Resources

Educating our customers on the importance of water in conservation, recycling, storage, and other resource-management programs is our top priority.

Students are introduced to California’s water supply and distribution system, water sources and water quality. They also will explore the importance of water conservation and their role in preserving and protecting natural resources. All Metropolitan programs meet to various California Content Standards, including Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. Our resources are available at no cost to teachers and students within our six-county service area which includes parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties.

Our Curriculum

About Water

This project-based curriculum for K-2 classrooms allows students to learn more about Earth’s resources and systems including water, soil and climate. Hands-on activities introduce students to elements of experimental design, such as the role of variables and controls, hypotheses, accurate measurement, and modes of observations and reporting. It’s divided into 60-minute blocks where each of the three lessons and optional pre-activities are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (refer to complete list in the curriculum.)

About Water Materials.

Lesson 1: Exploring the Water Cycle. This lesson spans two 60-minute blocks of student-lead activities, discussions, and a teacher demo focusing on the water cycle.
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Lesson 2: Filtering Water Through the Earth. This lesson includes two 60-minute blocks and an optional third 60-minute block to allow students to explore soil filtration.
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Lesson 3: Drought. This third lesson spans two 60-minute blocks in which students explore what plants need to survive, with a focus on drought and conservation.
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Water Ways

Designed to supplement fifth grade social studies curriculum, this program uses language arts, music, and art in an activity-oriented unit. Students examine the role of water in North American history: Pre-Columbian, colonial and during the Westward Movement.

The program comes with a teachers guide and a set of 35 large-format student booklets. Consumable materials may be reordered.

Next Generation Science Standard Alignment

Water Times

This educational newspaper is interdisciplinary – integrating science, social studies, language arts and math. Engaging news articles and stories that are relatable to sixth graders challenge them with activities to create an awareness and appreciation for water.

The program includes consumable student newspapers and a teacher’s guide.

Conservation Connection

This interdisciplinary curriculum supplement offers hands-on conservation activities that include role playing and critical thinking. Middle school students learn about the challenges and importance of conserving water wherever they are – at home or school. Students make the connection to the importance of water and energy efficiency as a way of life through the lessons, service-learning activities and online water and energy use surveys.

Teacher’s Guide

Student Book

Next Generation Science Standard Alignment

Qualities Sciences of Water

The quality of drinking water is explored with a hands-on, inquiry-based approach. The activities (low or no cost) highlight several water attributes that include pH, total dissolved solids, turbidity, hardness and contaminants. Source water protection is also a topic.

This unit includes a teacher’s guide, student booklets 1, 2 and 3, fact sheets and worksheets, lesson extenders and a response card.

Lessons are also available on an interactive website and iPad format. Click here to register and access the lessons.

Supplemental Materials

Please see descriptions of all our supplemental material below. Click here to order materials at no cost and please allow about two weeks for delivery.

California Native Plant Coloring Book

All Ages. Students learn about seven different California native plants. Each featured can be colored and includes facts that range from its watering needs, flower color, leaf type, and type of pollinators that visit the plant.

Coloring Book

Little Splash

Grades K-3. A collection of 21 activity and coloring pages that use critical thinking skills, including reading, writing, coloring, drawing, and working puzzles to teach concepts about water. Little Splash also links to current K-3 Content Standards for Science and History-Social Science.

Teacher’s Guide

Student Activity Sheet:

Little Splash Coloring Book

Grades Pre-K-TK. Students take a trip through the water cycle with this consumable coloring and activity book. The book is aligned to the California Preschool Learning Foundations for Science at both 48 and 60 months of age.

Student Activity Sheet:

California’s Water Resources Map

Grades 3 and above. This large wall map details the California water delivery systems. We offer one per classroom.

Click here to order a copy.

Geography of Water

Grades 4-8. Students learn about the state’s physical features, precipitation, population, industry and agriculture as well as managing California’s water supply through these set of six maps. Map activities involve students in critical thinking, problem solving, and statistics comparisons. The curriculum includes a teacher’s guide for each map, reproducible student maps and lessons.

Click here to order a copy.

Water Cycle Poster

All ages. This poster is a bright and colorful addition to any classroom. Limited to one map.

Click here to order a copy.

Water Resources For All Ages

Education Story Map

MWD's Community Outreach Interactive Map

EPA Drinking Water Activities for Students and Teachers K-12

Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

Teaching Expertise (Middle School)

National Association of Geoscience Teachers

PL/NASA (Grades 1-12)

STEAM Powered Family Water Projects

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Water Education Foundation

Project WET (Water Education Today)

California Department of Water Resources

Classroom Activities

Internships – We offer a broad range of academic areas for undergraduate and graduate students. Students learn about the water industry and gain valuable work experience. A listing of internships and the training programs in the water sector may be found here.

Apprenticeship Program - Our Apprenticeship Program provides instruction and on-the-job training for careers as a mechanic, electrician or other trade profession in the water industry.

Field Trips - Field trips can be arranged to visit various Metropolitan facilities including the downtown headquarters and Diamond Valley Lake. Please contact Mark Moss for further information or to schedule a tour.

Presentations - We’ll send water experts to speak to your group or class about specific issues facing Southern California or provide an overview of the water delivery and treatment system operated by Metropolitan. Please email Mark Moss or call (213) 217-6926 to schedule a presentation.