1. CA DWR – May is Water Awareness Month
 | Description: The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) strives to help Californians of all ages learn about water, including where it comes from, how we use it, and how to conserve it. They provide a variety of resources to K-12 teachers, parents, scout leaders, and other non-formal educators, to encourage water education in and out of the classroom. Their free supplementary materials can be used to help develop lessons about California’s diverse water resources. |
2. Seeds to Solutions: 7th Grade. Land Subsidence and Groundwater
 | Description: Why is the Central Valley sinking, and what can we do about it? Students investigate the sinking of California’s Central Valley, a phenomenon otherwise known as land subsidence. Using the phenomenon as an anchoring point, students explore California’s water crisis and its intersection with historical colonialism, groundwater mechanics, and environmental justice through an engaging, character-driven narrative. Students explore the Central Valley’s transformation from a water-rich ecosystem under Indigenous stewardship to its current state, shaped by colonization, industrial agriculture, and irrigation networks. Students investigate how aquifers work, how excessive pumping and climate change deplete groundwater, and how this impacts ecosystems and frontline communities. Students also examine solutions, such as managed aquifer recharge, water conservation, and climate action. To review this unit, click HERE. |
3. Somos Semillitas y Crecemos Outdoors, by Adrianna Alejo Sorondo
 | Description: California Project WET is a program of the Water Education Foundation that works with partners throughout the state to organize professional development workshops for formal and non-formal K-12 educators. Project WET’s educator guides feature field-tested activities for TK-12 students. Educators’ guides are perfect for TK-12 teachers, community educators, government agencies, NGOs, museum, aquarium, zoo, and National Park Service staff, and university professors teaching future preK-12 teachers. Project WET’s series of student activity booklets includes more than 60 titles. Written and illustrated for children ages 8-12, the colorful booklets engage students in hands-on learning about water science through creative investigations, demonstrations, experiments, educational games and stories. Browse their guides HERE. Project WET also offers virtual training and downloadable products. |
4. CA State Parks PORTS Programs – Water Focus
 | Description: PORTS stands for Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students. The PORTS program brings California State Parks into your classroom, digitally. From over 55 parks in all corners of the state, they have free resources for you! Nature, Science, History, Culture. PORTS offers numerous programs that have a water emphasis, from Eelgrass Habitat in the San Diego Bay, to Hydroelectricity at the Folsom House, and Salmon in the Trees. There are many programs to choose from serving multiple grades. Click HERE to explore their resources. |
5. CA Ocean Protection Council – CA 2026 Coast and Ocean Assessment
 | Description: Educators: have you been wanting to brush up on your knowledge of California’s coast and ocean and the impacts of a changing climate? The California’s 2026 Coast and Ocean Assessment uses science to explore 14 key indicators of California’s coast and ocean. Developed through a public process and guided by more than 120 scientists, these indicators reveal both the threats facing our coast and ocean and the actions needed to protect people and ecosystems. This Report tells a story of both pressure and progress: while climate impacts are threatening wildlife, livelihoods, and coastal access, investments in sustainable solutions are improving the health and resilience of coastal and marine ecosystems and the people who rely on them. |
6. USGS California Water Science Center Teacher Resources
 | Description: The Water Science School likes to make life easier for teachers. They offer teacher guides with lesson plans and students worksheets complete with answers that can aid teachers in helping their students learn about water. The teacher guide for Our Water, Our Lives: California (5th grade) includes background information, lesson plans, and examples of student answers for four lessons about water resources in California. |