Educator Professional Development Workshops
Arizona Project WET educator workshops showcase hands-on, interactive activities that activate instruction so that students think deeply about real-world and relevant content and construct their own understanding of big ideas through exploration. Participants gain greater insight into Arizona’s hydrological systems and depart with a deep well of classroom resources, including ready-to-implement lessons.
Upcoming APW Educator Workshops
Other Available Teacher Workshops & Events
TUCSON:
Family Nature Exploration Event - Pima County - September 19, 2026
- Join for a free morning of nature exploration and hands-on science and art activities at the Santa Cruz River.
- 9am -10:30am (click above for more details)
PHOENIX:
Agricultural Literacy & STEM Education Workshops in Maricopa County:
You can find upcoming classes here: https://extension.arizona.edu/programs/agricultural-literacy-stem-education/calendar
2026 Soil to Table Summit: hosted by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Center for Urban Smart Agriculture
- This year's theme, “Growing More Than Food: Building Sustainable Farms, Strong Businesses, and Connected Communities,” focuses on the knowledge, resources, and connections needed to strengthen Arizona's farms, agricultural businesses, and communities. Two days of learning, networking, and connection —with lunch included both days for just $75.
- November 9th & 10th - learn more here
Hybrid & Online:
Educational Resources:
Groundwater:
- Arizona Groundwater Videos
- You can also use this online simulation - https://has.concord.org/groundwater-movement.html
- Whole Body instructions video can be found here: https://youtu.be/AnoSFw0_Xvc
- How water moves through earth materials video and demonstrating capillary action https://youtu.be/_KEjB-u4dQo
- PBS Groundwater Resources
- https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/groundwater-information-topic
- Audubon Southwest - Understanding Arizona's Groundwater
- Arizona Water BluePrint - Arizona Groundwater Dashboard
- Groundwater in the Colorado River Basin
- https://groundwater.org/
- HydroFrame - Groundwater Mapping
- Arizona Tri-University Recharge and Water Reliability Project (ATUR)
- Enhanced Capture & Recharge Decision Support Framework - Storymap that includes great links to interactive maps of Arizona for Precipitation, Evapotranspiration, Runoff and Recharge levels
- Groundwater Basin Profiles in Arizona
Watershed:
- Health and Function of Arizona Watersheds
- Runoff & Heat Scavenger Hunt Worksheet for Students
- PBS Watershed Resources
- https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/surface-water
- AZ STORM - Stormwater 101
- Salt River Project Tour - Arizona Project WET creation
- Audubon Southwest and The Nature Conservancy in Arizona StoryMAP: Exploring the Verde River Watershed
- Upper Verde River - Water history and timeline of the Upper Verde River Watershed
- Maricopa County Stormwater Education
- Watershed Soundscape - Music, Art and Watershed Science
- Rio de Flag Tour: explore the natural and human history of our streams - arcgis
- Watershed Preservation To Promote Aquifer Recharge Rio De Flag - arcgis
- Lower Colorado River Habitats
- https://www.audubon.org/southwest/projects/gila-river-west-of-phoenix
- https://www.audubon.org/southwest/news/restoring-watersheds-one-meadow-time
- https://www.audubon.org/news/new-audubon-science-doubles-estimates-of-shorebird-use-colorado-river-delta
- Stormwater Adventure Kids Activity Book - City of Phoenix PDF
- Stormwater Adventure Kids Activity Book Spanish - City of Phoenix PDF
- Desert Wash Safety Kids Activity Book - City of Tucson PDF
- Desert Wash Safety Kids Activity Book Spanish - City of Tucson PDF
- Salt River Project Watershed - 6 part video series of the Salt & Verde Watersheds of where your water comes from
Water Cycle:
- Water-Cycle-Cause-and-Effect-Matter-and-Energy.pdf
- https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-cycle
- Why Does Ice Float Video
- Water Cycle to Taylor Swift’s Blank Space Song
- https://thewaterproject.org/resources/the_water_cycle
Sustainability:
- What's Your Water Footprint - Water Calculator
- https://www.watereducation.org/post/food-facts-how-much-water-does-it-take-produce
- Student Water Sustainability Worksheets
- Teacher Answers for Water Sustainability Worksheets
- ADWR Conservation Program
- Water Use It Wisely
- EPA - Water Sense For Kids
- Arizona Water Company - Conservation
- Arizona Water Company - Conservation Videos
- Growing with the Land: A Coloring Book to Protect Our Indigenous Food, Energy and Water Systems
