Virtual Resources
Our education staff have researched and created high quality educational resources related to water for teachers, students, and parents. Contact the Education Coordinator with questions or feedback.
PWD Video Series
Video Series: From Sebago Lake to Casco Bay
This five part video series, designed for a middle school audience, covers topics related to water and wastewater services provided by PWD. Each short, approximately 10 minute long video is accompanied by a reinforcing student activity; a teacher guide on the series and follow up activities and keys are available here.
Video Series: Protecting a Trillion Gallons of Water
This video series features seven short videos (about two minutes each) that describe PWD’s Source Protection programs that are in place to protect Sebago Lake; all videos are in a playlist.
Resources: Water Pollution & Stewardship
Google Drive: WaterWays Education Program
The Portland Water District’s WaterWays Program serves middle school students in the Greater Portland and Lake regions. All resources used in our traditional classroom program are available on Google Drive via the link above, and remote resources, including adapted virtual lessons and teacher guides, are also available within each lesson’s folder. Lesson topics include watersheds, healthy water quality, water pollution, brook trout, bioassessments with macroinvertebrates, vegetated buffers, and best management practices used on land to prevent pollution.
Video playlist: WaterWays Education Program
This extensive playlist was created for use in our WaterWays Program, which serves middle school students in the Greater Portland and Lake regions. Topics include the water cycle, watersheds, water quality, water pollution, brook trout, aquatic macroinvertebrates, vegetated buffers, and best management practices to reduce water pollution.
Created by Windham High School students through collaboration with school staff and PWD, this book was written for a middle school audience and covers topics like the water cycle, watersheds, water pollution, and stewardship. You can download the book as an iBook or a PDF. The iBook version of the book, also created by Windham High School students, includes videos and interactive quizzes for each chapter. Use the link above to access the book and chapter worksheets.
Resources: Brook Trout
Remote resources related to the life cycle, anatomy, and habitat requirements of brook trout can be accessed via the link above. Students can also learn about the species’ connection to Maine, water quality, and stewardship. These resources are intended to support our WaterWays and TroutKids teachers and any educators that are teaching their students about this topic.
Resources: Wastewater Treatment
Video: Industrial Pretreatment Program
This two minute video describes PWD’s Industrial Pretreatment Program which regulates industrial wastewater from factories, food processers, metal finishers, and others who use water to produce a product.
Video: East End Wastewater Treatment Facility
This eight minute video, created by Portland’s King Middle School students in 2012, shows how water is treated at Maine’s largest wastewater treatment facility.
Resources: Local partners
We work closely with environmental education staff at local organizations who are also working to create and vet quality remote-ready resources for students.
Lakes Environmental Association
Resource list includes links to quality activities about lakes, weather, trees, vernal pools, and more.
Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District
Remote learning page provides links to activities like nature journal prompts for upper elementary/middle school students and local maps.
Resources: Nature-Based Activities
In addition to the list above, our education team has developed a list of nature-based resources that include both outdoor and virtual activities.