Waquoit Bay Reserve offers thematic trunks with age-appropriate resources for educators to borrow to use in their classrooms for free. To reserve a Loan Kit or for any questions please email our Education Coordinator.

The Watershed Game: Classroom Version — Coast Model

The Watershed Game: Classroom Version — Coast Model (link: https://seagrant.umn.edu/watershed-game/classroom-versions) is a large-format board game representing a typical coastal community or estuary. It helps students understand the relationship between land use within a watershed, water quality, flood resilience, and their community. Working in teams, students apply tools (practices, plans, and policies) to decrease water pollution and increase flood resilience while balancing financial resources. The goal of the activity is to reduce nonpoint source water pollution from various land uses to the coast while building resilience to flooding without going broke.

Grade Level: The game is designed for middle school students (grades 6 – 8) and high school students (grades 9 -12), but can easily be modified to use with elementary and college students.

Time Required: 2 – 4 Class Periods

Topics Addressed: Water quality, Pollution, Watersheds, Wetlands, Stormwater, Coastal Resilience, Natural Resources

Enviroscape

The EnviroScape (link: https://www.enviroscapes.com/) is a three-dimensional landscape (approx. 25″ x 30″ x 5″) that illustrates residential, recreational, agricultural, industrial and transportation areas — all representing possible sources of water pollution in the environment. Children and adults learn by using chemicals (drink mix) and loose soil (cocoa) throughout a typical community to see how their actions and those of others may affect our water quality.

Grade Level: Can be adapted for any grade level

Time Required: Can be adapted

Topics Addressed: Water quality, Pollution, Natural Resources, Watersheds, Wetlands, Erosion, Recycling