AZ Water & Local Topics:
- https://wrrc.arizona.edu/resources/arizona-water-factsheets
- https://wrrc.arizona.edu/resources/arizona-water-map-poster
- https://azdot.gov/sites/default/files/2019/07/major-rivers-and-streams.pdf
- Arizona’s Water Story - SRP video
- Changing the Story of Heat in Metro Phoenix Together
- Storm to Shade City of Tucson
- Where Does Flagstaff Water Come From & Where Does it Go? Youtube
- Rainfall maps for Maricopa County
- Maricopa County Air Quality Educational Resources
- Maricopa County Stormwater Educational Resources
- Maricopa County STEM - Vector Control Mosquitoes
- ASU - Arizona Water Blueprint
- Recycled Water Use in Tucson Basin
- Water & Sustainability Resources
Wonders of Wetlands:
- Arizona Project WET's Wonders of Wetlands Field Guide pdf
- Arizona Project WET's Wonders of Wetlands Educator PowerPoint Slides
- Arizona Project WET's Wonders of Wetlands Educator Google Slides
- Wetlands Mapper
- National Audubon Society: Episode 3: Desert Rivers | Birds on the Move
Rainwater Harvesting & Xeriscaping Resources:
- https://wateruseitwisely.com/saving-water-outdoors/rainwater-harvesting/
- City of Tucson Storm to Shade
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure – animated design example
- Storm to Shade video by Tucson Water
- Tucson Water Rainwater Harvesting Maintenance Tips Video
- Low Water Use & Drought Tolerant Plant List – Tucson AMA Area
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Residents – City of Phoenix
- Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert – Low-Water-Use Plants
- Landscaping with Style
- Passive Water Harvesting
- When It Rains It Runs Off
- RainScapes Brochure
- Rainwater Storage System
- Harvesting Rainwater
- Welcome Wildlife to Your Garden
- H is for Habitat
- Landscape for Wildlife
- Backyard Habitat
- Guide to Water-Efficient Landscaping – Tucson Water
- Plants for the Arizona Desert
- Watering by the Numbers Flipbook
- Build a Rain Garden
- Seedballs - The Gornish Lab - U of A
- Eco Restore for Kids!
- https://ecorestore.arizona.edu/ - Restore Arizona's Native Plants
- Tohono Chul Presents - The Great Xeriscape
- 5 Steps to Waterwise Design - U of A
Climate & Heat:
- https://az.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/climate-and-our-planet/
- Beat the Heat Game
- Changing the Story of Heat in Metro Phoenix Together
- Runoff & Heat Scavenger Hunt Worksheet for Students
- https://ucrc.asu.edu/resources
- https://globalfutures.asu.edu/azclimate/
- https://globalfutures.asu.edu/azclimate/data/
- https://heat.arizona.edu/sw-ifl
- Changing the Story of Heat in the Metro Phoenix
- Evolution Earth PBS - case studies from around the world feature examples of ecosystem resilience and succession, animal adaptations to extreme environmental change, and the relationship between ecosystem health and a balanced global carbon cycle.
- Dynamic Planet PBS - Meet the helpers who are living and working on the front line of climate change as they reveal how science, nature, and tradition can prepare us for the future.
- CLIMAS - Climate Assessment for the Southwest
- Drought Management - ADWR
- Drought Mapping Tool U of A
- Drought Dashboard - ADWR
Systems Thinking:
- 4 Simple Rules to System Thinking
- Systems Thinking: A Little Film About a Big Idea - YouTube Video
- Thinkquery Tool
- MOEHR BETTER - DSRP Systems Thinking
- THINK WATER: Systems Thinking & Water
- Tool Kit for educators - free resources
- Rethinking Water USDA Thinkwater - Vimeo Video
- Cabrera Lab: DSRP Systems Thinking
- https://www.plectica.com/ - diagram your thinking in real time
Other Miscellaneous Topics:
- Water Science School
- https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/states-of-matter-basics/latest/states-of-matter-basics_en.html
- https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/adhesion-and-cohesion-water
- https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/water-resources/science/water-use-united-states#overview
- https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/national-water-use-science
- https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/water-quality
- https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/properties-water
- Salt River Project (SRP) Educational Resources
- Central Arizona Project (CAP) Educational Resources
- Pima County Conservation Lands & Resources - Educational programs & resources
- https://az.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/beyond-the-mirage/
- Colorado River - I Am Red video
- https://watersimmersive.net/experiences.html - games and experiences about water
- Urban Water Atlas - Water Reuse