Educator Information:

McHenry County is one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. From 2000 to 2030, McHenry County's population is expected to grow by 190,000 with the number of households projected to increase by approximately 65,700. In the year 2000, water use in the county amounted to an annual average of 34.6 million gallons per day (mgd). By 2030, average annual water use is estimated to almost double to 67.5 mgd. There are several aspects of groundwater concerns in McHenry County. First, is the primary impact of increased groundwater pumping on the existing water supply. Second, is the potential for groundwater contamination that grows proportionally with population increase and corresponding increases in business activity. Finally, a less evident, but nevertheless important aspect of groundwater use is the potential impact on natural wetlands, fens, streams and lakes.
As a first step in ensuring a sustainable and safe supply of water across our county, it is imperative that we educate our youth on the importance protecting the quantity and quality of our groundwater. Please take a moment to review the sample lesson plans and activities below. When appropriate, please incorporate groundwater education into your classrooms. Thank you!

Video For All Ages - The Groundwater Story

Watch this musical animation while learning about the importance of groundwater to living things -- including people -- and how to help protect this hidden resource. The Groundwater Story is designed for kids and adults who like watching funny cartoons while learning.

This animation requires a Flash plugin in order to view. The Flash file size is 6.5 Mb and the play time is 3 minutes, 43 seconds.

Aurora University
Groundwater Education Graduate Class For Teachers

PowerPoint Presentation

This power point presentation can be used by all educators in McHenry County as a basis for a groundwater lesson. Please feel free to use any information you would like for your lessons! Be Water Wise!

Additional Links:

• Science Net Links: Lesson Plans for K-12 
• Water Science for Schools: What is Groundwater
• Water Science for Kids! 

McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program (MCSEEP)

The McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program's main objective is to educate the children and staff of McHenry County schools about the environment and stewardship. The program teaches environmental lessons in K-12 classes. It offers instructional materials for incorporating environmental education in the classroom through teacher workshops, a curriculum library, and a website. It interacts and networks with other environmental organizations for the purpose of enhanced environmental education in McHenry County.

SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS: (K-12)

(K) The Garbage Monster (30 Min.)
(1) Our Good Friends, the Trees (35 Min.)
(2) *Water: Making Every Drop Count (40 Min.)
(3) Captain Compost and the Biodegradables (40 Min.)
(4) When the Cupboard is Bare (Conserving Natural Resources) (50 Min.)
(5) What’s Happened to Home? (Biodiversity) (50 Min.)
(6) Compulsive Consumption (Effects of a Consumer Culture on the Earth) (50 Min.)
(7) The Heat is On (Global Climate Change and Alternative Energy) (50 Min.)
(8) *What’s in our Water? (Groundwater) (50 Min.)
(9-12) You Too Can Have a Green Career; Are You a Carbon Big Foot?; and Food for Thought: How What We Eat Impacts the Environment.

SIGN UP FOR YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS: (K-8)

If you are a school coordinator you can now sign up for your environmental lessons online at the MCSEEP website.

Water Lesson Plans and Activities: Grades K-2

• Water and Ice
• Disappearing Water
• Melting and Freezing
  

Water Lesson Plans and Activities: Grades 3-5

• Water Purification
• Models of the Water Cycle
• Oceans 

Other Resources with Water Lesson Plans & Activities:

• ProTeacher Directory
• Water Environment Federation

Designed for use by teachers, non-formal educators, and water quality professionals, The Water Sourcebook series covers today's most important water environment topics.

• Groundwater Adventurers

The Groundwater Adventurers site is a program of the National Ground Water Association for kids who like science, fun, and exploration.

•  GLOBE – Hydrology Section
  This is the site for GLOBE’s hydrology chapter.

Project WET promotes responsible water stewardship through excellent and effective water education

• Water Science for Schools 
  This site offers information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center to test water knowledge.
• USGS Science Education 
  The U.S. Geological Survey provides scientific information intended to help educate the public about natural resources, natural hazards, geospatial data, and issues that affect our quality of life.
• National Ocean and Atmospheric Agency Education Resources 
  This site has been designed to help students, teachers, librarians and the general public access the many educational activities, publications, and booklets from NOAA.
• Watershed Management Training 
  This site offers a variety of self-paced training modules that represent a basic and broad introduction to the watershed management field.
• National Drinking Water Clearinghouse
  NDWC helps small communities by collecting, developing, and providing timely information relevant to drinking water issues.
• Great Lakes Commission 
  The Great Lakes Commission is a binational agency that promotes the orderly, integrated and comprehensive development, use and conservation of the water and related natural resources of the Great Lakes basin and St. Lawrence River.
• National Ground Water Association 
  The National Ground Water Association is dedicated to advancing the expertise of all ground water professionals and to furthering ground water awareness and protection through education and outreach.
• Lesson Plans from NGWA
• Classroom Materials
  
  

Other Useful Information:

The Hydrologic Cycle

•  The Natural Water Cycle
•  The Urban Water Cycle