The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary joined others to create new curriculum in 2014 to help educators teach students about the environment.  Understanding the Urban Watershed contains six thematic units (PDF file). These help teachers explain the history and science of water’s long journey to our taps. This begins with students’ personal experiences and ends with a school or neighborhood improvement project. It even meets Common Core State Standards for math, reading and writing. See for yourself on the curriculum’s website.

The Delaware Estuary, or the tidal portion of the Delaware River and Bay, is the most valuable natural resource in our region, yet little is taught about it in schools. That’s why the Philadelphia Water Department and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary published a reference tool for educators entitled the 2015 Delaware Estuary Water Education Resource Guide (PDF file). In it, teachers can discover materials and programs available at the many nonprofits and government agencies located throughout the tri-state area. Its 92 pages overflow with a wealth of environmental wisdom worthy of any lecture or field trip.

Check out our publications page for a variety of other classroom materials.

You can view online links to many of the organizations listed in the Resource Guide above on the Support Our Partners page.

Did you know there are many books that teach children about the living resources of the Delaware Estuary? It’s true. Numerous stories exist on everything from amphibians to whales. For more insight, please checkout the titles below.

– Crabby and Nabby: A Tale of Two Blue Crabs, by Suzanne Tate and James Melvin
– Tate’s Nature Series includes numerous other books depicting species that are native to the Delaware River estuary
– Extraordinary Horseshoe Crabs, by Julie Dunlap
– Red Knot: A Shorebird’s Incredible Journey, by Nancy Carol Willis