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ISSUE 03 MARCH 2024
Welcome to Earthrise!
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Apollo 8, the first crewed mission to the moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1968. That evening, the astronauts-Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders-held a live broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and moon as seen from their spacecraft. Credits: NASA | |
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Earthrise is an initiative launched by NASA in cooperation with federal and nonfederal partners to elevate Earth and climate science in the classroom. Each monthly edition will focus on a new theme, such as air quality, oceans, and agriculture.
March 2024 Issue:
Earth's Water Resources
Only 3% of water on Earth’s surface is fresh – a vital resource for electricity, farming, and life. For decades, researchers have observed Earth’s water resources to understand their fluctuations, observe their connection to habitability, and provide critical data to protect our planet’s global waterways. NASA and its partners leverage Earth observation data to enhance water management and facilitate innovative solutions to stressors on one of our most precious natural resources. This month’s resource collection is rich in interactive data tools, visualizations, and hands-on lesson plans for all grade levels, including topics ranging from how the water cycle works to how technology is used to observe and navigate Earth’s waterways.
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Connect the Drops With NASA Data (All Grade Levels)
The varied landscapes of the U.S. have unique relationships with water. On the East Coast, rain is a regular occurrence. In the West, drought is a constant threat. Learn how NASA is using decades of Earth observation data to create a coherent picture of where and how water moves around the planet every day.
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GLOBE Agents of Change – Earth's Water Resources in Near East and North Africa
(All Grade Levels)
Fifteen-year-olds Rahaf, Anfal, and Azza study the water resources in the arid, mountainous region of Oman they call home. Inspire your students to study their world through this video in GLOBE’s “Agents of Change” series.
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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Dashboard and Information System Mapper (Grades 4-12)
Use the USGS National Water Dashboard to view real-time water data collected at USGS observation stations from across the country in context with weather-related data from other public sources. Explore the USGS National Water Information System: Mapper to find information about groundwater, springs, atmospheric sites, and other water sites across the country.
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Forests to Faucets (Grades 9-12)
This user-friendly tool from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service identifies important watersheds for drinking water supply based on the population served, forest cover, riparian condition, and hydrology. Educators can use the Data Explorer to identify important surface drinking water forests for conservation and management; visualize upstream and downstream watersheds; and find public water supplies in and around their watershed.
Learn more
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NASA Earth Information System: Freshwater
(All Grade Levels)
NASA's Earth observations are incorporated within the Land Information System (LIS) framework to model different water cycle components and impacts on water quality.
Learn more
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NOAA Data in the Classroom: Water Quality (Grades 5-12)
This activity uses a series of interactive maps, apps, videos, and high-resolution images to help you learn about water quality using scientific data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In this module, students will use scientific data to investigate the water quality characteristics of an estuary (water temperature, salinity and oxygen), the relationship between these parameters, and the effect that water quality has on living things.
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Exploring Your Watershed (Grades K-6)
Engage your students in this three-part lesson plan that gets students outdoors, mapping, and simulating a watershed using the EPA’s web-based mapping tool, EnviroAtlas. This lesson plan is available in English, Spanish, and has been adapted for English language learners.
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U.S. Geological Survey Size and Occurrence of Floods (Grades 5-12)
This classroom activity introduces students to the “recurrence interval” of floods, and shows that floods do not necessarily occur every 10, 50, or 100 years, as commonly thought. Learn more about “100-year floods.”
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U.S. Geological Survey Water Science School (Grades 2-12)
The USGS Water Science School offers information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and lesson plans in English and Spanish. The most recent water cycle diagram depicts the global water cycle, as well as how human water useage affects where water is stored, how it moves, and how clean it is.
Learn more
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GLOBE Water Quality Protocol Bundle
(All Grade Levels)
By taking water quality measurements guided by this bundle's protocols, the GLOBE community can learn more about the water in their local environment and collaborate with others around the world. Inside the Water Quality Bundle, you can find a collection of protocols, prompts, and projects related to water quality issues and their intersections with various Earth spheres.
Learn more
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GLOBE Eclipse Challenge: Clouds and Our Solar-Powered Earth (All Grade Levels)
The GLOBE Program is seeking cloud observations from participants worldwide to study changes in the atmosphere as the Sun rises and sets. Those in the path of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, are challenged to safely observe the sky before, during, and after maximum eclipse. The challenge runs through Monday, April 15.
Learn more
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NOAA Learning Lessons: What-a-Cycle and Water Cycle Paper Craft (Grades K-5)
In the What-a-Cycle activity, students discover how water cycles may not follow a direct path by role-playing as water molecules and traveling through parts of the overall water cycle. The Water Cycle Paper Craft activity shows students some of the many stops on water's journey throughout the water cycle.
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RoboNation SeaPerch (Grades 6-12)
Defense STEM Education Consortium partner RoboNation promotes water discovery and real-world research and engineering through SeaPerch. This underwater robotics program equips students and teachers with the resources to learn about water, basic science and engineering concepts, problem-solving, and teamwork in an exciting and hands-on way.
Learn more
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NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission “10 in 10” Webinar Series (Grades 9-12)
Join NASA’s GPM mission team for a series of webinars to celebrate 10 years of Earth observations that have helped improve life around the globe and better understand our water cycle.
Learn more
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Next Gen STEM Virtual Classroom Connection: Earth Day (Grades 6-12)
During this event that will be broadcast live from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, students will learn about NASA’s plans to celebrate Earth Day 2024. A NASA expert will discuss Earth science and conservation topics, and respond to student questions.
Learn more
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Meet Water Researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency (Grades 9-12)
Water is one of Earth’s most critical resources, which means career paths focused on understanding how to protect it are critical. Explore and discuss career profiles of some of the researchers focusing on water at the EPA.
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Airborne Snow Observatory (Grades 6-12)
How can observing Earth’s snowmelt from an airborne observatory help communities better manage their water supply? Discuss the potential implications of NASA research on snow with this visualization.
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Sediment-al Journey: Measuring Metal Concentrations in Soil Beside Urban Waterways
(Grades 6-8)
Chemicals from auto emissions, industrial processes, and urban development are found in most urban areas. Often, after flooding events, these chemicals can be carried by waterways. Discuss how U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service researchers are learning about this process.
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Guiding Farmers With NASA Satellites
(All Grade levels)
Agriculture in Pakistan is dependent on irrigation from the Indus River, but over the years, freshwater resources in the region have become scarce. To overcome today's depleted water basin levels, farmers are attempting to predict and track freshwater resources with the help of NASA satellites and cell phones.
Learn more
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Look for more great Earth and Climate Science content next month!
Click the link to subscribe to the Earthrise Newsletter.
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Thank you to our collaborating partners for contributing resources and engaging educators. | |
Please join our community of educators in NASA CONNECTS! NASA CONNECTS (Connecting Our NASA Network of Educators for Collaborating Together in STEM) is a professional learning community of educators who are invited to engage with NASA’s team to inspire the next generation of explorers. | |
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NASA Office of STEM Engagement
NASA is committed to engaging, inspiring, and attracting future generations of explorers and building a diverse future STEM workforce.
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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.
Visit nasa.gov
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