Learn about the Mississippi River at Home with these Online Resources for All Ages (Updated)
Are you an educator looking for resources, or a parent hoping to keep your kids busy? Or are you just interested in learning more about the Mighty Mississippi?
We’ve compiled some online resources that will help you, your kids, or your students interact with and learn more about water, the Mississippi River and our local watershed.
MWMO Story Map and ‘Path to the River’ Tool
Have you ever wondered how long a raindrop takes to from your stormdrain to the Mississippi River? Now you can discover that raindrop’s exact path, how long it takes and what happens along the way with the MWMO’s new “Path to the River” tool.
This tool reveals some of the complexity of the underground stormwater system, but also demonstrates how various stormwater best management practices (BMPs) act to slow down the process and remove pollutants from the water.
While you are there, check out the interactive story map to learn more about stormwater pollution in our urban landscape and what the MWMO and our partners are doing to protect and improve water quality and habitat in our watershed.
MWMO Story Map and ‘Path to the River’ Tool
Wilderness Inquiry Online Resources
Wilderness Inquiry offers free, online activities that highlight outdoor history and culture, environmental science and natural resources, and more. Their offerings include everything from downloadable activities like crossword puzzles and bingo games to interactive online courses.
We especially recommend The Minnesota Freshwater Quest. Developed by Wilderness Inquiry and Captain Planet Foundation, the quest supports learners in understanding the connection between local species and a healthy watershed.
Wilderness Inquiry Online Resources
Adopt-A-Drain Interactive
You may already be familiar with the Adopt-a-Drain program, a metro-wide effort in protecting local waterways from pollutants that accumulate in the street, get washed into stormdrains and ultimately find their way into rivers and lakes. Now, dive even deeper into protecting our local waters with the help of these interactive learning modules.
Big River Journey Online
Connect with the Mississippi River remotely and have fun exploring the science, art, history and culture of the river. Created through a partnership between the National Park Service, Mississippi Park Connection and Hamline University, Big River Journey Online provides learning stations that cover everything from bird beaks to bugs to boats.
Check out the educational videos, word search puzzles, readings and more! Take the quiz at the end of each section to test your knowledge.
Mighty Mississippi Electronic Field Trip
Did you know the Mississippi River watershed is the third largest watershed in the world? Take this virtual field trip and see student reporters interview content experts at Lake Itasca, the Twin Cities, and multiple points downstream. Learn more about the entire watershed and how people, industry and pollution have impacted the river in this PBS feature.
Mighty Mississippi Electronic Field Trip
Friends of the Mississippi River
Friends of the Mississippi River offers fun activities and educational resources for schools and families. Find information about watersheds, invasive species, erosion and more. The State of the River Report and its associated companion guides highlight key indicators of river health and present strategies for improvement.
Fall 2020 programs and resources for students, teachers
State of the River Report
Science Museum of Minnesota Learn from Home
Check out the fun activities and educational resources compiled by the Science Museum of Minnesota. Find information about nature, protecting water, climate change and more. In particular, check out the interactive Saint Paul’s Working River PDF workbook that includes Mississippi River-related drawing, writing, geography and math activities.
Science Museum of Minnesota Learn from Home
Project WET Home and Distance Learning Resources
Explore educator online trainings, home school resources, student lessons and more. Learn about water while meeting standards in math, language arts, science and even fine arts. Specifically, check out the interactive Discover Water feature, a self-directed educational resource about different water topics ranging from global to personal perspectives.
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