• Friends of the Manitowoc River Watershed
• Overnight Programs
• Make it a trip
• Scout Programs
• School Programs
  • Pre-School
  • Kindergarten
  • First Grade
  • Second Grade
  • Third Grade
  • Fourth Grade
  • Fifth Grade
  • Sixth Grade
  • Seventh Grade
  • Eighth Grade
  • High School and College
• Coast Kids' Crew: Our Education Friends' Group
• Watershed Ambassadors Summer Camp

Aquatic Invaders (5^th and 6^th Grade)

Have you ever wondered how many different species call Lake Michigan home?  Lake Michigan is being threatened by some invasive species and its fish population is continually being influenced by other factors.  Using a time line and a role playing activity, you will find out how aquatic invasive species are arriving in the Great Lakes, the effects they are having, and how everyone can help slow down the spread of these invaders.

Lock Travelers (5^th and 6^th Grade)

How do you get a boat or ship to sail over hills or up a waterfall? Learn how engineers used locks to accomplish these feats, and how locks help Great Lakes ships sail all the way from the middle of North America to the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll also have a chance to work the hands-on lock system in the Children’s Waterways Room.

Groundwater:  It’s In Your Hands (5^th, 6^th, and 7^th Grade)

The first step in taking care of our environment is to understand it.  With the help of a groundwater model and other hands-on activities, students will learn about the porosity and permeability of soil, how contaminants move in groundwater, and how humans’ everyday actions affect the groundwater beneath them.

After the Rain:  Pollution Solutions (5^th, 6^th, and 7^th Grade)

Students will interact with an Enviroscape model and each other to learn how the choices humans make in yards, rural fields, and urban developments have a direct impact on rivers and lakes after a rainstorm. Students will gather ideas they can help implement to take care of the planet’s precious water resources.

Shipbuilding on the Great Lakes (6^th, 7^th, and 8^th Grade)

From tall ships of wood to modern freighters of steel, we’ll learn about the many methods of Great Lakes shipbuilding using a variety of museum exhibits, shipbuilding tools and other hands-on materials. We’ll also design and sail our own cargo vessels fully loaded in our Children’s Waterways Room.

World War II Home Front (Grades 6-12)

Wisconsin residents can be proud of the 28 submarines built in Manitowoc during World War II and the willingness of people to support the war in their everyday lives.   Using artifacts and props, explore the sacrifices made on the home front.

Post-visit activity:  http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/civic_responsibility/index.html This lesson plan, found on the Smithsonian Educators website, is an excellent follow-up to the ideas discussed in our museum program.

Maritime Jeopardy (Grades 6-12 and mixed age groups)

This team game is great for mixed ages or single grades.  Using a variety of maritime topics, students work in teams to answer questions at varying degrees of difficulty to obtain their score.  Images, artifacts, and maps are put to use in this fast-paced activity.