Educators

Our mission is to educate citizens about Philadelphia’s urban watershed, and we can’t do it alone. We rely on educators like you to reach more young minds than we can on our own, but we’re happy to provide workshops, resources, and on-site programs to help inform and inspire.

Teacher Workshops

Teacher workshops are customized to align with PA and NJ academic and core standards to assist teachers in enhancing both their field trip experiences and classroom learning related to urban water education.

Curriculum Resources

Understanding the Urban Watershed

A six-unit curriculum for grades 6-8, developed as part of the Water Works’ Middle School Teach Fellowship Program from 2014-2017, offers an integrated approach to learning using Philadelphia’s water story as the context. The online portal offers lesson plans and resources, as well as a discussion forum for educators. Learn More

Philadelphia Water History Course

A seven-module course, originally developed to train our volunteers, is available for use or adaptation in secondary education classrooms at no cost. The course covers the history of water supply, drainage, and treatment in the Philadelphia area from native populations and early European settlers through colonial times, the birth of the nation, establishment of the Water Department in 1801, and challenges of a growing city, to the Philadelphia Water Department as we know it today, providing safe and clean water service and wastewater treatment to millions of people in the city and surrounding municipalities, while protecting and restoring the health and beauty of our waterways. View the Course