DNR offers free new book about water resources

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DNR offers free new book about water resources
(Released September 30, 2010)


A new 150-page book produced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will help educators teach people about our state’s water resources.

 
The book titled, “Water Ways: A Minnesota Water Primer and Project WET Companion,” features information on water science basics, Minnesota’s rivers, lakes, groundwater, wetlands, life in water, human use of water, challenges to water resources, and water policy.

It also includes a list of suggested activities, career profiles, classroom activities, field-trip suggestions and additional resources.

“Teachers will be able to use the information to help make the national Project WET (water education for teachers) lessons and activities more locally relevant to their students and tie them into our water resources here in Minnesota,” said April Rust, Project WET coordinator.

The book is the product of a two-year project that included many hours of work and input from Minnesota water and education professionals. The project was planned with help of a statewide steering committee.

The first draft was field tested in 2009 by 22 classroom and nonformal educators from around the state at all grade levels, who used the contents for lesson planning and to support classroom activities. Field test feedback and technical reviews from several Minnesota DNR staff members was incorporated into a final draft.

The book is available along with additional teacher resources which are being developed to support its use in the classroom. The primer is available for free download to all and in print form to educators. A list of adaptations to Project WET activities will be posted online later this fall.

To receive a free print copy of the book, contact the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157, toll-free 888-646-6367 .

Project WET is an international, interdisciplinary, water science and education program for formal and nonformal educators of K-12 students. In 1995, the DNR established Minnesota Project WET to train classroom and other educators in hands-on, interactive lessons that are focused on water and encourage critical thinking.

By providing training, materials, and support to these educators and water festivals for students, MN Project WET works to improve Minnesotans’ understanding of the state’s water resources.