documents:
Suggested Activities to Extend Learning:
Pre-activities:
- Students look for sources of pollution in their neighborhood and make a list of what they observe. Students will have an opportunity to share their list the day of the watershed program.
- Students use the EPA Surf Your Watershed website to find out the name of their watershed.
Post-activities:
- Students look for a storm drain near their house and write about what they observe in or near it. If weather permits, have students compare and contrast what they observe in the storm drain before and after a precipitation event.
- Students research their local watershed organization to learn about events and water quality monitoring; provide extra credit if they participate in an event or volunteer.
Student Links:
Kid’s Page Polluted Runoff, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Sewage in your face, a fun and interactive game about the sewage treatment process
Related Lessons and Resources:
Educational Video - After the Storm, a video from the Weather Channel and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that explains watershed concept and storm water runoff; a brochure is available for download.
Surf Your Watershed - From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, discover your watershed by zip code!
Educating Young People About Water, a database of water curriculum and activities
Introduction to the Clean Water Act - a historical overview of the Clean Water Act, the primary Federal law that protects the nation's waters, including lakes, rivers, aquifers, and coastal areas.
The Pollution Prevention (P2) Toolbox (EPA-905-F-97-011) is a series of lesson plans on various pollution prevention concepts. Each fact sheet provides lesson plans, hands-on activities and information on how students and teachers can prevent pollution.
Center for Global Environmental Education WaterShed Action Service Learning Projects
World Water Monitoring Day - World Water Monitoring Day is held yearly in September. Their website provides information on how to monitor water quality in your local river using an easy-to-use kit order from their website. Data is reported and shared world-wide.
Groundwater Pollution is a one-hour presentation using the Envision Groundwater Simulator to demonstrate groundwater flow, soil permeability and groundwater contamination. Hands-on demonstrations and experiments engage students with the model. Students learn about habits and actions they can do to improve local water quality and protect groundwater.
The presentation will:
- Describe how groundwater is connected to surface water.
- Explain how groundwater is used in Michigan.
- Demonstrate how various land use activities can contaminate groundwater or reduce groundwater availability.
Groundwater Pollution Supporting Documents:
Suggested Activities to Extend Learning:
Pre-activity:
- Students research the source of their local drinking water, including the service provider and name of the aquifer or surface water body from which the water is drawn.
Post-activity:
- Students research when the next Household Hazardous waste collection day is in their community.
Related Lessons and Resources:
The Groundwater Story Animation
Education Materials from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Michigan's Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool
You can calculate the depth to groundwater beneath your school with this interactive web tool. On the homepage, click "Run the Tool", then choose "I am assessing a new withdrawal". On the next page, enter your school's address and follow the instructions.
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