Borrow from our Learning Library

Here are some of the activities, pamphlets, factsheets and guides we offer to help you teach and raise awareness about preserving the Ottawa River.

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Ottawa Riverkeeper’s Learning Library

Are you an educator seeking to connect students to local environmental issues or perhaps enhance your school science education program? Are you looking for hands-on learning materials to teach about watersheds and protecting water? Ottawa Riverkeeper has many activities built for educators that you can borrow from our learning library.

PLEASE NOTE:

Due to high demand for these activities at Ottawa Riverkeeper and riverwatcher outreach events through the spring and summer, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible if you would like to use any of these materials for an event, the date of your event, and the specific activity(ies) you want to use.
If you haven’t already been trained on the activities, a training session should be scheduled to go over the activity prior to your event. Additionally, you must be willing to pick up the activity from our office and return it in a timely fashion so that it can be used for another event.

Some of the activities listed are available digitally, and there are additional online resources and games that you can check out on your own, or use to teach. Please email us at education@ottawariverkeeper.ca if you have any questions about these resources.

Physical Resources:

Stormwater model

An interactive model that demonstrates how land-use activities impact water quality. Simulated rain events show how pesticides, fertilizers, soil, and other pollutants are washed into rivers and streams through overland flow and storm sewers. This model is great for presentations to school groups, summer camps, etc. Download the story line for this model.

Water treatment model

This model helps students understand the journey of the water we use, from rivers through the treatment plant process to residential and commercial uses. It’s also an excellent tool for explaining to your students the impact of runoff on aquatic ecosystems. The model is accompanied by a user’s guide to explain how to install and use it.

Yellow Fish Road

Through Trout Canada’s Yellow Fish Road™ program, groups can borrow stencil kits from us to stencil “rainwater only” signs next to storm sewers in their communities and distribute information on the program to people in the target neighborhoods. This is a great activity to pass along to groups after a demonstration of the stormwater model to help them take action. Both stencils and information available in French and English.

Shoreline erosion model

This interactive model demonstrates how wave-action can erode shorelines. Participants have an opportunity to add vegetation (pine cones, sticks, leaves) to the shoreline to see how effective vegetation is at reducing erosion.

How old are you in Sturgeon years?

A life-size bilingual poster of an Ottawa River Sturgeon allows children and adults alike to see how old they would be if they were an Ottawa River sturgeon given their height. It uses relationships between sturgeon age and length to determine the age. You can also explore a digital version of this activity.

What belongs in your River?

This is a kiddy pool fishing activity simulating a river environment with model plants and animals (and garbage) that you would find in the river. Kids can go fishing in the pool with fish nets and pull out the various items in the river to determine what belongs in the river. A bilingual Species ID Sheet is used to identify what is found and kids are given a certificate (French/English) when they complete the activity.

Aquascopes

We have four aquascopes that people can use on the shoreline to view the bottom of the river. Great to use at shoreline events to encourage people to explore the river.

Water Rangers Freshwater explorer test kit

This kit contains several water sampling and analysis tools enabling you to teach your students different water analysis methods and familiarize them with the various parameters that can be analyzed. The kit also includes a field guide with step-by-step instructions on how to use the various tools.

Kit contents

Do you know your invasive species?

One of the greatest concerns surrounding aquatic health is invasive species that are threatening the ecological integrity of the Ottawa Watershed. This activity is about identifying the invasive species present in the Ottawa River and the negative impact that they have on native species and biodiversity. This can lead to a discussion on how to prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals such as safe boating practices.

Species-at-risk memory game

A bilingual memory card game with 10 species-at-risk in the Ottawa River watershed. You can also play this game digitally!

Eel plinko

In the past 40 years, the population of the American Eel has declined by 90% due to causes such as fishing, habitat modification, dams, and turbines. This game shows how hard it can be for an eel to survive during its migration and generates interesting conversations on this species.

Eel colouring sheets

An activity to help children learn about the American Eel. We also have stickers!

Treaty Words: For as long as the rivers flow

This book shares the bond between a grandfather and his granddaughter as they have a conversation by the river. It offers readers a deeper understanding of Treaties and the importance of respect, reciprocity, and renewal for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow. 25 copies available. Access the lesson plan here.

Digital Activities:

How old are you in Sturgeon years?

Measure how tall you are and then use the interactive guide on this page to see how old you would be if you were a lake sturgeon.

Species-at-risk memory game

A bilingual memory card game with 10 species-at-risk in the Ottawa River watershed. You can play this game digitally!

Watershed map puzzle

Do you know what the watershed looks like? Try your hand at this puzzle, featuring a map of the Ottawa River watershed.

Road salt usage quiz

Test your knowledge with the questions in this interactive quiz and find out if you could be using less salt and helping to protect the watershed without compromising the safety of you and your family!

Invasive species quiz

Many native species call this area home. There are also non-native species that have been introduced and now have catastrophic effects on the environment. Check out this quiz and see if you can identify the species and tell us which are native or non-native!