Green Infrastructure

Build a Mini Green Roof (American Society of Landscape Architects)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/ Green Roof

Content Type: Classroom Activity

Topics Covered: In this fun classroom activity, students construct their own mini-green roofs out of shoeboxes. Parallel classroom discussion can help students understand how stormwater runoff causes water pollution and how green roofs help solve this environmental problem.

Target Audience: Grades K-5, 6-8

Interactive Water Cycle (U.S. E.P.A.)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/Water Cycle

Content Title: Interactive Water Cycle (U.S. E.P.A.)

Content Type: Game

Topics Covered: This animated activity helps educate students about the water cycle. By controlling the different phases of the cycle, students gain an understanding of how water changes into different forms.

Target Audience: Grades K-5

Nonpoint Source Pollution Awareness: Darby Duck, the Aquatic Crusader
(U.S. E.P.A.)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/Water Pollution

Content Type: Science Experiments

Topics Covered: This set of seven easy-to-do science experiments are designed to help students learn about the characteristics of water and how it interacts with other elements. The experiments also help students understand how water pollution can cause problems for people and animals.

Target Audience: Grades K-5

The Groundwater Story (King County)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/Protecting Water Quality

Content Type: Animation

Topics Covered: This musical animation helps young students learn about the importance of groundwater to living things, and how to help protect this hidden resource. The Groundwater Story is a funny cartoon that teaches students valuable lessons about water issues and the environment.

Target Audience: Grades K-5

A River Renewed (Portland Bureau of Environmental Services)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/Combined Sewage Overflows

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: Narrated by Walter Cronkite, A River Renewed is a 15-minute documentary film highlighting the history of Portand’s Willamette River and its water pollution problems. Like many cities, Portland’s infrastructure includes Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO), which allows raw sewage to spill into the river during heavy rain storms. The video shows the steps the city is taking to confront these stormwater management and water pollution problems. 

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Create a Rain Garden or Bioswale (American Society of Landscape Architects)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/ Rain Garden

Content Type: Classroom Activity

Topics Covered: This classroom activity and lesson plan teaches students about sustainability and the environmental benefits of rain gardens and bioswales. If your school is planning on building its own rain garden or bioswale, the activity offers suggestions for how to involve students in the design and construction process.

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Rain Gardens (American Rivers)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/ Rain Gardens

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: This video reviews the environmental problems associated with stormwater runoff and how rain gardens can help sustainably manage stormwater. 

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Virtual Tour of Drinking Water Plant (U.S. E.P.A.)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/Water Treatment

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: This interactive video takes students through a typical water treatment facility. It shows the step-by-step process for how water is treated and delivered to your home or business as water that is safe to drink. The video teaches students why it is important to keep the environment clean and encourages them to protect our nation's sources of drinking water.

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Wastershed Workbook (National Park Service)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/Watersheds

Content Type: Curriculum

Topics Covered: The National Park Service created this workbook of science activities to teach students about watersheds and the causes of water pollution. The activities guide students to become environmental stewards and encourage them to take active roles in protecting our watersheds.

Target Audience: Grades 6-8, 9-12

Oregon Field Guide: Green Roofs (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Topic/Subtopic: Green Infrastructure/ Green Roofs

Content Type: Video

Topics Covered: This video helps students and adults understand the environmentally harmful effects of stormwater runoff and how green roofs can help solve this problem. The video highlights on-going research on soil and plant selection and shows how green roofs are constructed on top of tall buildings.

Target Audience: Grades 9-12